We spent the night near the highest point in Scotland, Ben Nevis. The day before, I had the opportunity to touch fresh snow. Today, we are heading towards Plockton and the North West Highlands of Scotland. We were already amazed by the stunning landscapes we had seen and were excited to see what else we might come across on our journey.

As we hit the road again, we noticed some clouds hovering above us. Scotland’s weather is not always the best, and we have been lucky to enjoy sunny and dry weather for the last few days. Our first stop will be near the famous viaduct used in the Harry Potter movies.

The landscape and even some monuments continue to surprise me in this stunning countryside. So, before we see the wonderful viaduct, I plan to take some pictures at some of the stops along the way.

The Glenfinnan Viaduct is a railway viaduct situated on the West Highland Line in Glenfinnan, Inverness-shire, Scotland. The viaduct was built between 1897 and 1901. It’s located at the top of Loch Shiel in the West Scottish Highlands, overlooking the Glenfinnan Monument and the waters of Loch Shiel. The Glenfinnan Viaduct has been featured in numerous films and TV series, including Ring of Bright Water, Charlotte Gray, Monarch of the Glen, Stone of Destiny, The Crown, and four Harry Potter movies. After its appearance in Harry Potter, the British Transport Police warned fans not to walk on the viaduct as a few near misses with trains had occurred.

Noticing the viaduct from movies in real life had something magical. And I wasn’t the only one who thought so. The mountain with a view of the viaduct was packed with people trying to capture that perfect image. On the other side of the road, we had the Glenfinnan Monument.

The monument was built over 200 years ago in 1815 as a tribute to “the generous zeal and undaunted bravery” of those Highlanders who “fought and bled in that arduous and unfortunate enterprise” – the 1745 Jacobite Rising. Why was it built here? On August 19, 1745, Prince Charles Edward Stuart rowed up Loch Shiel towards the tiny hamlet of Glenfinnan with a small band of his most loyal supporters. He had called on clan chiefs to muster their men and join him here for a daring quest to restore the Stuarts to the British throne. When he arrived at Glenfinnan, there was barely a soul to be seen. But in the late afternoon, the song of the pipes coming over the hill signalled the arrival of the first of 1,200 clansmen who pledged their allegiance to Bonnie Prince Charlie that day before setting off to start their campaign. While the ’45 ended in defeat at Culloden in 1746 and the Highlands suffered punishment and reprisals for years to come, the gathering of clans and raising of the royal standard (or flag) at Glenfinnan that summer was a moment of hope and enthusiasm for many.

We had planned to visit the Isle of Skye, the largest and northernmost island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. But when we arrived at the ferry, we found out that all the boats were fully booked. We were disappointed but determined, so we decided to take the long route – a detour of more than 1 hour and 30 minutes – to reach the island by land. However, with many kilometres still left to travel to reach the North East side of Scotland, we realized that we could choose to forgo the trip to Skye. We had already come across stunning locations and breathtaking sights that captured our hearts. So, we decided to make the best of our journey and cherish the memories we had already created.

We plan to drive towards Plockton, a small village located in the Lochalsh, Wester Ross area of the Scottish Highlands. Before reaching there, we’ll stop by Eilean Donan, a castle that was featured in the popular TV series, Outlander. Eilean Donan is a small tidal island situated at the confluence of three sea lochs (Loch Duich, Loch Long and Loch Alsh) in the western Highlands of Scotland.

The island is connected to the mainland by a footbridge installed in the early 20th century. It is dominated by a picturesque castle that is frequently photographed and has also appeared in films and television shows. Originally built in the thirteenth century, the castle became a stronghold of the Clan Mackenzie and their allies, the Clan MacRae. However, in response to the Mackenzies’ involvement in the Jacobite rebellions early in the 18th century, government ships destroyed the castle in 1719. The present-day castle is Lieutenant-Colonel John Macrae-Gilstrap’s 20th-century reconstruction of the old castle. Eilean Donan is part of the Kintail National Scenic Area, which is one of 40 such areas in Scotland. As per the 2001 census, the island had a population of only one person, and there were no “usual residents” at the time of the 2011 census. As of 2020, the population of Plockton was 468. This village is situated on the shores of Loch Carron and faces east, away from the prevailing winds. Due to this, combined with the North Atlantic Drift, Plockton enjoys a mild climate despite its far-north latitude, allowing the Cordyline australis palm to thrive. The old fishing harbour in Plockton is a beautiful place to visit and explore.

Most of the houses in the village date back to the 19th and 20th centuries. Plockton was established as a planned fishing village on the northern edge of the Lochalsh. It was built when sheep farming was introduced in 1814-20, and the population was removed from their old hamlets in Glen Garron. Jeantown and Plockton were founded on Loch Carronside as a result.

Next to the beautiful harbour, there is an opportunity to take a boat and see wild seals. Unfortunately, we couldn’t take the boat due to strong winds that kept the boats anchored in the harbour. Nevertheless, I was able to capture a beautiful scene.

When travelling, it’s important to have access to food to keep you energized. During our trip to Plockton City, we stumbled upon a local distillery and stopped for a tasting and some sweet treats. The distillery offered artisan coffee, cake, and premium Scottish spirit tastings in the beautiful town of Plockton, located in the Scottish Highlands. They also had an impressive selection of Scottish Island and Hebridean gins, as well as a wide range of exceptional Scotch whiskies in stock.

We loved it!

As we continued on our journey, we had a lot of ground to cover, leaving us with little time to stop and take in the sights. We quickly hopped into our trusty Land Rover and made our way towards Gairloch, located near the stunning Atlantic Ocean. As the clouds gathered and the landscape transformed before our eyes, we were met with yet another breathtaking view. The road we took was filled with picturesque views that left us in awe of the magical landscape, and even the wildlife appeared right before us, completing the experience. It was a dream come true and a journey that we’ll never forget.

What an amazing road trip we’ve had so far, and we’re not even halfway through yet! Then we stumbled upon our sleeping accommodations in Gairloch, which is located right next to the beach, offering stunning views, and blessing us with wonderful weather. Gairloch is a beautiful village, civil parish and community situated on the shores of Loch Gairloch, located in Wester Ross, in the North-West Highlands of Scotland.

Scotland is a land of unparalleled beauty, and we have been fortunate enough to witness almost half of it! As we reached our sleeping spot for the night, the sun set, casting its warm glow over the landscape. It was a moment that we will cherish forever. We wanted to capture this moment forever and share it with you, so we took some incredible photographs. I invested in a Hasselblad camera, and it has been the best decision I’ve ever made. The stunning results always leave me feeling joyful and fulfilled, and I hope you feel the same way as you enjoy these images!

Let this moment take your breath away and transport you to the stunning Scottish countryside.

Thank you