Hotels in the Scottish Highlands
Loch Ness, Glencoe, Ben Nevis and the Isle of Skye: mountains, lochs and castles in the north of Scotland.
Destinations in the Scottish Highlands
Each photo shows the best-rated hotel in that place.
Where to stay in the Scottish Highlands
What the Highlands are like
They are the mountainous north of Scotland: long lochs such as Loch Ness, glens such as Glencoe, Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest mountain, castles and the Isle of Skye. It is a vast, thinly populated region with long distances between villages.
Which base to choose
Inverness is the town with the most services and the gateway to Loch Ness. Fort William, at the foot of Ben Nevis, is close to Glencoe. Pitlochry is the way in from the south, Oban the port for Mull and Iona, and Portree the base on Skye.
When to go
From May to September there are more daylight hours and everything is open; in summer book months ahead, especially on Skye. Midges are a nuisance in July and August. In winter many rural places close.
Getting around
A car is the most convenient, on narrow and sometimes single-track roads. Highland trains reach Inverness, Fort William, Oban and Kyle of Lochalsh, and organised one- to several-day tours leave from Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Hotels in the Scottish Highlands in numbers
Worked out every day from the data of the hotels in its 7 destinations.
- places to stay
- +1,149
- destinations with their own page
- 7
- average score of 1,085 rated properties
- 9.1
- guest reviews
- 414,403
- four- and five-star hotels
- 504
Destinations in the Scottish Highlands compared
Airport: the nearest one as the crow flies.
| Destination | Places to stay | Average score | Airport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inverness | +200 | 9.1 | INV, 13 km |
| Fort William | +200 | 9.0 | INV, 103 km |
| Oban | +200 | 8.7 | GLA, 88 km |
| Isle of Skye | 199 | 9.4 | INV, 129 km |
| Loch Ness | +185 | 9.3 | INV, 41 km |
| Pitlochry | 100 | 9.3 | EDI, 87 km |
| Glencoe | 65 | 9.0 | GLA, 99 km |
Best-rated hotels in the Scottish Highlands
Ranked by guest score and number of reviews.
Westlands of Pitlochry★★★★9.1 ExceptionalSee prices
River Ness Hotel, a member of Radisson Individuals★★★★8.9 FabulousSee prices
Kingsmills Hotel★★★★9.0 ExceptionalSee prices
Craigmhor Lodge & Courtyard★★★★9.6 ExceptionalSee prices
Oban Bay Hotel★★★★9.0 ExceptionalSee prices
The Garrison★★★★8.4 Very goodSee prices
Pine Trees Hotel Pitlochry★★★★9.4 ExceptionalSee prices
Escapade en Périgord★★★★8.8 FabulousSee prices
AC Hotel by Marriott Inverness★★★★8.8 FabulousSee prices
The Claymore Guest House★★★★9.6 ExceptionalSee prices
Ness Walk★★★★★9.6 ExceptionalSee prices
The Old Mill Inn★★★★9.8 ExceptionalSee prices
Frequently asked questions about hotels in the Scottish Highlands
How many hotels are there in the Scottish Highlands?
We list more than 1,149 places to stay in 7 destinations in the Scottish Highlands. The ones with the most are Inverness (more than 200), Fort William (more than 200) and Oban (more than 200).
What is the best-rated hotel in the Scottish Highlands?
Westlands of Pitlochry, in Pitlochry, with a score of 9.1 out of 10 from 5,004 guest reviews.
Which destination in the Scottish Highlands has the best-rated hotels?
Isle of Skye: its 181 rated properties have an average score of 9.4 out of 10. Next comes Pitlochry, with 9.3.