GuardTrailsScotland — Northwest Highlands · July
As you asked
Highlands Crofting & Coastal Trails
The route that sticks closest to what you asked for.
A comprehensive journey through the dramatic coastal landscapes of Applecross, Lochinver, Durness, and Ullapool, paired with the rich crofting heritage of Poolewe, Scourie, and Shieldaig.
- days14
- bases6
- stages9
- nights13
- transfer days5
- stage to stage670 km
- at the wheel, day by day12 h 27
Who this itinerary is for
This itinerary suits a traveller looking for: a trip in July and days of walking.
The area
a comprehensive journey through the dramatic coastal landscapes of Applecross, Lochinver, Durness, and Ullapool, paired with the rich crofting heritage of Poolewe, Scourie, and Shieldaig.
The map
Loading the map…
The days at a glance
One line per day: where you sleep, what the day is, the road, and how its time is split.
| Day | Evening base | The day | Road | Time of the day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day1 | Evening base : Inverness | ArrivalInverness, arrival | Road 16 min | |
| Day2 | Evening base : Ullapool | TransferUllapool Heritage & Port | Road 1 h 17 | |
| Day3 | Evening base : Ullapool | Day on siteUllapool Heritage & Port | — | |
| Day4 | Evening base : Durness | TransferDurness & Balnakeil Craft Village | Road 1 h 32 | |
| Day5 | Evening base : Durness | Day excursionScourie & Handa Island Wildlife | Road 1 h 04 | |
| Day6 | Evening base : Durness | Day on siteDurness & Balnakeil Craft Village | — | |
| Day7 | Evening base : Lochinver | TransferLochinver & Achmelvich Beach | Road 1 h 17 | |
| Day8 | Evening base : Lochinver | Day on siteLochinver & Achmelvich Beach | — | |
| Day9 | Evening base : Poolewe | TransferPoolewe & Inverewe Garden | Road 2 h | |
| Day10 | Evening base : Poolewe | Day excursionShieldaig & Loch Torridon | Road 1 h 36 | |
| Day11 | Evening base : Poolewe | Day on sitePoolewe & Inverewe Garden | — | |
| Day12 | Evening base : Applecross | TransferApplecross Peninsula Heritage | Road 1 h 21 | |
| Day13 | Evening base : Applecross | Day on siteApplecross Peninsula Heritage | — | |
| Day14 | — | DepartureInverness, departure | Road 2 h 04 |
- programme
- road
- free time
12.0 h usable every day
Good to know
What it leaves aside
To focus on local heritage centers and historic villages, we prioritize these cultural experiences while maintaining a steady pace of coastal exploration.
Getting there
Fly to Inverness Airport (INV), 16 min by road from the start.
Where you sleep
The region offers a mix of hotels, guesthouses, hostels, and campsites, but booking well in advance is essential during the peak summer season due to high demand.
Safety
United Kingdom: advice not read at publication time — check the official advice before booking. Official advice
Check before booking and before taking out insurance: the advice may have changed since.
Why this version, the cost in detail and the sources are on the method page. Read the method →
When, and for how long
How long?
- You ask for
- 14days
- The area needs, at least
- 15days
- Days kept
- 14days
Travelling in July.
The climate — July
- Daily high, 1 day in 4 is hotter
- 20 °C
- Daily high, 1 day in 20 is hotter
- 25 °C
- Unfavourable day
- 11%
- Windy day
- 1%
Rain, wind and temperature are measured over the 8 h in the middle of the day, on a historical baseline of 75 observations (Open-Meteo). It is a measuring window, not the length of your day: each day of the programme counts 12 h of usable time.
The itinerary, day by day
9 stages over 14 days, in the order of the days. A stage appears on the day you first reach it: you sleep several nights at some, and a day trip leaves from your base and brings you back to it. Each day has its own page.
Every day of this trip has 12 h of usable time. Room to breathe — we have not padded these days to fill them: the free time left is part of the trip.
- Day 1ARRIVALInverness, arrival · night in Inverness3 h planned · 16 min on the roadSee the day →
Stage 2 · Ullapool
Ullapool Heritage & Port
We sleep in Ullapool, 100 m from the place visited
2 nights · climate favourable
- Day 2Ullapool Heritage & Port · night in Ullapool8 h planned · 1 h 17 on the roadSee the day →
- Day 3AT BASEUllapool Heritage & Port · night in Ullapool8 h plannedSee the day →
- Day 4Durness & Balnakeil Craft Village · night in Durness8 h planned · 1 h 32 on the roadSee the day →
Stage 4 · Scourie
Scourie & Handa Island Wildlife
Day trip from Durness · no night here · climate favourable
- Day 5EXCURSIONfrom Durness → Scourie & Handa Island Wildlife9 h planned · 1 h 04 on the roadSee the day →
- Day 6AT BASEDurness & Balnakeil Craft Village · night in Durness7 h plannedSee the day →
Stage 5 · Lochinver
Lochinver & Achmelvich Beach
We sleep at Achmelvich Beach Youth hostel, 400 m away
2 nights · climate favourable
- Day 7Lochinver & Achmelvich Beach · night in Lochinver6 h planned · 1 h 17 on the roadSee the day →
- Day 8AT BASELochinver & Achmelvich Beach · night in Lochinver8 h plannedSee the day →
Stage 6 · Poolewe
Poolewe & Inverewe Garden
We sleep at Poolewe Hotel, 1 km away
3 nights · climate favourable
- Day 9Poolewe & Inverewe Garden · night in Poolewe8 h planned · 2 h on the roadSee the day →
Stage 7 · Shieldaig
Shieldaig & Loch Torridon
Day trip from Poolewe · no night here · climate favourable
- Day 10EXCURSIONfrom Poolewe → Shieldaig & Loch Torridon2 h planned · 1 h 36 on the roadSee the day →
- Day 11AT BASEPoolewe & Inverewe Garden · night in Poolewe10 h plannedSee the day →
Stage 8 · Applecross
Applecross Peninsula Heritage
We sleep in Applecross, 1.3 km from the place visited
2 nights · climate favourable
- Day 12Applecross Peninsula Heritage · night in Applecross8 h planned · 1 h 21 on the roadSee the day →
- Day 13AT BASEApplecross Peninsula Heritage · night in Applecross10 h plannedSee the day →
- Day 14DEPARTUREInverness, departure · end of the trip3 h planned · 2 h 04 on the roadSee the day →
What it costs, roughly
€1,729 to €2,724 per person
€124 to €195 per day
Based on: 4 people.
The cost estimate and the availability of accommodation, transport and activities are as of 6 November 2026: prices and availability change over time.
Where the money goes, and how this figure is obtained →To check
2 points to look at before booking.
D5Shuttle with limited departures: check the timetable and book — Scourie & Handa Island Wildlife → Handa Island
shuttle with limited departures — the timetable is not checked here: look it up before booking
D5Check opening times and crowds for this season — Scourie & Handa Island Wildlife
Handa Island ferry does not operate in strong winds, making the island inaccessible.
What the review flagged
Our automatic checks flag these points to verify before booking.
- Days 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13: the programme review flags a point to check (bothersome).
The method
Why this version, what sets it apart from the others, the cost in detail, the interest of the places, the automatic review and the sources.
Read the method →