Scotland Off the Beaten Track

Highland | Invermoriston | Waterfall | ★★

The translation of the River Moriston from its Gaelic roots into English as River of the waterfalls is a big clue that it might be worth stopping off here. Fortunately most people don't speak Gaelic and drive right by, ensuring this beauty spot remains relatively quiet by local standards. Here, the burn tumbles haphazardly across bands of rock in a determined effort to reach nearby Loch Ness. These aren't the highest waterfalls in the region by any means, but they're a pleasant place for a short wander, or to let off steam after being stuck behind a slow lorry on the A82 for the last mile or 10. Even the local Highland Cows are friendly...


📌Invermoriston Falls ★★
Off the A82 immediately south of Invermoriston, G.R.: NH 421164 ///shook.asks.highly
Always open | Free

Anything else? From the main village car park on the A82 at G.R.: NH 420167 ///dinosaur.pelted.shoelaces it's a 5-min walk to the nearest rapids. Follow the clear path…

Highland | Loch Ness | Short walk | ★★★

The main road along the east side of Loch Ness passes right by the base of Carn an t-Suidhe. This hillock isn't notable for its height, dramatic terrain or scenery on the way to the summit. But it's a popular stop-off so there's a good path, views from the top are decent and it's less than a mile's round trip. Therefore, if you're passing by in good weather then a quick trip up's pretty much obligatory.


📌 Walk: Carn an t-Suidhe - a hill made for tourists ★★★
▶ 1 km / <1 mile | ▲ 60 metres Summits: Carn an t-Suidhe (450 metres) Start / finish: Layby on B862 4 miles southwest of Whitebridge, G.R.: NH 450105 ///attention.window.bus
Route: Layby - Carn an t-Suidhe - return by outward route Terrain: Straightforward, clear path with gentle ascent. Wildlife today: Several deer wandering the nearby deforested plantations. Weather today: Sun, large clouds and light winds.


Route map
Route credit: Scotland off the beaten track

Highland | Loch Ness | Short walk | ★★★★

A short drive along the narrow shore road from Dores brings you to the village of Foyers, scattered across the hillside high above Loch Ness. A short walk takes you to viewpoints for the breathtaking waterfalls on the River Foyers. The scenery seems almost North American in character here, trees towering high above a seemingly bottomless chasm, filled with mist when the river's in spate. As is usually the case with waterfalls, photographs don't capture the true scale of the terrain - you have to actually be there. The area is deserving of exploration all the way down to the houses in Lower Foyers where the river runs into the loch. We found the area beyond here a bit anti-climatic, so it's probably worth turning tail here and burning some calories on the steep ascent back towards the car park.


📌 Walk: Fantastic Falls of Foyers ★★★★
▶ 3 km / 2 miles | ▲ 120 metres
Features: Lower Fall of Foyers
Start / finish: Car park on B852 next to …

Highland | Viewpoint | ★★

Dores is your first point of contact with Loch Ness when exploring it in a clockwise direction from Inverness. There's not much to the village itself, although we can recommend the Dores Inn, with a beautiful outlook over the water especially at sunset. And indeed, it's the views that bring visitors to Dores: it's a perfect place to stand and gaze along the loch towards Fort Augustus and the hill of Meall Fuar-mhonaidh... at least if you're there before the crowds arrive. A key highlight for fans of the Loch Ness Monster is a camper van / kiosk on the beach belonging to Steve Feltham - a full-time Nessie hunter.


📌Dores viewpoint ★★
By the B862, Dores village centre, G.R.: NH 599348 ///geese.moment.sunblock
Always open | Free

Highland | Drumnadrochit | Loch | ★★★

Loch Ness is the Scotland's largest loch by volume, extending 23 miles southwest from near Inverness, and containing more water than all of the lakes in England and Wales combined. This is one of the most popular destinations in the Highlands. Why? Mostly because of the Loch Ness Monster which (probably...) inhabits the deeps here, and reputedly contributes £41 million to the Scottish economy each year. Whether or not you catch a glimpse of Nessie doesn't matter, as a varied set of visitor attractions and beauty spots encircle the loch, often irritatingly crowded in peak season but deservedly so. The distances involved make it an ideal day's driving tour from Inverness, taking in Dores, the Falls of Foyers and Carn an t-Suidhe on the quieter east bank en route to Fort Augustus at the head of the loch. Invermoriston, Urquhart Castle and Drumnadrochit on the busy west bank complete the circuit. As for whether it's worth coming all th…

Aberdeenshire | Kennethmont | Stately home | ★★★

After half a decade of closure, Leith Hall opened to the public once again in 2013; the photos here were taken on reopening day. Originally built in the 17th century for defensive purposes, the property belonged to the Leith family for 10 generations. Like so many historic family homes, it was expanded and altered over the years to the more comfortable property you see today. The extensive grounds and gardens are as much of a draw as the house's grand interior (but a bit muddy on our visit).


