Created by glacial meltwater, the tree-lined Corrieshalloch Gorge is punctuated by a series of waterfalls. From an observation deck and swaying suspension bridge, you can look down upon the rushing River Droma, which courses through the ravine and drops over the 150-foot (46-meter) Falls of Measach.
At six miles (10 kilometers long, the River Ness is a relatively minor waterway, though it connects several major attractions in the Scottish Highlands. Beginning at the north end of Loch Ness—home to the mythical monster Nessie—it runs alongside part of the Caledonian Canal and cuts through Inverness before emptying into Beauly Firth.
Foaming water tumbles over a series of zig-zagging ledges at this waterfall on the Black Water River in the Scottish Highlands. A suspension bridge over the falls provides a wonderful viewpoint from which to watch the water cascading over the rocks. Depending on when you visit you may even see Atlantic salmon leaping up the falls.
Protruding into the Moray Firth, this tapering spit of land is one of the best marine wildlife-viewing spots in Scotland, with bottlenose dolphins often seen frolicking offshore. Standing at the tip of the spit is a mid-19th-century lighthouse that is still in operation (though automated, and a pebble beach looks across to Fort George.
Opened by Prince Edward in 1993, the Inverness Botanic Gardens—previously known as Floral Hall—are a tranquil escape from the bustle of the city center. In addition to outdoor gardens with seasonal floral displays, fish ponds, and the Scottish Highlands’ largest succulent display, the grounds house a café, visitor center, and two greenhouses.
Strung along the Beauly Firth at the northern edge of Inverness, Merkinch Local Nature Reserve is a back-to-nature haven. Trails follow the shoreline, passing by tidal pools, marshes, grassland, and woodland. Spot roe deer, otters, herons, and oystercatchers, and look for dolphins and otters sliding through the adjacent firth.
Located in Cromarty in the Black Isles, Hugh Miller’s Birthplace Cottage & Museum comprises two buildings. There's the cottage where the esteemed geologist and writer was born, and museum in the Georgian townhouse next door, which houses a collection of Miller’s life, including fossils, manuscripts, and tools, and related gardens.
Established in the 19th century by Osgood Mackenzie in the northwest Highlands, Inverewe Garden & Estate improbably features plants from around the world, including subtropical and exotic species, earning it a nickname of “Impossible Garden.” Inverewe also features an interactive museum, art gallery, visitor center, café, and gift shop.
The Scottish Highlands is known for whisky production, and you can see the process up close at Tomatin Distillery. Located in the village of Tomatin—where it was first established in 1897—here you can join a variety of distillery tours to discover the history of Scottish whisky, plus enjoy tastings at the source.
Nestled on the banks of the River Ness, green and leafy Whin Park offers the miniature Ness Islands Railway, a boating pond with rowboats for hire, plus adventure play areas, an outdoor gym, picnic tables, and a kiosk with snacks. The play offerings are steadily evolving and being upgraded at one of Inverness’s most popular city parks for families.
Fairy Hill, or Tomnahurich in Scottish Gaelic, is an esker (glacier-formed ridge or mound) in Inverness that overlooks the Caledonian Canal. While visitors and locals are drawn to its 18th-century cemetery, the hill is most known for its Scottish folklore legends.
On the shores of Loch Ness, Nessieland is a miniature theme park that celebrates the famed monster that supposedly lives in the depths of the loch. Combining fun, kitsch, and education, the park features informative displays along with models of Nessie, an adventure playground, sandpit, cave, model railway, gift shop, and café.
