Scottish Highlands: Hubs & Their Satellites
At a glance: Planning a trip to the Highlands can feel overwhelming. This map shows the five best towns to use as a base, along with the glens, isles, and historic sites that orbit them—perfect for day trips.
What are “The Highlands”?
The Scottish Highlands are not a single county or administrative area but a vast region shaped by geography, history, and identity. Geologically, the Highlands begin north and west of the Highland Boundary Fault — a line that runs from Arran in the southwest through Loch Lomond and across to Stonehaven on the North Sea. Everything beyond this line is higher, older rock: mountains, moors, and deep glens carved by glaciers.
Culturally, the Highlands were long defined by Gaelic language, clan systems, and a rugged independence that set them apart from the Lowlands. Today, when travellers speak of “the Highlands,” they usually mean the sweeping landscapes north and west of this fault line: from Glencoe and Fort William through the Great Glen, up to Inverness and beyond to Skye, the northwest coast, and Caithness.
How to Use This Map
In practice, think of the Highlands as both a landscape and an experience: fewer people, bigger skies, and roads and trails that thread through some of Britain’s most dramatic scenery. On this map, the dashed boundary captures that idea — not a strict county line, but a traveller’s frame.
Within it we’ve marked the five main towns that work best as bases (“hubs”), along with a set of nearby points of interest — glens, isles, forests, and historic sites that orbit them (“satellites”). They offer a way to shape your journey through this vast region of rugged beauty, but they are only a starting point. The Highlands hold far more than any map can capture — and the fun is not just the destination, it’s the journey. Your world, your pace.
Tips for using the map:
- Click icons to see the name of a hub or satellite.
- Zoom in to see map details or recenter the map
- Toggle layers hide/display hub/satellite icons & boundary
How to use this guide: Each hub has a short “why here” and practical notes. Satellites are grouped beneath with quick context and a “good for” nudge. Use the cross-links to jump to dedicated Hub pages when you want more story.
Go to section: Fort William · Oban · Inverness · Aviemore · Ullapool
Fort William (South & West Highlands)
Pressed between Loch Linnhe and the slopes of Ben Nevis, Fort William is a compact base with rail/bus links, trailheads, and loch access. Ideal for Glencoe, Glenfinnan, the Great Glen, and west-coast ferries.
- Why stay: Walkable services; Ben Nevis & Glen Nevis on the doorstep; quick hops to Glencoe/Glenfinnan.
- Best with/without car: Both work—rail/bus cover core sights; a car unlocks side glens and ferry loops.
Satellites from Fort William (short list)
- Glencoe: A cathedral-like valley of sculpted ridges and history. Pull into signed viewpoints for huge panoramas, or take short trails such as the An Torr/Signal Rock path; half-day options include Coire Gabhail (“Lost Valley”). Good for: scenery, short walks, photography.
- Glenfinnan: Jacobite monument on Loch Shiel and the curving viaduct made famous by the Harry Potter films. Time your visit for a steam-train crossing (in season) from the maintained viewpoints. Good for: history, families, rail fans.
- Great Glen & Caledonian Canal: Flat towpaths and lockside strolls from Neptune’s Staircase, with easy drives to Fort Augustus for canal-and-Loch Ness views and short forest loops. Good for: easy miles, mixed-ability days.
- Road to the Isles (Fort William → Mallaig): Beaches at Arisaig and Morar (“Silver Sands”), fishing villages, and chances for wildlife. Ferries run from Mallaig to the Small Isles and to Skye (Armadale). Good for: beaches, wildlife, island tasters.
- Ardnamurchan Peninsula: A wilder, single-track adventure via the Corran Ferry. Moor, loch and white-sand bays lead to Ardnamurchan Point lighthouse—the westernmost tip of mainland Britain. Good for: wild scenery, solitude, coastal wildlife.
Isle of Skye: Flagship Satellite of Fort William
- Isle of Skye: Scotland’s most celebrated island, reached by ferry from Mallaig or by road via the Skye Bridge (Kyle of Lochalsh). Rugged Cuillin peaks, sea lochs, and villages make it a flagship destination. Good for: landscapes, hiking, photography.
Skye Satellites
Although Skye is large enough to feel like a hub of its own, on this map it appears as a flagship satellite of Fort William. That’s because Fort William is the most practical launch point: the Road to the Isles links the town to the Mallaig ferry, while the drive north via Glen Shiel leads to the Skye Bridge that connects the island to the mainland. From either route you can reach the island in a few hours, making it a natural extension of a Fort William base. Skye’s size and variety mean it rewards at least an overnight stay, but many travellers still treat it as part of a wider loop anchored in Fort William.
