The Loch of the Lowes Path takes you to the Scottish Wildlife Trust Wildlife Reserve and Visitor Centre where you may see breeding ospreys, otters, deer and many birds including kingfishers.
See our Guide to Dunkeld for more places to visit, accommodation and restaurants.
BLACK SPOUT WOOD WATERFALL
The wood is situated to the south of Pitlochry and takes its name from the impressive Blacks Spout waterfall, some 60 meters high on the Edradour Burn. A series of way-marked paths meanders through the wood, with linking foot bridges constructed over the burns.
Close to the waterfall, a carefully positioned viewing platform offers dramatic views. The route to the waterfall takes you through a delightful variety of quiet mixed woodlands.
It is easily accessible from the town centre - around 20 minutes' walk. The route is shown on this Pitlochry Path Network Leaflet (as part of the Edradour Path) as well as other, longer local walks.
See our Guide to Pitlochry for more places to visit, accommodation and restaurants.
Their friendly volunteers can tell you about the Wildcat Trail - a 10k signposted walk around the village passing river banks and a waterfall, and taking in the stunning mountain views.
They also have the Wildcat Experience - seeking out 132 life-size painted model wildcats around the village. With certificates and prizes on offer it offers fun for children and adults alike.
The models must be well hidden; we wandered around the centre of the village and only saw 4 (including the one at the centre)! We are determined to revisit when we have time to follow the official Trackpack and do better!
Apparently only one or two people a month manage to find them all - could you be one of them?
Transport: 15 minutes' walk from Newtonmore train station.
See our Guide to Newtonmore for more places to visit, accommodation and places to eat.
A warm welcome awaits at the Wildcat Centre
Like its domesticated cousin it can often be found in strange places!
Loch Morlich is next to the park and with its Cairngorm Mountain backdrop is one of Scotland's most popular leisure lochs and one of our favourite places to visit.
Unusually it has a pleasant sandy beach which is ideal for picnics and is one of the winners of Scotland’s Beach Awards 2025. The Loch Morlich Trail is a 3 and a half mile circuit round the loch which is a favourite activity of ours.
Loch Morlich Watersports offers a range of watersports including paddle boarding, kayaking and sailing - with tuition and equipment hire available, as well as mountain biking. There is also a beach cafe.
Transport: 15 minutes' bus journey on the Aviemore Adventurer service which departs regularly from Aviemore train station.
See our Guide to Aviemore for more places to visit, accommodation and restaurants.
Try your hand at sailing
River Luineag meets Loch Morlich - part of the circular walk
Loch Morlich Beach
Perfection
See our Guides to Inverness for more places to visit, accommodation and restaurants.
URQUHART CASTLE AND LOCH NESS
Among the most popular and busy places in the Highlands! Read on for descriptions of Urquhart Castle, Loch Ness including a boat trip, and four options for visiting either or both.
Situated on the shores of Loch Ness, the castle is almost entirely ruined, and yet remains one of Scotland's top visitor attractions. Here you can learn about 1000 years’ of history including conflict, power struggles and being blown up in 1692.
It has amazing views over Loch Ness and is one of the few places on the west side of the loch where you can reach the water – there is a small, stony beach there (no swimming). There is also a visitor centre with a small exhibition, a film show, shop and cafe.
You will be glad you're arriving by bus when you see the fight for car parking. During the summer this attraction gets incredibly busy (booking is essential). The quietest times of day are first thing in the morning and evenings.
Our favourite conditions for seeing the castle are on a dry, sunny summer's day in the late afternoon as the castle, grounds and surrounding landscape look lovely in the warm, late afternoon sunshine.
If you can, avoid days when there are cruise ships in Invergordon (check the timetable) as large numbers arrive by coach morning and afternoon. Coach tours arrive everyday but cruise ship days are particularly busy.
A glorious day at Urquhart Castle
The castle is ruined
View of Loch Ness from Urquhart Castle beach
This mighty and picturesque loch has impressive statistics – it is 23 miles long, has the largest volume of fresh water in Britain, is the second deepest loch in Scotland at 788 feet (240 metres), and is allegedly home to Nessie the Loch Ness Monster.
There is limited access to the water on the west side of the loch, however, it is possible to explore it on a boat trip.
Loch Ness looking south
Jacobite Loch Ness Cruises out on Loch Ness
FOUR OPTIONS FOR VISITING URQUHART CASTLE AND/OR LOCH NESS BOAT TRIP
Pre-booking is highly recommended for all aspects of your trip.
Option 1, Boat trip and Castle
'Temptation' tour covering a boat trip with Jacobite Loch Ness Cruises and visit to Urquhart Castle. You are transported by coach from Inverness Bus Station to the boat cruise which departs from Dochgarroch Lock. Afterwards you are brought back to Inverness by coach from Urquhart Castle.
From 10 November 2025 – 29 March 2026 the tour also includes admission to the Loch Ness Centre in Drumnadrochit.
Option 2, Boat trip only
Jacobite Loch Ness Cruises offer various cruises departing from either Dochgarroch Lock or Clansman Harbour, some of which include views of the castle. Citylink service 917 or 919 or Stagecoach service 17 from Inverness Bus Station to either Dochgarroch or Clansman Harbour and back.
