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Britain’s film and TV by region: The Highlands

With its brooding mountains, glistening lochs and medieval castles, the Scottish Highlands make for a photogenic backdrop. From Bond car chases in Glen Etive to wizarding flights over Loch Shiel, this film-lover’s itinerary spans famous shooting locations, atmospheric towns and cultural stops. Whether your clients are hunting for Outlander standing stones or secretive MI6 hideouts, this journey confirms the Highlands’ place as one of Scotland’s screen stars.

Photo by: VisitBritain/Nadir Khan

Two mountain bikers cycling on a trail going up a mountain

Loch Lomond and the Trossachs

Loch Lomond and the Trossachs offers film-worthy landscapes – all rolling hills, mirrored lochs and atmospheric glens. It’s where Outlanders paused for reflection, where novelist and poet Sir Walter Scott found his muse, and where Highland hospitality includes sheepdog trailer rides and hot tubs. Whether your clients come for paddleboards or poetry, steamships or single malt, this region has plenty to offer.

Photo by: VisitBritain/Andrew Pickett

Woman and teenager in a wintery landscape looking at the view
Lennox of Lomond, Balloch  

This family-run hill farm, established in 1750, has passed through 11 generations of the Lennox family and now spans 5,000 acres on the western shore of Loch Lomond. Known for producing prime Scotch lamb and beef, Lennox of Lomond also offers hands-on experiences including sheep-dog trailer rides, quad-bike tours, lambing sessions, and drystone walling. Clients can choose from one of five Bonnie Barns, adults-only lodges with hot tubs perched lakeside, available for private stays. The outdoor activities include guided paddleboarding, kayaking, and e-bike tours tracing the loch’s shores – all this just 45 minutes by train from Glasgow. 

Brenachoile Point, Loch Katrine  

One of the few true Highland filming spots from Outlander Season 2, this viewpoint by Loch Katrine served as the setting for a scene where Claire and Jamie pause before sailing to France. Accessible via foot or bike from Trossachs Pier, it is a real location fans of the series can stand in – no CGI needed. Surrounded by pine woods and glistening waters, clients can also opt for a one-hour circular cruise aboard the historic Steamship Sir Walter Scott, which offers views of Brenachoile Point from the water. Katrine Wheelz offers Bike hire at the pier, while The Steamship Café offers lochside lunch with a view.  

West Highland Way 

Scotland’s first long-distance trail, the West Highland Way runs 96 miles (155km) from Milngavie (just north of Glasgow) to Fort William, passing through landscapes used in Rob Roy and showcasing the Highlands’ cinematic appeal. Walkers can stay at lochside inns like the Drovers Inn at Inverarnan or book luggage transfer services for easier hiking. Along the route, your clients can book activities including a Loch Lomond cruise from Tarbet, whisky tastings at Glengoyne Distillery or Ben Nevis Distilleries, and a ride on the Nevis Range Mountain Gondola near Fort William. 

Sir Walter Scott Steamship Cruise, Loch Katrine  

Step aboard the Sir Walter Scott, a restored steamship launched in 1900, for classic one- and two-hour loch cruises. Departing from Trossachs Pier, these round-trips sail the waters of Loch Katrine, offering views of peaks like Ben Venue and landscapes that inspired novelist and poet Sir Walter Scott’s poem The Lady of the Lake. Onboard commentary explores the area’s role in shaping 19th-century Romanticism. 

Deanston Distillery, Doune

Just outside Doune, Deanston Distillery is housed in a former 18th-century cotton mill and produces a range of Highland single malts, matured in ex-bourbon casks. The atmospheric vaulted cellars, originally used to power the mill with water turbines, were reimagined as a Parisian wine warehouse in Outlander Season 2. Your clients can join 45-minute guided distillery tours to learn more about the unique blending approaches used at the site, or enjoy tasting sessions of limited-edition drams. There is also an onsite café and a shop. 

getting around

Getting around: The nearest international airport is Glasgow Airport, around 30 to 45 minutes by car or train to Balloch, the southern gateway to Loch Lomond and the Trossachs. ScotRail trains run from Glasgow Queen Street to Balloch and Arrochar. To reach Argyll and Bute, clients can continue by car via the A83, or travel by train from Arrochar and Tarbet to Oban, a hub for exploring the Argyll coast and islands. Car hire offers the most flexible option. 

