Day Trips From Inverness: Scenic Routes Into the Scottish Highlands
Perched on the northeast coast, Inverness is a vibrant city that serves as the gateway to the Scottish Highlands. The very best day trips from Inverness whisk you into Scotland’s truly incredible places in a matter of hours.
We all know about nearby things to do, but as an Inverness local, many of my favourite days out are those outside the city.
From Inverness, visit historic gems like fairy-tale Dunrobin Castle, waterfalls at Corrieshalloch and Big Burn, coastal gems like Ullapool and the Black Isle, have adventures on the Isle of Skye, visit iconic whisky distilleries, enjoy forest walks, scenic mountain passes, and dramatic glens.
And that’s only the tip of what’s easily reachable.
If you’re visiting this year, the best itinerary is one day exploring Inverness and two to three days for day trips around the Highlands.
So, if you’re looking for the best day trips from Inverness, this guide (packed with local expert knowledge) is here to inspire and provide practical tips.
Quick Guide: Best Inverness Day Trips
These are the easiest Inverness day trips, with the least amount of time spent in the car. Each ends somewhere special, with great cafes, walks, charming villages, and scenic views along the way:
Moray Firth coastline
The Black Isle
Loch Ness loop
East Coast: Dornoch, Dunrobin Castle, and Big Burn
West Coast: Ullapool and Corrieshalloch Gorge
Tip: If you have more time and don’t mind an early start, there are longer trips from Inverness, and you’ll find all the details below.
Getting Around the Scottish Highlands
Before choosing destinations, it’s worth quickly covering the practical side of getting around.
The easiest and most flexible way to explore the Highlands is by car, though the roads are often single-track. Public transport does exist and can work well between larger towns, but options become far more limited in rural areas, which can restrict how much you’re able to see in a day.
If you’d rather not drive (but don’t want to plan your trip around bus timetables), joining a tour is a much simpler option. There are heaps of generic bus tours, but we run customisable, private tours from Inverness, making it easy to explore without the logistics.
If you’re looking for ideas, our most popular routes include a “Taste of the NC500”, which covers some of the very best of the north, and a two-day Isle of Skye itinerary that balances the well-known highlights with quieter, lesser-visited spots.
Inverness Day Trips Worth Travelling For
Here are our favourite day trips from Inverness, alongside how to get there and what to see along the way. Note that drive times are one-way, so you’ll need to allow the same time again for the return trip.
Assynt
For those willing to venture further northwest, Assynt offers some of the most unique and rugged landscapes in Scotland. This is a vast region, so you’ll want to be realistic about what you can see in a day - and we think the area around the town of Lochinver is the best option.
Lochinver itself is a small town with scenic, coastal views and places to eat. While the nearby Drumbeg Loop is a short but gorgeous drive that opens onto some of Scotland’s best beaches: Achmelvich and Clachtoll.
Other gems around Assynt include Clashnessie Falls, Stac Pollaidh, and Ardvreck Castle. Seeing all of these on a day trip is possible, but you’ll need an early start to squeeze everything in.
It’ll take around 2.5 hours to get to Lochinver, more if you go further.
Highlights: Achmelvich, Clachtoll, Stoer, Flossies Beach Store, and Lochinver Larder.
Aviemore (Cairngorms National Park West)
If your focus is firmly on fresh air, head to the west of the Cairngorms. The main hub is Aviemore, but nearby towns like Grantown-on-Spey, Nethy Bridge, Carrbridge, and Kingussie are far more charming and home to the area’s best cafes. But the real highlight is the landscape, easy access to walking trails, and some gorgeous cafes.
It’ll take around an hour to get here.
Highlights: Cairngorm Reindeer Centre, Uath Lochans, Loch Morlich, Loch an Eilein, Glenmore Forest Park, An Lochan Uaine and more challenging hikes from Cairngorm Mountain Resort. Plus, Nethy House Cafe, Firefox Coffee, and The Barn Cafe.
Beauly & Rogie Falls
A small but characterful Highland village, Beauly makes for an easy and low-effort day trip from Inverness. It’s the kind of place you come for a slow wander, and you’ll find independent shops, a handful of excellent cafes, and a peaceful atmosphere.
It’ll take around 25 minutes to get here, and there’s a local bus and train connecting the village with Inverness.
Next, follow the road north for around 20 minutes until you reach Rogie Falls; a short woodland walk leads to a suspension bridge overlooking the dramatic cascade. On your return to Inverness, stop by nearby Singleton Distillery for a tour or sample of their signature single malt.
Highlights: Wild Gorse Cafe, Beauly Priory, Campbells of Beauly, The Old School Beauly, and a walk along the River Beauly. This pairs well with a visit to nearby The Singleton Distillery and Rogie Falls.
Black Isle
Despite the name, the Black Isle isn’t an island but a peaceful peninsula just north of Inverness, known for its lush farmland, quiet villages, and sweeping coastal views. It’s one of the easiest areas to explore from the city, and ideal if you’re looking for a slower, more local-feeling day without a long drive.