- Trotternish Peninsula: The Trotternish Ridge—the northern finger of the Isle of Skye—is a dramatic landslip with cliffs, pinnacles, and sweeping views. Its icons are the Old Man of Storr, a 50m (164ft) rock spire rising among other pinnacles, and the Quiraing, a maze of cliffs with features like the "Needle," the "Prison," and the "Table." A magnet for hikers and photographers. Good for: iconic hikes, dramatic geology.
- Cuillin Mountains: The Cuillin range dominates Skye’s south with jagged volcanic peaks, the most challenging in Scotland. Climbers come for knife-edge summits, while lower paths lead into glens and lochs with the peaks towering above. Even from the roadside the views deliver Skye’s wild drama. Good for: mountain challenges, scenery.
- Portree: Skye’s main town curves around a sheltered east-coast harbour where brightly painted houses reflect in the water. Compact but lively, it has cafés, seafood restaurants, and shops that make it the practical touring base. From here, buses, tours, and boats fan out to the island’s highlights. Good for: base stays, dining, boat trips.
- Fairy Pools (Glen Brittle): At the foot of the Cuillin, a chain of crystal-clear pools and small falls tumble through a rocky glen. The walk in is short and stony but manageable, and on a sunny day the water glows turquoise. Hardy swimmers dip in, though it’s icy year-round. Arrive early or late for quieter magic. Good for: family-friendly walks, photography.
- Dunvegan Castle & Coral Beach: About 30–40 minutes’ drive north-west of Portree, Dunvegan Castle is the ancestral seat of Clan MacLeod, standing on a rocky point above Loch Dunvegan. Inside are 800 years of stories and heirlooms; outside, gardens spill toward the sea. A short coastal drive beyond leads to Coral Beach — not coral at all, but crushed white shells that make the water glow turquoise. Together they create a slower, gentler Skye day. Good for: history, lighter day trips.
Inverness (North & East Highlands)
River city at the head of the Moray Firth—rail hub for the Far North and Kyle lines, buses around Loch Ness and the Black Isle. Best base for northern loops.
- Why stay: Transport grid, dining choice, easy access to Loch Ness, Culloden, dolphin-watching.
- Best with/without car: Car broadens reach (Black Isle, east-coast castles); buses cover Ness-side highlights.
Satellites from Inverness
- Loch Ness & Fort Augustus: The most famous loch in Scotland, long and deep, with cruises that search for “Nessie” while showing off dramatic scenery. At Fort Augustus, the Caledonian Canal climbs through a flight of locks right in the village centre, with towpath strolls and forest loops nearby. Good for: families, easy walks, boat trips.
- Culloden & Clava Cairns: The battlefield where the Jacobite Rising ended in 1746 is now preserved as open moor with a visitor centre and memorial stones. Just a short walk away, Clava Cairns is a cluster of Bronze Age chambered tombs and standing stones, atmospheric among birch and broom. Good for: history, reflective short visits.
- Black Isle: A peninsula north of Inverness, best known for bottlenose dolphins that hunt close to shore at Chanonry Point. It also offers sandy crescents, quiet harbours, and the preserved 18th-century streets of Cromarty with cafés and craft shops. Good for: wildlife, coastal pottering, village charm.
- East-Coast Castles: Fort George, an immense 18th-century garrison on the Moray Firth, still intact with ramparts to walk, barracks to explore, and coastal views. Nearby, Cawdor Castle blends literary legend (linked to Macbeth) with fine gardens and interiors. Good for: architecture, rainy-day exploring.
- Dunrobin Castle: North along the coast, Dunrobin looks like something out of a fairy tale, with pointed towers above formal gardens that sweep down to the sea. Inside, period rooms trace the story of the Sutherland family; falconry displays and sea views round out the visit. Good for: history, coastal scenery, grand gardens.
Oban (Southern Gateway to the Isles)
Ferry capital on the Firth of Lorn—seafood, distillery, and daily sailings to Mull, Kerrera, Lismore, and beyond.
- Why stay: Island day trips stack easily; walkable harbour town.
- Best with/without car: No car needed for Mull/Kerrera day hops; car helps for Mull interiors.
Satellites from Oban
- Kerrera: A tiny island just a 10-minute ferry hop from Oban, with no cars and a looping coastal path. The highlight is Gylen Castle, a 16th-century ruin perched dramatically on a clifftop above the sea. The walk gives wide views back to Oban and across to Mull, making it one of the best short island escapes in the area. Good for: half-day hike, sea views.
