Other Essential Tips

Two black-and-white collies rest on a wooden café floor beside a table, with a smiling woman seated behind them.

Dogs in the North Highlands and what to expect

Dogs are part of everyday life here, from working farms to welcoming pubs. What visitors can expect, whether or not they’re bringing a dog themselves.

Black-and-white cartoon of a startled midge recoiling from insect repellent sprayed from a bottle bearing a crossed-out insect symbol.

The 'Scottish Midge' and how to deal with it

When to expect midges, what protection to bring and why a little preparation is more useful than the holiday horror stories.

Loch Duich stretches towards Glen Shiel beneath rugged mountains and heavy clouds, with rocky grassland in the foreground.

Imagine the NC500 in days gone by

The beautiful North Highlands now attract visitors from across the world, but earlier travellers often regarded the same landscape as barren, threatening and thoroughly unpleasant. Should this change our view?