It’ll take around 20 to 30 minutes to get here.
This is less about ticking off major sights and more about enjoying the journey - winding through countryside roads, stopping in small villages, and taking in the coastal scenery as you go.
You can keep things simple with a short loop, or stretch it into a full day with a mix of beach walks, viewpoints, and café stops. It’s an easy, flexible option that works particularly well if you want something low effort but still distinctly Highland.
Highlights: Fortrose, Cromarty, Last Splash, IV10, Bakhoos Bakery, Sutor Creek Cafe, Newhall Mains, Fairy Glen Falls, and Rosemarkie Beach.
Braemar & Balmoral (Cairngorms National Park East)
Sitting on the eastern side of the Cairngorms National Park, Braemar and the surrounding area offer a day out packed with classic Scottish landscapes and activities. Encompassing Royal Deeside, choose from forest walks, mountain hikes, royal castles, and visit postcard-perfect villages like Braemar.
It’ll take around two hours driving to get here, but the scenic Snow Road over Tomintoul is genuinely spectacular.
Highlights: Balmoral Castle, Crathie Church, The Fife Arms, Tarmachan Cafe, Braemar, Ballater, Royal Lochnagar Distillery, Whisky Castle, and walks around Glen Tanar and the Mar Lodge Estate.
Corrieshalloch Gorge
One of the most dramatic natural landmarks in the Highlands, Corrieshalloch Gorge is a deep, narrow canyon carved by glacial meltwater. It’s an easy stop with a surprisingly dramatic impact.
A short walk from the car park leads to a Victorian suspension bridge high above the gorge, with views down to the Falls of Measach. However, be sure to continue along the trail, which loops back to the visitor centre; the smaller waterfalls along the way are well worth the walk.
Tip: It’ll take just over an hour to get here, and is an easy detour on a wider day trip to Ullapool.
Dornoch
A charming coastal town with a long sandy beach, Dornoch is perfect if you’re looking for a slower day by the sea. Best known amongst golfers for its links course, what we love most is the postcard-perfect high street with its cathedral and pretty sandstone buildings, beachside walks, and excellent seafood.
It’ll take around 1 hour to get here, but with a host of stunning boutique hotels, Dornoch makes a boujie overnight stop.
Highlights: Embo Beach, Dornoch Beach, Dornoch coastal path, Dornoch Cathedral, Milk & Honey cafe, Dornoch Castle Whisky Bar, Surf & Turf, Mara, and The Highland Larder.
Dunrobin Castle
Resembling a fairy tale French château, Dunrobin is one of the most visually striking castles in the Highlands. The exterior is best seen from the bottom of the formal gardens (which are equally intricate and pretty), where you’ll also find seasonal falconry displays.
It’ll take around an hour to get here.
Tip: Although it’s worth a visit in its own right, we think a trip to Dunrobin Castle is best combined with a morning spent in nearby Dornoch. Make time to visit the nearby Big Burn Waterfall.
Isle of Skye
A bucket-list destination, the Isle of Skye is just about doable as a long day trip from Inverness- but it’s best approached with realistic expectations.
It’ll take around 2.5 hours to reach the bridge from Inverness, so it’s best to focus on one area rather than trying to see everything.
We often advise clients to stay in Inverness and plan multi-day tours of the island. Though there’s more driving involved, the benefit is Inverness’s plentiful, often less expensive hotels (especially in summer, when Skye’s stays are often fully booked). Plus, there’s plenty to see along the way, including Eilean Donan Castle.
Highlights: Far too many to list, but the Trotternish Loop (Quiraing and Old Man of Storr), Sligachan, Elgol, and Portree are good places to start.
Lochaber (Glencoe, Glenfinnan & Fort William)
This is one of the most iconic regions in the Highlands, taking you through some of the most dramatic landscapes in Scotland: Glencoe, Glenfinnan, Glen Nevis, and Fort William.
If you’re visiting Inverness via the A9 trunk road from Edinburgh, you’ll skip this part of the Highlands, which means a day trip from Inverness is the perfect opportunity to explore, walk, and indulge in excellent seafood.
It’ll take around 2 hours to drive here.
Highlights: White Cottage, Inchree Waterfall, Glenfinnan Viaduct, Jacobite Steam Train, Steall Falls, Loch Linnhe boat trip, seafood cafes, Glen Nevis, and Hidden Valley.
Loch Ness
One of the easiest of all day trips from Inverness is Loch Ness. This massive body sits just south of the city, and is a top spot for boat trips, cosy cafes, pretty villages, waterfalls, and beaches. You can shape your day trip in various ways: the quiet, hardly visited east shore (Dores and Falls of Foyers), or the busy, bustling west shore (Drumnadrochit and Urquhart Castle).
However, we think the best option for a day out is a loop of Loch Ness.
The entire loop takes around two hours to drive, but there’s plenty to see along the way, so allow a full day.
