Must-see attractions in Central Highlands

  • Islands walk, River Ness,  Inverness

    Ness Islands

    Inverness

    The main attraction in Inverness is a leisurely stroll along the river to the Ness Islands. Planted with mature Scots pine, fir, beech and sycamore, and…

  • Highland Wildlife Park

    The Cairngorms

    This place features a drive-through safari park as well as animal enclosures offering the chance to view rarely seen native wildlife, such as wildcats,…

  • Blair Castle

    Highland Perthshire

    One of the most popular tourist attractions in Scotland, magnificent Blair Castle – and its surrounding estates – is the seat of the Duke of Atholl, head…

  • Kinloch Castle

    Central Highlands

    When George Bullough, a dashing, Harrow-educated cavalry officer, inherited Rum along with half his father’s fortune in 1891, he became one of the…

  • Rothiemurchus Estate

    The Cairngorms

    The Rothiemurchus Estate, which extends from the River Spey at Aviemore to the Cairngorm summit plateau, is famous for having one of Scotland’s largest…

  • Jacobite Steam Train

    Fort William

    The Jacobite Steam Train, hauled by a former LNER K1 or LMS Class 5MT locomotive, travels the scenic two-hour run between Fort William and Mallaig…

  • Balmoral Castle, Scotland

    Balmoral Castle

    The Cairngorms

    Built for Queen Victoria in 1855 as a private residence for the Royal Family, Balmoral kicked off the revival of the Scottish Baronial style of…

  • Mar Lodge Estate

    The Cairngorms

    West of Braemar spreads the National Trust for Scotland's Mar Lodge Estate, one of the country's most important nature conservation areas, covering 7% of…

  • Inverness Castle

    Inverness Castle

    Inverness

    The hill above the city centre is topped by the picturesque Baronial turrets of Inverness Castle, a pink-sandstone confection dating from 1847 that…

  • Dunkeld House Grounds

    Highland Perthshire

    Waymarked walks lead upstream from Dunkeld Cathedral through the gorgeous grounds of Dunkeld House Hotel, formerly a seat of the dukes of Atholl. In the…

  • Dunkeld Cathedral

    Highland Perthshire

    Situated on the grassy banks of the River Tay, Dunkeld Cathedral is one of the most beautifully sited churches in Scotland; don’t miss it on a sunny day,…

  • Cairngorm Mountain Railway

    The Cairngorms

    The national park's most popular attraction is this funicular railway that will whisk you to the edge of the Cairngorm plateau (altitude 1085m) in just…

  • Highland Folk Museum

    The Cairngorms

    This open-air museum comprises a collection of historical buildings and artefacts revealing many aspects of Highland culture and lifestyle. Laid out like…

  • Strathspey Steam Railway

    The Cairngorms

    The Strathspey railway runs steam trains on a section of restored line between Aviemore and Broomhill, 10 miles to the northeast, via Boat of Garten…

  • Ruthven Barracks

    The Cairngorms

    Ruthven Barracks was one of four garrisons built by the British government after the first Jacobite rebellion of 1715, as part of a Hanoverian scheme to…

  • Castle Menzies

    Highland Perthshire

    Castle Menzies is the 16th-century seat of the chief of clan Menzies (ming-iss), magnificently set against a forest backdrop. Inside it reeks of…

  • West Highland Museum

    Fort William

    This small but fascinating museum is packed with all manner of Highland memorabilia. Look out for the secret portrait of Bonnie Prince Charlie – after the…

  • Glenesk Retreat & Folk Museum

    The Cairngorms

    Ten miles up Glenesk from Edzell is a former shooting lodge that houses a fascinating collection of antiques and artefacts documenting everyday life in…

  • Aberfeldy Distillery

    Highland Perthshire

    At the eastern end of Aberfeldy, the home of the famous Dewar's blend offers a good 90-minute tour. After the usual overblown film, there’s a museum…

  • Rothiemurchus Centre

    The Cairngorms

    The Rothiemurchus Estate's visitor centre, a mile southeast of Aviemore along the B970, sells an Explorer Map detailing more than 50 miles of footpaths…

  • Corgarff Castle

    The Cairngorms

    In the wild hills of the eastern Cairngorms, near the A939 road from Cockbridge to Tomintoul, is the impressive fortress of Corgarff Castle. The tower…

  • Watermill

    Highland Perthshire

    You could while away several hours at this converted watermill, which houses a cafe, bookshop and art gallery exhibiting contemporary works of art. The…

  • Craigellachie Nature Reserve

    The Cairngorms

    This reserve is a great place for short hikes across steep hillsides covered in natural birch forest where you can spot wildlife such as the peregrine…

  • Loch of the Lowes Wildlife Centre

    Highland Perthshire

    Loch of the Lowes, 2 miles east of Dunkeld off the A923, has a visitor centre devoted to red squirrels and the majestic osprey. There’s a birdwatching…

  • Braemar Castle

    The Cairngorms

    Just north of Braemar village, turreted Braemar Castle dates from 1628 and served as a government garrison after the 1745 Jacobite rebellion. It was taken…

  • Bullough Mausoleum

    Central Highlands

    The only part of the island that still belongs to the Bullough family is this mausoleum in Glen Harris. It's a miniature Greek temple that wouldn’t look…

  • Atholl Country Life Museum

    Highland Perthshire

    This eccentric collection housed in the old village school celebrates local life through the ages, with exhibits ranging from a letter from a Canadian…

  • Beatrix Potter Exhibition & Garden

    Highland Perthshire

    In the middle of Birnam village is the small, leafy Beatrix Potter Garden; the children’s author, who wrote the evergreen story of Peter Rabbit, spent her…

  • Queen’s View Visitor Centre

    Highland Perthshire

    The Queen's View at the eastern end of Loch Tummel is a magnificent viewpoint with a vista along the loch to the conical peak of Schiehallion (1083m)…

  • RSPB Loch Garten Osprey Centre

    The Cairngorms

    Ospreys migrate here each spring from Africa and nest in a tall pine tree beside Loch Garten – you can watch from a hide as the birds feed their young…

  • Inverness Museum & Art Gallery

    Inverness

    Inverness Museum & Art Gallery has wildlife dioramas, geological displays, period rooms with historic weapons, Pictish stones and exhibitions of…

  • Grantown Museum

    The Cairngorms

    A small museum that chronicles the history of the town and its relationship to Clan Grant; also houses a tourist information point.

  • Ben Nevis Distillery

    Fort William

    A tour of this distillery makes for a warming rainy day alternative to exploring the hills.

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