Argyll and Bute

From Cold War submarines and Bond villains to Georgian castles doubling as Downton Abbey, the landscapes of Argyll and Bute have doubled for everything from the Strait of Gibraltar to festive romcom settings. Whether your clients crave castle tours, sea loch cruises or seal-spotting from a kayak, this corner of the west coast of Scotland knows how to steal a scene.

Photo by: VisitBritain/Olga Chagunava

Woman wrapped in a tartan blanket walking towards a castle
Gaire Loch 

Gaire Loch, a deep-sea loch surrounded by wooded hillsides, played a cinematic role in 007 thriller The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), where its naval base at Faslane stood in for the Strait of Gibraltar during the film’s opening submarine sequence. While its Cold War associations linger – it is still home to His Majesty’s Naval Base (HMNB) Clyde, the Royal Navy’s main submarine base – today the area offers far more peaceful, but no less thrilling activities. Your clients can hire kayaks or paddleboards at the Gaireloch Kayak Centre, take guided wildlife cruises organised by the Gairloch Marine Wildlife Centre to spot seals and seabirds, or explore the Three Lochs Way, a 34-mile (55km) walking route linking Gaire Loch with Loch Lomond and Loch Long. 

Loch Craignish  

Loch Craignish was used as a stand-in for Balkan waters in the 1963 Bond classic From Russia with Love. Located between Oban and Crinan, your clients can hire a kayak from Craignish Boat Club to explore nearby coves or book a three-hour Corryvreckan and Wildlife cruise with Craignish Cruises. Departing from Ardfern Marina, these guided adventures pass through Dorus Mor and head north towards Scarba Island, home to red deer, wild goats and sea eagles. The route passes the edge of the Gulf of Corryvreckan, known for its swirling whirlpool (one of the world’s largest), and offers sightings of porpoises, seals and occasionally minke whales.

Inveraray town 

Hallmark fans might recognise the pastel-painted shopfronts of Inveraray from the 2023 holiday romance A Merry Scottish Christmas. With its lochside location, Georgian grid layout and scenic pier, it delivers a charming backdrop for festive plotlines. Stop by the Inverary Jail Escape Room where visitors can test their wits by attempting to break out of the historic 19th-century prison through puzzles and clues. Then browse the town’s tweed shops and cosy cafés before moving on. 

Inveraray Castle  

Inveraray Castle, a turreted Georgian-Gothic castle on the banks of Loch Fyne, stood in for Duneagle Castle in Downton Abbey’s 2012 Christmas special. It also featured in Netflix’s The Diplomat (2023) as a fictional embassy residence. The Duke and Duchess of Argyll’s ancestral seat is open to visitors from April to October, offering interiors as lavish as the shows it stars in, including tapestries, heraldic armour and portrait-lined halls. 

getting around

Getting around: From Argyll’s coastal hubs like Oban, your clients can reach Fort William by train on the West Highland Line which takes around one hour 45 minutes. Alternatively, driving offers a scenic route up the coast, taking around two hours. For remote areas of Argyll, car hire is the most convenient option for flexibility and access to hidden spots. 

Fort William and surrounding areas

From Bond’s brooding drive through Glen Etive to Harry Potter flyovers above Loch Shiel, Fort William is a goldmine of cinematic scenery. Whether by steam train, scenic cruise or sturdy hiking boots, Fort William and its surrounds offers Highland adventures worthy of the big screen – no wand, kilt or tuxedo required.

Photo by: VisitBritain/Maria Grazia Sinatra

Mountain range view in the autumn, by a waterfall.
Glen Etive  

Glen Etive is a remote Highland glen featured in Skyfall (2012), where Bond and M stop their Aston Martin along a scenic stretch of road. Clients can follow this scenic route near Glencoe winding 12 miles alongside the River Etive to reach Loch Etive. The glen’s rugged contours also played a supporting role in Braveheart, with views dominated by peaks like Buachaille Etive Mòr and Beinn Trilleachan. Local operators like Etive Boat Trips offer cruises on Loch Etive, while the Highland Mountain Company specialise in guided hill walks exploring the Munros that dominate the skyline.  

