How to Spend a Day in Beauly: A Quaint Highlands Village

With its historic priory, charming stone cottages, and wonderfully quaint high street, it’s no surprise that Beauly is often named among the prettiest villages in the Highlands. Just a short distance from Inverness, it’s also one of the easiest and most popular day trips from the city.

Beauly offers a gentler, more understated side of the region, and, not unlike nearby villages like Fortrose, is surrounded by rolling countryside rather than dramatic mountain scenery.

Despite its small size, it’s such a lovely little Highland village; elegant architecture, independent boutiques, a sense of history, and genuinely good food, all coming together to create an easy but very charming stop.

We found ourselves here recently, looking for an easy escape from the city without a long drive. Beauly turned out to be exactly what we needed: a peaceful afternoon spent exploring the priory, dipping in and out of shops, and settling in for a relaxed lunch.

If you’re planning a visit, this guide brings together my favourite things to do in Beauly - from its historic highlights to the best spots for coffee and a slow wander.

Getting to Beauly

From Inverness, it’s an easy 25-minute drive to Beauly. If you’re travelling without a car, there are good public transport options: the Stagecoach bus (service 28) takes around 30 minutes, while the train is the quickest and most straightforward, reaching Beauly in just 15 minutes with regular services throughout the day.

How Long to Spend in Beauly

Beauly is small, and you only need a few hours to enjoy it. A relaxed half-day is ideal for exploring the priory, having lunch, and wandering the high street’s delis and shops at an unhurried pace.

If you’re looking to turn it into a longer day out, allow an extra couple of hours to visit nearby highlights like The Singleton Distillery, Rogie Falls, or Wild Gorse Kitchen.

Best things to do in Beauly

Begin at Beauly Priory. The ruins of this once-grand 13th-century monastery still dominate the village, their weathered stone arches and cloisters offering a quiet sense of history. It’s the kind of place that invites a slower pace - take a moment to wander through the grounds, read the small details, and absorb the atmosphere before stepping back into the village.

From here, wander onto Beauly’s high street, where traditional stone buildings and chocolate-box cottages give the whole village a distinctly timeless feel. This isn’t somewhere for rushing; it’s a place to browse, pause, and settle into the gentle rhythm of village life.

For something truly distinctive, step into Campbell's of Beauly, a long-established outfitter with a reputation that stretches far beyond the Highlands. Known for its beautifully made tweeds and tartans (though we equally love their Fair Isle knits), the shop blends heritage craftsmanship with a quietly refined style.

Even if you’re not shopping, it’s worth stepping inside to appreciate the textures, colours, and sense of tradition.

When it’s time to pause, Cafe Biagiotti offers something a little different, an Italian-inspired pasticceria and coffee bar that feels both stylish and welcoming. Expect excellent coffee, sweet treats, and beautifully topped focaccia.

If you’re leaning more towards lunch, Corner on the Square is a firm favourite, a charming deli-style spot known for savoury quiches, hearty Scotch eggs, and a tempting counter of cakes.

For dinner, or something a little more immersive, head to The Downright Gabbler. This isn’t a traditional restaurant; instead, it hosts occasional themed food events centred around Highland history and storytelling. Evenings typically last a few hours, with multi-course menus built around seasonal, locally sourced produce. They don’t run every night, and advance booking is essential.

For a Longer Day Trip

If you’re looking to turn your visit into a longer, more rounded day, Beauly pairs beautifully with a handful of nearby stops that add both scenery and experience.

Our favourite place for lunch in the area sits just a short drive from the village. Wild Gorse Kitchen is a charming, design-led café tucked away near Belladrum, set within a beautifully restored cart shed. Inside, it feels more like a garden cottage than a traditional café, with soft, rustic interiors and wildflowers woven throughout.

The food is a real highlight: simple, seasonal, and centred around light plates and vibrant salads that are, quite honestly, some of the best we’ve had anywhere in the Highlands.

The coffee and homemade cakes are equally exceptional - and you know how fussy we are about our flat whites. It’s very much a destination in its own right, and well worth planning your visit around.

Next door, Wild Gorse Studio is equally hard to leave without something in hand; a beautifully curated space filled with homewares, thoughtful accessories, and fresh flowers that perfectly mirror the café's aesthetic.

A short drive away, The Singleton Distillery offers a classic whisky experience in a relaxed setting. Book a tour that takes you through the full process from malt to cask, with a tasting at the end. Or sample a dram at the bar. Even if you’re not a whisky enthusiast, it’s an easy and enjoyable way to add something distinctly Highland to your day.

From there, continue on to Rogie Falls, where a short woodland walk leads to a series of cascading waterfalls set within native forest. The suspension bridge offers the best viewpoint, and in late summer, you may even spot salmon leaping upstream. It’s an easy, scenic stop that adds a touch of wild landscape to an otherwise gentle day, before looping back towards Beauly or Inverness.

History of Beauly

Beauly’s story begins with the founding of Beauly Priory in the 13th century, when Valliscaulian monks established a religious community here around 1230. The village itself grew up around the priory, which quickly became a focal point for both spiritual life and local trade.

Its name is often said to come from the French phrase “beau lieu”(meaning “beautiful place”), supposedly said by Mary, Queen of Scots, as she passed through, though this is likely more legend than fact.

After the Scottish Reformation, the priory fell into ruin, but its remains still define the village today. Beauly saw a revival in the 19th century with the arrival of the railway, which shaped the characterful high street you see now and established it as a small but important Highland hub.