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Highlands & Islands Loop

A classic Scottish circuit starting from the border city of Carlisle (Crl) and winding through the most dramatic landscapes of the North.

7days
20stops
760km

The route

Tap a day or a town

You sleep in Glencoe · Banavie · Applecross · Isle of Skye · Inverness · Kincraig — start in Loch Lomond, end in Carlisle.

DAY01

Luss → Glencoe

94 km · 1h 20m driving · Overnight in Glencoe
  1. 13:00
    Luss· start
  2. 94 km · 1h 20m
  3. 16:00
    Glencoe· overnight
Accommodation
Glencoe or Ballachulish
DAY02

Fort William → Neptune's Staircase

56 km · 55m driving · Overnight in Neptune's Staircase
  1. 10:00
    Fort William· start
  2. 29 km · 29m
  3. 14:30
    Glenfinnan Viaduct
  4. 27 km · 26m
  5. 17:30
    Neptune's Staircase· overnight
Accommodation
Fort William
DAY03

Eilean Donan Castle → Applecross

157 km · 2h 23m driving · Overnight in Applecross
  1. 09:30
    Eilean Donan Castle· start
  2. 104 km · 1h 27m
  3. 13:00
    Bealach na Bà
  4. 53 km · 56m
  5. 15:30
    Applecross· overnight
Accommodation
Strathcarron or nearby
DAY04

Old Man of Storr → Portree

144 km · 2h 24m driving · Overnight in Portree
  1. 10:00
    Old Man of Storr· start
  2. 131 km · 2h 12m
  3. 14:00
    Kilt Rock
  4. 14 km · 12m
  5. 16:30
    Portree· overnight
Accommodation
Portree
DAY05

Urquhart Castle → Culloden Battlefield

182 km · 2h 35m driving · Overnight in Culloden Battlefield
  1. 10:30
    Urquhart Castle· start
  2. 155 km · 2h 6m
  3. 14:00
    Inverness
  4. 27 km · 29m
  5. 16:30
    Culloden Battlefield· overnight
Accommodation
Inverness
DAY06

Tomatin → Highland Wildlife Park

30 km · 32m driving · Overnight in Highland Wildlife Park
  1. 10:00
    Tomatin Distillery· start
  2. 23 km · 25m
  3. 13:00
    Cairngorms National Park
  4. 7.2 km · 7m
  5. 16:00
    Highland Wildlife Park· overnight
Accommodation
Aviemore
DAY07

Pitlochry → Carlisle

97 km · 1h 22m driving
  1. 10:00
    Pitlochry· start
  2. 77 km · 57m
  3. 13:30
    The Hermitage
  4. 20 km · 25m
  5. 17:30
    Carlisle
Heads Up
  • Pack a waterproof shell even in summer.
  • Single track roads mean you must use passing places—always pull into the one on your left, or wait opposite the one on your right.