West Highlands Line, Glencoe  

Glencoe’s volcanic slopes have starred in Skyfall (2012), Prometheus (2012), and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) – but there is no need to arrive in an Aston Martin. The West Highland Line, one of Britain’s most scenic railway journeys, offers a lower-impact way to soak up the drama. Running from Glasgow to Mallaig, the route crosses wild Rannoch Moor, passes the edge of Glencoe, and travels past Ben Nevis before reaching the coast.  

Fort William 

Nestled at the foot of Ben Nevis, Fort William is an adventurer’s haven. Hike Britain’s highest peak, paddleboard on tranquil lochs, or play a round at Fort William Golf Club, where it is hard not to get distracted by the views of the surrounding mountains. The town is also a gateway to the scenic Road to the Isles stretching from Fort William to Mallaig packed with cinematic vistas and stops like the Glenfinnan Viaduct, the white sands of Morar Beach, and the ruins of Inverlochy Castle

Loch Shiel

Loch Shiel stood in for the Black Lake beside Hogwarts in several films in the Harry Potter franchise. This dramatic sweep of water and mountains was used for flyover shots of Buckbeak and later battles. Loch Shiel Cruises offer boat trips from Glenfinnan to Acharacle, ideal for spotting golden eagles, red throated divers, red deer and a wide variety of other wildlife 

getting around

Getting around: Travel from Fort William to Inverness takes around two hours by car, along the shores of Loch Lochy and Loch Ness. Regular buses (including Scottish Citylink) also serve this route.  

Inverness and surrounding areas

Scotland’s Highland capital packs in centuries of stories – from ancient burial cairns and battlefield ghosts to elusive lake monsters. Whether your clients are here for Outlander lore, Jacobite history or a dram of Scotland’s national drink, Inverness delivers. Think: whisky with a renewable twist, castles with explosive pasts, and boat tours with sonar on standby for Nessie.

Photo by: VisitBritain/Peter Beavis

Man canoeing on a lake on a clear sunny day.
Caledonian Canal 

Cutting across the Great Glen, the Caledonian Canal is a 60-mile (97km) canal that stretches from Fort William to Inverness. Designed by Thomas Telford and completed in 1822, it connects four lochs – Loch Lochy, Loch Oich, Loch Ness, and Loch Dochfour – via a series of 29 locks, 10 swing bridges and four aqueducts. Visitors can join scenic cruises from Fort Augustus or Dochgarroch with operators including Cruise Loch Ness or Jacobite Cruises. Adventure seekers can also opt to walk the Great Glen Way, which runs parallel to the canal. Popular stops include Neptune’s Staircase – a ladder of eight locks near Fort William – and the lock basin at Fort Augustus. There, clients can watch the boats while enjoying a meal at one of the lochside pubs or grab an artisan ice cream and a souvenir at the Caledonian Canal Centre

Loch Ness by Jacobite inspiration tour 

This 50-minute Loch Ness cruise with Jacobite Cruises sails from Dochgarroch Lock along the Caledonian Canal and into the legendary waters of Loch Ness, delivering Highland views and expert storytelling. The route passes through Thomas Telford’s 19th-century canal system before reaching the loch, with sonar screens tracking underwater terrain, just in case Nessie decides to make a cameo. An onboard audio guide covers the history of Nessie mythology, shipwrecks, Jacobite intrigue and the science behind the sightings. A highlight is the approach to Urquhart Castle, a ruined castle perched on the western shore of the loch.  

Loch Ness Centre 

Housed in the historic Drumnadrochit Hotel – where early Nessie hunters gathered in the 1930s – the Loch Ness Centre offers a multi-sensory deep dive into Scotland’s most famous loch and its elusive resident. The newly revamped visitor experience features seven immersive rooms covering everything from eyewitness accounts and underwater exploration to the geology of the Great Glen fault line. Your clients can explore the role of sonar technology, submarines, and scientific expeditions as they go about separating facts from folklore. There is also a café and a gift shop for Nessie related souvenirs. 

Glen Affric

Glen Affric’s mix of ancient pine forest, lochs and rugged peaks inspired the animators of Pixar’s Brave (2012). Just an hour from Inverness, this National Nature Reserve offers walking trails from Dog Falls car park, where clients will find forest paths, riverside routes and scenic picnic spots. Hikers can tackle the Affric Kintail Way, a long-distance route running from Drumnadrochit to the west coast. Wildlife fans can book a guided nature walk or photography tour to spot red squirrels, pine martens and golden eagles. 

