North Coast 500 (NC500) road trip

Originally built for George, the 4th Earl of Caithness, this graceful turreted 16th-century castle was the traditional seat of the Earls of Caithness. Looking out towards the Orkney islands on the wild north coast – it’s the most northerly castle in Britain.

It was purchased by the late Queen Mother in 1952. She summered here for fifty years, restoring the castle to its former glory, and creating a beautiful walled rose garden, before bequeathing it to the Castle of Mey Trust upon her death. Listening to the personal anecdotes from her old staff as you wander around brings the place to life.

Today, Prince Charles works closely with the trust to continue the castle’s preservation. He’s an annual visitor, renting the castle for two weeks in summer.

Hike up to the 165-feet high Falls of Foyers to see a famous optical illusion. Stare at the water then flick your eyes sideways to see the rock wall move upwards. The waterfall feeds into Loch Ness.

Edward I of England first conquered Scotland in the 13th century, and for centuries to follow, Highland history revolved around the struggle for independence from the English, led by William Wallace, Robert the Bruce and Bonnie Prince Charlie, amongst others. Its legacy is a landscape littered with battlegrounds, grand castles, ruined crofts, and rich legend.

The bloody, hour-long Battle of Culloden in 1745 – the last pitched battle on British soil – saw the final defeat of the Jacobite rebellion to secure the House of Stuart to the British throne. The famous Clans were finally suppressed – even the wearing of the kilt was outlawed.

The state-of-the-art visitor centre brings that final battle to life – you listen to characters from the battle as you wander round the exhibition. Watch the battle immersion film that vividly projects the fighting onto the walls all around you, then step outside to tramp the actual battlefield with a guide.

The most photographed castle in Scotland and, many say, the most beautiful, punches above its weight in the tourist attraction stakes. Christopher Lambert stormed across the causeway to this tiny fortress, perched on an island where three lochs meet, in Hollywood blockbuster, Highlander.

Founded in the 13th century, it was the traditional stronghold of Clan Mackenzie and their allies the Clan Macrae. Clan Mackenzie and Clan Macrae sided with the Jacobites in the unsuccessful Jacobite Rebellion, leading to the castle’s partial destruction in 1719 by British government forces during the rebellion’s repression. It was rebuilt from 1919-32 by Lieutenant-Colonel John Macrae-Gilstrap, and is now recognised as a Scottish icon.

Skye is the largest of the Hebridean islands (48 miles by 25) – and the only one attached to the mainland by a handy bridge.

Despite the fairly remote location, there are plenty of reasons to make a beeline here. The raw grandeur of the landscape, dominated by the dramatic Cuillins range, draws munro-baggers, hikers, mountain bikers – and movie-makers; its credits include Macbeth and blockbuster fantasy, The BFG.

The Trotternish Peninsula in the island’s north is home to some of the most striking landscapes in Scotland, easily accessible from the island’s ‘capital’, the wonderfully colourful village of Portree located on its eastern coast.

The Isle is also a place of pilgrimage for gourmet travellers schlepping to the Three Chimneys or Kinloch Lodge, the home of doyenne of Scottish cookbook writing, Lady Claire Macdonald.

And then there’s the history; Bonnie Prince Charlie famously fled over the sea to Skye after his defeat at the Battle of Culloden, and 13th-century Dunvegan Castle was the traditional seat of Clan MacLeod.

If it weren’t for Nessie, this would be just another loch: admittedly the second largest in Scotland and the deepest, containing more water than all the lakes in England and Wales combined. But it’s the legendary Loch Ness Monster that put it on the map. There are ‘Nessie hunter’ boat trips available all around the loch.

Start your visit at the informative, award-winning Loch Ness Centre & Exhibition in Drumnadrochit for the low down, and to delve into the scientific findings. Then head off for some monster spotting, while taking in ruined castles, waterfalls and mountain trails.

The lush countryside of Speyside is home to more than half of Scotland’s malt whisky distilleries, and the only malt whisky trail in the world.

The eight on the trail include bijoux Benromach, Glenfiddich (home to the most popular whisky in the world), Cardhu (a distillery pioneered by a woman) and The Glenlivet (the first licensed distillery in Scotland). The Glen Grant distillery, founded in 1840, has a beautiful Victorian garden threaded with paths and woodland walks and a small waterfall – a lovely place to meander. One of the eight – the Dallas Dhu distillery – is a historic distillery and is not operational.

There are tastings and insights into each distillery’s unique blend, plus the Speyside Cooperage where you can watch the ancient art of barrel-making.

This former medieval fortress, on the shore of the loch, once was the home of Scotland’s Grant Clan. Built in the 13th century, it was subsequently destroyed by the English in 1692 following the crushing of the Jacobite Rebellion at Culloden. You can watch a film of its history in the visitor centre.

Contrary to cliched opinion, Scots don’t live on haggis (offal, onion and oatmeal encased sausage-like in a sheep’s stomach), neeps (turnips) and tatties (potatoes) – or deep-fried Mars Bars.

More and more chefs are celebrating the local produce with inventive modern Scottish cuisine alongside a growing field-to-fork movement. It’s all about provenance and food miles these days and the Scottish Highlands’ rich natural larder fits perfectly with this ethos.

The hills are home to red deer (for wild venison), Highland ‘coos’ (cows, for superb quality beef, notably Aberdeen Angus) and heather-grazed lamb; its rushing rivers and deep lochs are brimming with brown trout and salmon. Shellfish is another highlight from Loch Fyne oysters to hand-dived scallops off the west coast, rope-grown mussels, crab and crayfish.

The landscape is peppered with artisan smokehouses and charcuterie-makers, coffee roasters – and distilleries.

Once you’ve sampled the inventive tasting menus inspired by the fresh local produce what better way to end the evening than with a dram? The Highlands is whisky country and home to some of the most famous distilleries in the world such as Glenfiddich and the Glenlivet.

This 13th-century castle – restored in the 19th century – was the traditional seat of Clan Macleod, one of the Highland’s most celebrated clans. It’s filled with Highlands clan history – portraits, weapons, and assorted clan memorabilia and heirlooms.