Scottish Highlands
Travel Advice for Seniors: Scottish Highlands
The Scottish Highlands are north of Edinburgh and encompass a great deal of lakes and green rolling hills. The famous Loch Ness is part of the highlands, which we did visit, however, Nessie did not appear for us.
While the larger cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow steal the show with their history and world class facilities, it is the highlands that provide the beauty and picturesque scenery that Scotland is known for. And did I mention Scotch whiskey? Oh yeah! We’ll get to that.
We began our journey through the highlands by a trip through Trossachs National Park on our way to Inverary Castle, seat of the Duke of Argyll.
Trossachs National Park features beautiful green rolling hills around the lush Loch Lomond, a freshwater lake that is the largest in Great Britain. The lake is known for waters ports and easy access from Edinburgh and Glasgow. The small picturesque village of Luss awaits you for a cup of coffee.
The Scottish Highlands are chock full of castles, most of which are abandoned. Historically, each clan had their own castle and properties and they fought frequently as they were a fiercely independent and cut throat bunch that operated autonomous from the Scottish kings.
It wasn’t until the failed Jacobite risings in the 18th century (an attempt to restore the Stuart monarchy) and the 1746 Battle of Cullodon that brought the region under state control. The clan structure was dismantled, their customs banned by Britain and the “Highland Clearances” began, resulting in mass migration out of the area.
The Clearances occurred because the Landlords of the castles shifted from a protective fiefdom structure to commercial ventures, replacing workers with large scale sheep farming. This shift as well as the potato famine in the 1840’s caused massive relocation to North America and Australia. Hence, the many abandoned castles and fortress.
One castle that was not abandoned and is in excellent condition, is Inverary Castle. You should definitely put this on your itinerary for a stop. The 13th Duke of Argyll currently inhabits the lower levels of the castle and the main upper level rooms have all been restored to their former glory for visitors. The castle has been the seat of the Dukes of Argyll, chiefs of Clan Campbell, since the 18th century.
Multiple fires brought about remodeling and a reworking of the interior design, which comes together in a remarkable package. From the incredibly impressive entry hall with its display of arms to the private apartments and clothing displays from times past, it has been lovingly restored. Note the family plaid featured all over the castle. Limited accessibility due to many flights of original stairs.
Keep your eyes peeled as you move through the highlands for many more castles. Many are on a loch (or lake) and while they have been abondoned, are still a beautiful sight to behold.
As we made our way to Fort William for the evening, one last stop was near Ballachulish by Glencoe for a look at what a clan lodge would’ve looked like before the Clearances. The area here was also host to the Glencoe Massacre, the culmination of the longstanding Campbell/MacDonald feud over western Highlands dominance.
With the rolling green hills, crystal clear water and dark, low hanging clouds, it is easy to lose yourself in the mysticism, history and pristine purity of the area. For those who may have read or tuned in to “The Highlander” series you may find yourself in what seems to be the middle of the story here!
Besides all of the nasty battles that happened in the Highlands, let’s talk about another important piece of Scottish history here that is a lot more enjoyable…Scotch Whiskey! Our next stop in Ben Nevis provided us with a taste of this heavenly brew.
Made from barley, yeast and water, Scotch whiskey is developed using a a six-step process including malting, mashing, fermenting, distilling and then maturing in oak casks for at least three years. You won’t find a whiskey labeled “Scotch whiskey” outside of Scotland and the country has strict standards for what can be called the same. We did go through Ben Nevis distillery and it was very informative.
There are several different areas that produce a specific type of Scotch: Islay ( peaty), Highland (robust), Speyside (lighter and fruity). When I asked the distiller what made each scotch so unique, the answer was “the water”. Ben Nevis’ water comes straightaway from Ben Nevis mountain, which you can see from the distillery.
The logical next step after a scotch tasting is to go looking for Nessie at Loch Ness! Loch Ness is a good ways out of the way, and to be honest, not much to see except beautiful green mountains and pristine lakes. Though Urqhart Castle is an abandoned beauty. So while it is nice to dip your toe in the lake and say you’ve been there, you may not want to make a special trip unless you have the extra time.
Another Highland curiousity, is the “koo” or Highland cow. It is a hearty animal with long hair and horns. We got the impression that these were more for show than actual commercial production.
It was lovely to spend some time in the Scottish Highlands. It doesn’t seem like anything has changed over the centuries…the castles are still there and the landscape is the same. It is easy to imagine yourself back in time preparing for battle with a few Scotch whiskies under your belt to boost your bravery!
Where we stayed: Ballachulish Hotel, breakfast included. Accessible entrances, parking, and main areas, but only some rooms are completely accessible.
How we got there: Bus ride from Edinburgh. Fifteen-day small group tour through Scotland and Ireland.
General Accessibility Information: A lot of the older areas of towns are not accessible due to cobbled streets and high thresholds of historical buildings. More modern buildings and tourist areas may be more accessible. Call in advance to verify and make specialty arrangements. See our sections on specialty apps and accessible travel for more on accessibility assistance. Many newer hotels and transportation are accessible.