Urquhart Castle 

A haunting ruin, Urquhart Castle sits on a headland above Loch Ness. Dating back to the 13th century, the castle played a strategic role in the Wars of Independence and was repeatedly seized, sacked and rebuilt over 500 years. It was deliberately blown up in 1692 to prevent Jacobite use – leaving behind the ruins visitors see today. The site is managed by Historic Environment Scotland and includes a visitor centre, café and shop. 

Culloden Battlefield

Just east of Inverness, Culloden Battlefield marks the tragic end of the Jacobite Rising. It was here on 16 April 1746, that Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Jacobite forces were defeated by the Duke of Cumberland’s government army. The site, managed by the National Trust for Scotland, features a visitor centre with a 360-degree immersive battle room that recreates the chaos of the fight, alongside interactive exhibits and archaeological artefacts from the battlefield. 

Clava Cairns  

An inspiration for the standing stones in Outlander, the Bronze Age Clava Cairns date to around 2,000 BC. The site well-preserved passage tombs, kerb stones and ring cairns, all aligned with the winter solstice. While no scenes from the series were filmed here, the atmospheric setting makes it easy to see why it sparked the imagination behind Craigh na Dun. According to local folklore, the stones are said to hum on solstice nights, and touching certain ones could transport you through time – though so far, only Claire Randall seems to have made the leap.  

Outlander Tour of Inverness

This full-day Outlander tour of Inverness explores the real and fictional world of Outlander around Inverness. Highlights include Culloden Battlefield with its immersive visitor centre, Clava Cairns – the Bronze Age site said to inspire Craigh na Dun – and Beauly Priory, which featured in the books. Guides blend on-screen trivia with Jacobite history and Highland folklore. Tours run for six to eight hours and provide an engaging way for your clients to explore the landscapes that shaped both the TV series and Scotland’s past. 

Uile-bheist Distillery and Brewery  

Inverness’s newest craft haunt, Uile-bheist – Scottish Gaelic for ‘monster’ – is a nod to the Nessie myth. Opened in 2023 on the banks of the River Ness, it is one of few combined whisky distilleries and breweries in the Highlands. Even rarer is that the site is completely powered by renewable energy, thanks to hydroelectric and heat recovery systems. Daily tours cover the science of sustainable spirits, with guided tastings of their Highland single malts and small-batch beers brewed onsite also available.  

getting around

Getting around: Inverness is compact and walkable, with most key sights within easy walking distance. For exploring beyond the city, local bus services connect to nearby destinations such as Culloden Battlefield, Clava Cairns, and Loch Ness. Inverness also serves as a hub for train travel across the Highlands, with scenic routes to Kyle of Lochalsh, Wick and Aviemore. Car hire is a popular option for those wanting to explore at their own pace, especially the North Coast 500 route. 

Optional Extension: North Coast 500

If your clients’ appetite for the Highlands still is not satisfied, they can consider adding a few extra days for the North Coast 500 – Scotland’s answer to Route 66. Launched in 2015 as a circular road trip, the NC500 starts at Inverness and traces more than 500 miles of coastal roads around the northern Highlands, connecting windswept beaches, mountain passes and fishing villages. The route heads west via Ullapool, then through Assynt, where sandstone stacks like Suilven and Stac Pollaidh form a surreal geological skyline. Stop at the haunting ruins of Ardvreck Castle on the shores of Loch Assynt or explore the Iron Age broch (fort) at Dunbeath. Further north, the road meets the Atlantic around Durness and Cape Wrath, then turns east past Thurso, the UK mainland’s northernmost town. Along the northeast route, stop at Dunrobin Castle, a French-style chateau used in The Crown (Season 1, doubling as a hospital), before returning south toward Inverness. 

Key destinations

Located in the northern reaches of Scotland, the wild and awe-inspiring Scottish Highlands are all about scenic beauty and adventure.

Photo by: VisitBritain/Nadir Khan

Two mountain bikers cycling downhill down a mountain

A melting pot of heritage and culture, Britain’s most northerly city makes a great base for exploring the Highlands.

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A suspension bridge with people walking across spanning a wide river with houses on the other side

Regional itineraries

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