Fort George on the east coast is a fascinating visit - a huge Georgian fort filling a headland, jutting out into the Moray Firth. It was built as a base for George II's army following the defeat of Bonnie Prince Charlie and his Jacobite army at Culloden, in case the Jacobite cause was rekindled. By the time it was completed in 1769 the uprising had been firmly quashed, a shot was never fired and it has been used ever since as active artillery barracks. There is a visitors centre, exhibitions, historic barrack rooms as well as the regimental museum of the Queen's Own Highlanders and it is considered to be one of the finest fortifications in Europe.

Glen Affric is a truly pictureque glen with the River Affric running through it. It is is one of the largest surviving native pinewoods in the United Kingdom. Car park/toilets at the end of the track and some good walks to be enjoyed. Ideal for a picnic. There are various colour coded walks available -our favourite is the circular walk through the shady forest down to the River Affric which feeds into Loch Affric. Stroll along by the side of the river and watch it cascade over the rocks. Look out for the dipper birds sitting on the rocks and then walking underwater upstream 'hoovering' up their food.

Culloden Battlefield is 5 miles east of Inverness. It is a windswept, bleak moorland which, in 1746, saw the end of the Jacobite uprising in the Battle of Culloden - the last ever battle on British soil. This battle is graphically described as an excellent audiovisual in the New Visitors Centre which is open all year with restaurant & shop. Outside you can walk freely round the battle sites; flags mark the position of the two armies and clan graves are marked by simple headstones.

Falls of Shin. These are to be found just outside Lairg, off the B864 north of Inverness. Here you can watch the wild Atlantic salmon leap up the dramatic waterfalls on their annual journey to the spawning grounds in the headwaters of the River Shin and its tributaries. . The salmon start their run as the waters warm from the end of April through to the end of November and can be easily seen from the well-maintained viewing platform near the car park. Enjoy the forest walks nearby. Restaurant and Harrods gift shop.

Plodda Falls.  From the A831, from either Beauly or Drumnadrochit take the unclassified road signposted to Tomich. Go through Tomich and continue slowly along the very bumpy forest track to Plodda falls carpark and picnic site about 3.5 miles along. From here there are two circular waymarked walks which go to Plodda falls - the Tweedmouth Walk and the shorter Falls Walk. The falls plunge about 200ft. The area around the Falls is a rich and diverse woodland. Around 1900, Lord Tweedmouth planted a large number of Douglas Fir, Larch, Giant Redwood and specimen conifers. Together with the native tree population they have combined to provide an ideal habitat for the native red squirrel and a wide variety of bird and insect life.

The Isle of Skye off the west coast is about 60 miles from Aspenwood, passing Eilean Donan Castle and going over the famous Skye Bridge at Kyle of Lochalsh. The bridge was started in 1992 and took three years to complete. It spans the narrow channel known as the Sound of Sleat  for 900m/1000yd between Skye and the Kyle of Lochalsh on the mainland.  Skye is the largest island of the Inner Hebrides, lying just off the northwest coast of Scotland. It is also one of the most scenic, with several peaks of the Cuillin Hills rising above 950m/3120ft.

Plockton. Alternatively, if you don't want to go over to the Isle of Skye, travel on from Kyle and journey a short distance up the coast to the picturesque village of Plockton where palm trees flourish in the warm west coast winds. This part of the Scottish west coast is virtualy frost free due to the influence of the Gulf stream, a warm water current which sweeps up from the Gulf of Mexico and passes close to the shores of Scotland.

Corrieshalloch Gorge.  A little further after passing the turn to the Kyle of Lochalsh & Inverewe Gardens on your left there is a sign to Corrieshalloch Gorge & Falls of Measach. Park in the car park on the right and walk across the road down to these dramatic scenic sights. There is a good  viewing platform and a suspension bridge over the Gorge with good photo opportunity. Not for the squeamish!
This spectacular gorge is 1mile long and 200ft deep.Here the River Droma tumbles 150ft dramatically onto broken horizontal rock formation over the Falls of Measach.Corrieshalloch Gorge is the best example in Scotland of a steep sided gorge formed by glacial melt-waters during the later stages of the Great Ice Age  [between 10,000 – 13,000 years ago].
The whole length of the gorge was notified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest in March 1984. The extremely steep ungrazed sides of the gorge support a rich and varied collection of untouched mosses and ferns. It is so deep that it is very difficult to see down to the base of the gorge. 

Ullapool. The idyllic white-washed fishing village of Ullapool curves round a natural peninsula on the shores of Loch Broom and is about 80 miles from Aspenwood on the west coast. Today there is still an important fleet of boats catching lobster, oyster, mussels and scallops for an international market. A very popular place in the summer season. Summer Isles. For a longer trip journey on up along the west coast from Ullapool and view the Summer Isles situated at the mouth of Loch Broom. The islands are also a very famous haunt of divers with their huge underwater caverns, spectacular caves and coral-crusted wrecks. Pass the triangular peak of Stac Pollaidh - a favourite for climbers who really like a challenge. There are wonderful secluded sandy beaches on the  west coast often with a breathtaking backdrop of snow topped mountains. The islands of Harris and Lewis in the Outer Hebrides can be seen across this stretch of water on a clear day.

 Inverewe Gardens are up on the west coast where a profusion of mature, rather unusual plants and foliage flourish in the area's famously temperate climate, a consequence of the warm Gulf Stream. The gardens are protected by Loch Ewe's corrosive sea breezes by a dense screen of various well-established trees.

Visit some of the clean sandy secluded beaches on the west coast such as Gruinard Bay.

Applecross The trip to Applecross takes about 3 hours and is a journey of about 100 miles but well worth the effort. On the way stop at the Invergarry view point and look at Loch Garry below you. It looks like a map of Scotland even with its own Forth Road Bridge. Drive past The Cluanie Inn after about 45 minutes and skirt Loch Duich with the ancient battlements of Eilean Donan Castle reaching out into the loch.Just before Balmacara turn right onto the A890 to Stromeferry although actually there is no ferry service there. Drive round pictuesque Loch Carron and the head of Loch Kishorn. Turn left on the next road known as the old Cattle Pass which is the highest road in Scotland. Originally the only way to get to Applecross was by boat until the Cattle Pass was built in the 18th Century. This narrow road zig zags spectacularly for about 11 miles attaining a height of 2053 feet where there are breath-taking views of the triangular Cullin Mountains opposite on the Isle of Skye.  You will now began the descent to Applecross Bay and the welcoming Applecross Inn which is always very busy and the food is wholesome. From Applecross there are terrific views over to the Inner Hebrides to the isles of Skye, Raasay and the outcrop of  Rona. Take the coastal road back to the settlement of Shieldaig on Loch Torridon. This road was only built in 1976 as an easier alternative to the mountainous Cattle Pass. Travel across to the east coast and home.

  NORTH COAST

Dunnet Head Cliffs is the most northerly point of mainland Scotland—and not the famous John O’Groats as is widely thought. Look across to Orkney and Scapa Flow. Enjoy a picnic on the cliff tops watching the teeming bird life contending with the sea breeze is great fun. A long journey so leave early in good daylight. Visit the nearby Castle of Mey the holiday retreat of the late Queen Mother. Journey back to Aspenwood via Bettyhill, a windsurfers paradise and down through scenic, though mostly uninhabited glen of Strath Navar.