- Lismore: A low, green island reached by a short ferry crossing, Lismore is best explored by bike. Quiet single-track roads wind past chapels, farmsteads, and the ruins of medieval castles, with birdlife and wide views across to Mull and Morvern, a sparsely populated peninsula on the Scottish mainland. Its pace is unhurried, ideal for travellers who want to trade bustle for simplicity. Good for: bikes, birdlife, rural tranquillity.
- Craignure (Mull gateway): The ferry from Oban lands here in about an hour. Craignure itself is small, but it’s the hub where visitors choose to either head north to Tobermory or south-west to Fionnphort for Iona. Good for: a simple day crossing or starting point for longer island journeys.
- Tobermory (Mull): About an hour’s drive or bus ride north from Craignure, is Tobermory, Mull’s main town. Its brightly painted harbourfront curves around a sheltered bay, with cafés, shops, and wildlife cruises leaving from the pier. Good for: colourful harbour scenes, family-friendly exploring, wildlife watching.
- Iona (via Fionnphort): From Craignure it’s a 35-mile (56 km) journey — about 1 hr 15 min by car or 90 minutes by bus — across Mull to the village of Fionnphort. From there a 10-minute passenger ferry sails to Iona. The abbey in Iona is one of Scotland’s most important Christian sites, and the beaches shimmer with white shell sand. Because of travel time, an overnight on Mull makes the visit more comfortable, especially if you combine both places. Good for: spiritual history, coastal scenery, reflection.
Aviemore (Cairngorms)
Forest-ringed base for the Cairngorm plateau—lochs, pines, reindeer centre, and year-round outdoor culture.
- Why stay: Family-friendly trails, watersports, winter sports; rail to Inverness/Perth.
- Best with/without car: No car works for core trails; car helps for remote corries and passes.
Satellites from Aviemore
- Rothiemurchus & Loch an Eilein: (shown as two markers on map) A vast Caledonian pine forest where red squirrels, deer, and ospreys are often seen. Easy, level trails lead to Loch an Eilein, a mirror-calm loch with a ruined 14th-century castle on a small island. Great for walking, cycling, and family outings. Good for: families, cyclists, gentle days outdoors.
- Cairngorm Mountain: Britain’s largest high plateau, often holding snow well into spring. The funicular (when running) and car park give access to short scenic walks, while longer ridge hikes demand clear weather and preparation. Views sweep across the Cairngorms and west toward Ben Nevis. Good for: hill days, big landscapes, guided hikes.
- Cairngorms & Speyside Whisky Country: East of Aviemore lies whisky country, anchored by towns like Dufftown and Aberlour. Distilleries such as Glenfiddich, Macallan, and Aberlour offer tours and tastings, often alongside heritage museums and riverside walks. A slower-paced day mixing flavour, history, and village stops. Good for: whisky tastings, heritage, rainy-day alternatives.
Ullapool (North-West Highlands)
White-harbour town on Loch Broom; ferry to Stornoway, driving base for Coigach and Assynt’s sculpted mountains.
- Why stay: Access to Stac Pollaidh, Achiltibuie coast, Knockan Crag geopark sites.
- Best with/without car: Car strongly recommended—public transport is sparse.
Satellites from Ullapool
- Stac Pollaidh: A short but steep hill walk leading to a jagged ridge, with sweeping views over lochs and the lone peaks of Assynt. The main path is clear and family-friendly; the airy crest is optional. Good for: hikers, photographers.
- Achmelvich & Clachtoll: Two of the northwest Highlands’ most striking beaches, where white sand and turquoise waters meet low rocky headlands. Great for a picnic, a barefoot stroll, or simply sitting in the breeze. Good for: beaches, picnics.
- Knockan Crag: A National Nature Reserve and Geopark site where short trails explain the Moine Thrust — a dramatic geological fault where ancient rocks were pushed over younger ones. Combine science with sweeping mountain and loch views. Good for: learning, leg-stretch stops.
- Coigach & the Summer Isles: South of Ullapool, the single-track road to Achiltibuie winds through moorland and lochs to a peninsula looking out over the scattered Summer Isles. Some islands carry grassy slopes and crofts, others rise bare from the sea. In summer, boats head out for seal and seabird watching, and occasionally dolphins. Good for: wild scenery, kayaking, island cruises.
Planning the Region
- Timing: Apr–Jun & Sep shine; Jul–Aug busy; winter short days but clear skies when it settles.
- Getting around: Trains/buses connect main hubs; a car opens side glens, ferries, and coastal loops.
- Ferries: Book peak sailings (Skye/Small Isles/Mull) early; keep weather flex.
- Midges: Late May–Sept in still, damp conditions—repellent/nets help.
Now turn south to the Scottish Lowlands — Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling, St Andrews, Aberdeen, Melrose, and Kirkcudbright — where castles, coasts, and cultural centres balance the drama of the north.