Highlights: Falls of Foyers, Dores Beach, Drumnadrochit, Invermoriston Falls, Camerons Tea Room, and the Dores Inn.
Moray Firth
Tucked away on the northeast coast, the Moray Firth is a treasure trove of historic harbour villages, cosy cafes, peaceful beaches, boat trips, ice cream, and plenty of opportunities for dolphin spotting.
Far less-visited, yet utterly charming, we think the Moray coast (and the neighbouring Banffshire coast) is the perfect coastal day trip from Inverness.
It’ll take around 30 minutes, depending on where you go.
Highlights: Crovie, Pennan, Portsoy, Sandend, Cullen, plus Fort George and Spey Bay.
Nairn
A traditional seaside town just east of Inverness, known for its long sandy beaches and easy-going feel. Nairn has a slightly more polished feel than many Highland towns, with colourful seafront houses, a buzzy high street, and well-kept promenades.
The beach here is one of the best in the area (wide, clean, and backed by dunes), and we love a long walk here at low tide.
Stop by the harbour for views across the Moray Firth, or pick up fish and chips and sit along the front if the weather’s kind. There are also a handful of good cafés and ice cream spots, making it an easy place to settle into for a few hours without needing much of a plan.
It’ll take around 25 minutes to get here, though we recommend visiting alongside a trip along the Moray Firth coast.
Plockton & Eilean Donan Castle
This is one of the most scenic coastal routes you can take from Inverness, combining classic Highland views with some of the most recognisable landmarks in Scotland. The drive west takes you through glens and along sea lochs at Kintail, with plenty of moments where you’ll want to pull over and take it all in.
It’ll take around 2 hours to reach Eilean Donan Castle.
Eilean Donan is one of the most photographed castles in the country, set at the meeting point of three sea lochs, while Plockton offers a completely different feel; calm, sheltered, and unexpectedly dotted with palm trees along its waterfront.
Tip: You’re close to the Skye road bridge, but we think it’s too much to combine; this route works best as a relaxed day of exploring, with a couple of well-chosen stops rather than trying to rush between everything. Instead, return to Inverness via Strathcarron and Achnasheen.
Rogie Falls
A short and rewarding stop surrounded by forest, perfect if you’re heading west. A short woodland walk leads to a suspension bridge overlooking the falls.
It’ll take around 40 minutes to get here.
Tip: Rogie Falls are easiest to visit on a trip to Beauly and The Singleton Distillery, or on a wider road trip to Ullapool and Corrieshalloch Gorge.
Speyside
If your idea of a perfect day includes scenic drives, classic single malts, and a slower pace, Speyside is a brilliant day trip from Inverness.
This is whisky country at its most refined - rolling hills, the River Spey winding through the landscape, and a concentration of distilleries unlike anywhere else in Scotland. Even if you’re not particularly into whisky, the setting alone makes it worth the trip.
Now, Scotland has a zero tolerance policy to drink driving, so if you want to sample a dram, you’ll need a designated driver or a tour guide to whizz you around distilleries.
It’ll take around an hour to reach the region, depending on your final destination.
Highlights: Glenfiddich Distillery, The Glenlivet Distillery, Aberlour Distillery, and Balvenie Distillery, plus pretty villages like Aberlour, Dufftown, and Craigellachie.
Torridon & Shieldaig
Torridon is one of the most vast and awe-inspiring landscapes in the Highlands, where towering mountains rise abruptly from sea lochs, and the scale of the scenery feels almost overwhelming.
It’s a vast region, but the best day trip follows the A832 from Inverness to the coastal hamlet of Shieldaig via Torridon.
There’s little to do per se, and the best part of the experience is the drive: long stretches of quiet road, ever-changing views, and a real sense of remoteness. That said, Torridon rewards those who step out of the car and into the landscape, whether that’s a short walk or a full mountain day.
At the end of the road, Shieldaig is a picturesque stop for lunch and a coastal wander. Or detour a little south to palm-lined harbour at pretty Plockton (you can technically see both villages, but it’ll add another hour to your drive time, which we don’t recommend).
It’ll take around 1.5 hours to get here.
Expect big, open views, very few crowds, and a slower pace that feels a world away from Inverness.
Highlights: Torridon village, Kinlochewe village, Shieldaig, The Torridon hotel, Beinn Eighe Nature Reserve, Glen Docherty viewpoint, North Roast coffee trailer, and Nanny’s cafe.
Ullapool & Corrieshalloch Gorge
A picturesque harbour village on the west coast, Ullapool is both a destination in itself and a gateway to the far northwest Highlands. The drive from Inverness alone is part of the experience - passing lochs, forest, and open moorland before the landscape opens up to the coast.
Take a walk along the waterfront, browse a few independent shops, or simply sit by the harbour and watch the ferries come and go.
It’ll take around 1.5 hours to get here.
Highlights: Loch Broom, coastal walk, Rhidorroch Distillery & Cafe, Seafood Shack, Dipping Lugger restaurant, and Cult Cafe.
