Loch Ness
A long, deep freshwater lake in the Great Glen, famed for stories of its monster. Boat trips, shoreline walks and ruined Urquhart Castle make it a popular stop.
Scottish Highlands
Car or train is the best way to explore the Highlands, with dramatic mountains and lochs, among them the Isle of Skye, Glencoe and Loch Ness.
Attractive locations
Ben Nevis
The highest mountain in the British Isles, rising above Fort William. A long walking path leads to the summit in good weather, while others admire it from the valley below.
Eilean Donan Castle
A picturesque castle on a small island where three sea lochs meet, linked to the mainland by a stone bridge. It is one of the most photographed sights in Scotland.
Glen Affric
A quiet glen of lochs, rivers and remnants of ancient Caledonian pine forest, often described as one of Scotland's most beautiful, with many walking and cycling routes.
Glen Coe
A steep-sided valley of high ridges and waterfalls, among the most dramatic landscapes in Scotland. It draws hillwalkers and photographers, and is also known for the 1692 massacre of the MacDonalds.
Glenfinnan Viaduct
A curving railway viaduct with twenty-one arches near the head of Loch Shiel, made famous by the Harry Potter films. Many visitors come to watch a steam train cross it.
Isle of Skye
The largest island of the Inner Hebrides, known for the jagged Cuillin mountains, sea cliffs, castles and fishing villages. A road bridge links it to the mainland.
Airports
Inverness Airport INV
It is about 62 km in a straight line from Scottish Highlands.
Oban Airport OBN
It is about 84 km in a straight line from Scottish Highlands.
Glasgow Airport GLA
It is about 140 km in a straight line from Scottish Highlands.
Scams and safe taxis
Taxi and scam advice for this country is on the United Kingdom page
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan1.4 °C191 mm
- Feb1.3 °C140 mm
- Mar2.5 °C134 mm
- Apr5.1 °C100 mm
- May8.0 °C125 mm
- Jun10.8 °C131 mm
- Jul12.3 °C148 mm
- Aug11.8 °C166 mm
- Sep9.9 °C152 mm
- Oct7.0 °C177 mm
- Nov4.0 °C167 mm
- Dec2.0 °C184 mm
Driest months: Apr, May, Jun. Wettest months: Jan, Oct, Dec.
Costs
Prices here are about 89% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Who can help
Emergency
999 (or 112) for police, fire and ambulance.
local government
Emergency number 999 (NHS guidance)
Helps with: Call 999 if someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk. NHS England guidance for visitors from abroad also points to 111 for urgent but non-life-threatening problems.
Who qualifies: Anyone in England, including visitors from abroad, in a life-threatening situation.
Phone: 999
local government
NHS 111
Helps with: NHS service for urgent medical help or advice that is not life-threatening, or when you are unsure which NHS service you need. Symptoms can also be checked online at 111.nhs.uk.
Who qualifies: Anyone in England, including visitors from abroad, who needs urgent medical advice.
Phone: 111
local government
VisitBritain (British Tourist Authority)
Helps with: Britain's national tourism agency. Its websites cover trip planning for Britain and England. The contact page says it cannot reply to individual holidaymakers asking for travel advice.
Who qualifies: Anyone planning a trip to Britain; use the websites rather than the contact form for travel questions.
ngo
British Red Cross
Helps with: The UK's Red Cross society. Its website covers first aid, an international family tracing service, support for refugees and asylum seekers, and guidance for people affected by emergencies such as floods.
Who qualifies: People in the UK needing its support services; family tracing and refugee support are open to those affected.
Phone: 0344 871 11 11
Address: 44 Moorfields, London, EC2Y 9AL
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) United Kingdom
Helps with: The UN migration agency. In the UK it runs resettlement, support and protection activities for migrants, and has had a presence there since 1995.
Who qualifies: Migrants and refugees in the UK. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Address: Heron House, First Floor, 10 Dean Farrar St., London, SW1H 0DX
embassy
Foreign embassies and consulates in the UK (official list)
Helps with: For a lost passport or serious trouble, contact your own country's embassy. The Foreign Office publishes a list of embassies, high commissions and consulates in the UK, including their addresses and contact details.
Who qualifies: Citizens of each country, through their own embassy, high commission or consulate.