📌Leith Hall★★★
Off the B9002 a mile north of Kennethmont, G.R.: NJ 541298 ///dusters.producers.historic
House open Friday to Monday, July to August; weekends, April to June & September to October. Gardens: daily | £12 adult / £10 child / free for National Trust for Scotland members

Aberdeenshire | Braemar | Full day walk | ★★★★★

The formidable hulks of Beinn a' Bhuird and Ben Avon comprise some of the highest and most inhospitable ground in the country. Both are extensive and remote plateaus: the former fringed by dramatic cliffs, the latter capped with a cluster of rocky tors. Both can be tackled in a single, epic day by one of the most memorable walks in the Cairngorms. At a monstrous 37 km in distance, this is a serious undertaking, passing through terrain miles from the nearest road. On a summer day in good conditions however, long daylight hours make the circuit feasible for experienced walkers, with wonderfully varied terrain keeping interest going as the legs inevitably tire. Just one highlight of the journey is that it passes the "Hidden Bothies": possibly as many as three separate shelters blending into the hillside around the intimate upper part of Gleann an t-Slugain. They're not marked on maps (and shouldn't be confused with the…

Moray | Craigellachie | Bridge | ★★

Tucked away next to the important Speyside road hub of Craigellachie is a majestic, cast iron bridge soaring above the River Spey, with castle-like towers flanking each end. Thomas Telford built this single arch span in 1812-15, making the oldest of its type still surviving in Scotland; it's now bypassed by the main road leaving it easy to explore on foot. The views from the bridge are good, but you should also take a short path from the car park down to the river bank to see the arch in its full glory - it's also a nice spot for a picnic on a sunny day.


📌Craigellachie Bridge ★★
By the A941 / A95 junction, 5-min walk west of Craigellachie, G.R.: NJ 286452 ///awoke.breath.joggers
Always open | Free

Angus | Angus Glens | Glen Esk sights | ★★

The road north from Edzell winds for 15 unhurried miles into the heart of the Cairngorms. Tarfside is the capital by default - it's pretty much the only settlement, with a tiny school but no shop. All the Angus Glens are lovely, but Glen Esk probably offers the widest variety of attractions, with an interesting folk museum, ruined castle and the prominent Maule Monument as well as more serious hill walks. Not to mention the Queen's Well and Balnamoon's Cave even further up the glen. Lots to explore here amongst beautiful surroundings, and usually delightfully quiet.


📌Glen Esk Folk Museum★★
Description: Interesting museum documenting Glen Esk and Angus country life, with a decent cafe.
Location: Minor road a mile east of Tarfside, G.R.: NO 509789 ///impresses.oatmeal.branch
Open (2019): Closed for refurbishment.
Cost: Free

📌Invermark Castle ★★
Description: Tall tower house ruin probably dating to the 16th century - note the first floor …

Angus | Angus Glens | Half day walk | ★★★

The cone-shaped Maule Monument is a prominent landmark, crowning gentle Hill of Rowan in beautiful Glen Esk. The monument dates from 1866, built as a memorial to the local Panmure family. Beautiful purple hues created by blooming heather makes this an idyllic summer wander starting from the remote hamlet of Tarfside.


📌 Walk: Heathery Hill of Rowan ★★★
▶ 7 km / 4 miles | ▲ 200 metres
Summits: Hill of Rowan (380 metres)
Start / finish: Car park on minor road at Tarfside, G.R.: NO 493797 ///comedy.ignites.plants

Route: Car park - leave main track at G.R. NO 475799 - Hill of Rowan - track near Stylemouth - join minor road east of Blackness - start. It may be possible to reduce the road walking on the return by crossing the North Esk near Dalbrack, following the track on the south bank to Buskhead before crossing back. However, the bridge at Buskhead is marked as private and unsafe, so couldn't be recommended.
Terrain: Pleasant tracks, fainter on f…

Angus | Montrose | Stately home | ★★★

The House of Dun is a stunning Georgian stately home situated in pleasant Angus countryside between Brechin and Montrose, not far from the mud flats of Montrose Basin nature reserve. As you'd expect from a National Trust for Scotland property, the house interior is furnished lavishly, with equally beautiful gardens. On a good weather day, let the train take the strain from the Brechin to nearby Bridge of Dun (10 minutes from the House). This makes a nice addition to poking around the town and its cathedral. In fact, you can't really say you've "dun" Brechin without it...


📌House of Dun★★★
Off the A935 4 miles west of Montrose, G.R.: NO 670599 ///palace.golden.contour
House open daily, early July to early September; Saturday to Wednesday, late March to early July & early September to early November. Gardens: daily | £12 adult / £10 child / free for National Trust for Scotland members

Angus | Brechin | Cathedral & heritage railway | ★★★

When is a city not a city? When it's Brechin City. The town's ancient cathedral (complete with an 11th century round tower) is responsible for the illusions of grandeur held by the local football club (Brechin City) and other organisations. In reality the town itself won't hold your attention for long. Once you've exhausted the options in the centre, take the steam railway 4 miles to the House of Dun. There used to be a good museum relating to the Picts on the outskirts of town, but this closed in 2014.


📌Brechin Cathedral & Round Tower★★
Description: Small, 13th century cathedral and earlier, unusual round tower.
Location: Church Street, town centre, G.R.: NO 596601 ///pegs.contain.steep
Open (2019): Daily (Round Tower: exterior only)
Cost: Free

📌Caledonian Railway★★★
Description: Heritage steam railway linking Brechin to the Bridge of Dun, close to the House of Dun estate.
Location (Brechin station): Park Road, 5-…