Scotland's North Highlands (Slow Travel) : plus Inverness

From the award-winning publisher of Bradt's acclaimed 'Slow' travel guides, written by a northern Scotland specialist.

Scotland's North Highlands offers greater detail than any other guidebook to the whole of northern Scotland, ranging far beyond the increasingly popular North Coast 500 driving route. Sutherland, Caithness and Ross-shire demand to be explored slowly—single-track roads wind past lochs and moorland, settlements are sparse, and every corner reveals staggering views. Remote coastal cliffs throb with seabirds, hidden coves shimmer in the ever-changing light, and crumbling castles and ancient sites reward those who venture down potholed roads.

With no large towns to anchor the region, visitors naturally gravitate to the outdoors. Wilderness is joyously accessible: within moments of stepping away from your car or B&B, you're surrounded by scenery so enchanting and dramatic it feels imagined. Whether you're discovering secret beaches, watching dolphins leap, kayaking to uninhabited islands, or trekking to the UK's highest waterfall, northern Scotland is a place that gets into your bones—one people return to again and again.

Coupling a carefully curated selection of places to explore with practical travel advice, this guide encourages a leisurely approach designed to reveal the region's special qualities while contributing positively to local communities. The perfect travelling companion for discovering Scotland's far north.