SAVING! The Spirit of Scotland Travel Pass (for rail travel) will entitle you to a 10% discount on standard fares with Jacobite Loch Ness Cruises.
Option 3, Castle only
Citylink service 917 or 919 from Inverness Bus Station to Urquhart Castle and back.
Option 4, Castle and Drumnadrochit
Citylink service 917 or 919 from Inverness Bus Station to Urquhart Castle. Afterwards walk 30 minutes down the hill (lovely views over the loch) or catch the 917 or 919 bus to visit the village of Drumnadrochit. Take the bus back to Inverness from Drumnadrochit (Citylink 917 or 919, or Stagecoach service 17).
What to do in Drumnadrochit: visit the Loch Ness Centre to find out all about the Loch Ness Monster, visit the tiny Great Glen Gin Distillery, have a Meet & Greet with Highland Coos, and local walks - we like Craigmonie Woods, Balmacaan Woods, and Urquhart Bay Woods.
Jacobite Queen at Dochgarroch
Highland Coos at Dochgarroch
View from Craigmonie Woods
Trees in Craigmonie Woods
The village of Tarbet, by Loch Lomond, is half a mile from the station. The village of Arrochar, by Loch Long (a sea loch), is a mile from the station.
The station here is useful for those wishing to climb the mountains surrounding the picturesque villages which include Cruach Tairbeirt (1364 feet) and Ben Reoch (2168 feet), but there are many others.
There are also miles of low level forest walks which can easily be completed in a few hours. Both the walks and hills have great views of both Loch Long and Loch Lomond.
Boat Tours
Cruise Loch Lomond run a one hour tour, the Tarbet Circular, which covers the Arklet waterfalls at Inversnaid, the Arrochar Alps and the Loch Sloy Hyrdo Electric scheme.
If you're lucky you may spot osprey, sea eagles and mountain goats too. They also offer explorer cruises from Tarbet to Inversnaid or Rowardennan for walking Ben Lomond or on the West Highland Way.
SAVING! The Spirit of Scotland Travel Pass (for rail travel) will entitle you to a 15% discount on standard fares.
See our Guide to Arrochar & Tarbet to Crianlarich for more information about this section of the line.
Looking south over Loch Lomond from beside the A82 near Tarbet
Photo credit: “IMGP8751” by Matt Buck, CC BY-SA 2.0
Ardlui is a hamlet at the head of Loch Lomond. Walkers sometimes find this station useful for exploring the surrounding hills.
Loch Lomond Wakeboard offers watersports activities including wakeboarding and waterskiing, as well as speedboat trips.
See our Guide to Arrochar & Tarbet to Crianlarich for more information about this section of the line.
Looking south over Loch Lomond from a promontory near Ardlui
Photo credit: “IMGP8710” by Matt Buck, CC BY-SA 2.0
Loch Awe is a picturesque small village with views over the loch, Kilchurn Castle (currently closed) and Ben Lui. The loch is the longest freshwater loch in Scotland at 25 miles and is home to lots of wildlife.
See our Guide to Tyndrum Lower to Connel Ferry for more information about this section of the line.
Framed Kilchurn Castle. From outside St Conan's Kirk, Loch Awe.
Photo credit: “Framed Kilchurn Castle” by Phil Gayton, CC BY 2.0
The tiny request stop station at Falls of Cruachan is open from April to October only as there is no station lighting. Also be aware that there are steep steps up to the single platform.
This station is in a ravine with steep sides and on the opposite side of the tracks is the River Awe. The station opened as long ago as 1893 and is purely a tourist destination, there being no settlement here.
This waterfall is a steep climb with the path starting from the station. Wear good footwear.
See our Guide to Tyndrum Lower to Connel Ferry for more information about this section of the line.
Boat trips of varying lengths are available on Loch Shiel. There is the chance to see wildlife including Golden Eagles and Red Deer, as well as learn about the history and geology of the area.
SAVING! 10% discount when arriving by train or bus. Saving listed on the Glenfinnan Monument and Visitor Centre website.
See our Guide to Glenfinnan for more places to visit, accommodation and places to eat.
TARNASH FALLS
There is a circular walk of 3.5 miles which visits Tarnash Falls and Dunnyduff Wood.
See our Guide to Keith for more places to visit, accommodation and places to eat.
This RSPB reserve is a tranquil, steep sided wooded glen with a footpath leading along the stream and up to two waterfalls.
See our Guide to Inverness to the Black Isle for more places to visit, accommodation and places to eat.
We have lots of pictures of the woods but none of the waterfalls
FLOWERDALE GLEN AND GAIRLOCH WATERFALL
Starting near the Harbour, is an attractive walk through Flowerdale Glen to Gairloch Waterfall. This is around a mile and half each way.
See our Guide to Inverness to Poolewe and Gairloch for more places to visit, accommodation and places to eat.
RSPB LOCH GARTEN NATURE RESERVE
It is a three mile walk from Boat of Garten through nice scenery, or take your bike as it is on the National Cycle Network (on road route). Ospreys may be viewed between April and August.
See our Guide to Aviemore to Grantown-on-Spey for more places to visit, accommodation and places to eat.
Loch Garten
Page last updated 5 December 2025