Head true north: a WildLand journey to Scotland’s furthest reaches
Follow the compass north on a self-drive journey through three distinct Highland regions, staying in self-catering cottages giving the ultimate in independence for freedom-loving explorers.
Highlights
- The chance to discover three distinct regions in the Highlands on a nine-night exploration
- Experience the joy and freedom of the open road on a self-drive trip
- Take in contrasting nature around glens, rivers, peatlands and coastal habitats.
Information
- Duration: Recommended nine nights, 10 days
- Who for: Ideal for a group of six who share a love of nature and adventure
- Good to know: As our self-catering cottages are three-night minimum, this is the ultimate, nine-night, slow travel trip
- Travel: WildLand can assist with 4×4 hire for guests arriving by air or rail into Inverness, leaving the group free to travel at its own pace.
Night One
Moving between the Cairngorms, Loch Ness and Sutherland creates the perfect opportunity to tap into the slower rhythm of a self-drive journey. Admire a landscape that reveals itself gradually, from forested glens, deep water, wide skies and peatlands, to the northerly silhouettes of Sutherland’s mountains.
Arrive at Kennels Cottage, set within the wider landscape of Glenfeshie in the Cairngorms, where native woodland is flourishing and habitats are teeming with life. The first part of the journey can be pleasingly schedule-free, giving you time to connect to the Highland’s vast, untamed landscapes.
Explore the glen by e-bikes, hike pathways by the river, spot circling birds of prey and ascend craggy Highland summits. In the evening, prepare supper together using provisions gathered on the way. As the light begins to soften, end the day with a peaceful drink outside, watching the sun move across the quiet of the glen.
Nights Two and Three
As you start to feel more familiar with the Cairngorms’s landscapes, go further into the wild and spend full days exploring Glenfeshie by bike. Pack a picnic lunch and venture into the quieter reaches of the estate, passing regenerating woodland, pebbly riverbanks and rolling hills.
Alternatively, set out on foot towards the surrounding peaks, stopping for lunch beside a loch or in a sheltered spot above the glen. A dip in the river brings a bracing close to the afternoon before returning to the cottage. Evenings can be taken at your own pace with a hearty supper prepared together and time around the fire to close out the day.
On your final day, take in some fresh air with an enlivening walk before you say farewell to the Cairngorms. Start your road trip in earnest with a drive to Loch Ness. Taking just one hour and fifteen minutes, make the most of your independence with plenty of stops along winding roads that pass through small villages. Admire the Highlands’s ever-changing scenery from wide-open glacial valleys, pine forests to heather-clad hills and finally the inky loch.
Nights Four, Five and Six
Self-catering former manse Tigh na Coille sits high on the hill above the Aldourie Castle Estate, looking across one of Scotland’s most recognisable stretches of water. Here, gorgeous interiors meet elegant shared spaces, allowing you to slip into a slow, considered pace. Days might centre on the loch and its locale including Aldourie’s expansive gardens and wild spots, dipping in for a bracing swim or simply wandering the wildflower meadows, forests and lochside paths.
One of the rare joys of staying at Tigh na Coille is waking to views across Loch Ness. On your second day allow yourself to explore further, discovering the region’s heritage at the ruins of Urquhart Castle on the banks of the loch, or travelling to Johnstons of Elgin to see the craft behind Scottish cashmere.
Evenings are a chance to enjoy the stillness of your remote home before shared meals in the kitchen, dinners prepared by the Aldourie chefs and delivered to your door, or a seafood supper at a local pub.
Nights Seven and Eight
Your journey takes a turn for the north as you head towards the remote far reaches of Sutherland, where craggy cliffs and crashing waves meet dramatic, mist-shrouded peaks. The journey takes approximately two hours and twenty minutes, winding along breathtaking valleys; we’d recommend a stop, perhaps at noble, turreted Dunrobin Castle.
Arrive at slate-topped, stone-built Keepers Cottage, with interiors clad in antique Scots pine and decorated with local artworks. Take time to settle into your surroundings, breathing in air that has the fresh tang of peat, seawater and pine, enjoying the endless views that stretch across the water, all the way to Ben Hope.
Night Nine
Days here can be full of adventure or quietly explorative. Hike to a hidden waterfall with a picnic, follow a trail towards a secluded beach or spend the day fishing in a pristine river for salmon or trout. Paddleboarding is a gentle way to enjoy the water, while the Atlantic coast offers barrelling waves for surfers.
Evenings are for contemplating all that you’ve encountered, with relaxed meals prepared in the wood-clad kitchen followed by drinks and conversation by the firepit, under a star-strewn night sky. Keeper’s Cottage’s cosy atmosphere makes the perfect contrast to Sutherland’s remote beauty and most find sleep comes easily and deeply.
How can I book this?
Can I swap out the activities here?
Of course, our team can create bespoke journeys to suit your needs, this itinerary is just an example of a popular journey our guests take.
