Unique things to do in Highland Council

During your Whisky Tasting Experience you will be taken on a journey sampling five of the finest Malt Whiskies the Highlands of Scotland has to offer whilst learning about the rich, emotional and powerful history of Inverness and the Highlands, including the Jacobite Rebellion, The Battle of Culloden and the Highland Clearances. Your host will also entertain you with traditional songs and music synonymous with Highland history and Scotch Whisky. Scotch Malt Whisky, history, traditional music and craic, you only have to bring the missing ingredient....... Yourselves!! Be prepared to laugh, cry, clap your hands, tap your feet, maybe even sing along and the best part, enjoy the warm glowing feeling that the whisky naturally provides!!

We will meet on the Croft, beside the workshop. Signage says ‘shop’. Your tour will begin by introducing you to our animals, sheep, Highland cows and donkeys. You will receive a warm Highland welcome and will gain insight into the daily routines of crofting and the life of our sheep and how we produce ethical wool. We will then enter my workshop where you will gain a brief history of fleece preparation, hand spinning, the reasons and history behind our uniquely hand knitted designs including our famous bespoke fisherman’s Gansey. You will have an opportunity to see our products and understand about Croft sustainability here on the Isle of Skye. A humerous story telling experience for everyone. Other things to note: Bring waterproof clothing as the weather can change quickly. The experience is not suitable for small children. As we are a working Croft, and not a petting farm, we cannot guarantee you will be able to touch any of the animals.

We the start day meeting at the Ben Nevis Inn. Here we will meet and greet, discussing the kit and weather for the day. The journey starts, with a gentle introduction to the Pony Track, built in 1883, with plenty of history about the area along the way. Ascending steadily, we reach half way up approximately 2 hours into the journey, with a good opportunity to feed, and refill water bottles at the Red Burn. Now we start to ascend the famous Zig Zags, gaining height rapidly, along with the extending views across Ardnamurchan to the Great Glen. The plateau will be reached, followed by a steady walk to the summit, arriving in about 4 hours from the start. There is plenty to see on the summit whilst we eat (Weather allowing). The ruins of the Weather Observatory (1883-1904), The old "Hotel", and the iron frame that held Clement Wragge's observation instruments which pre dates the Observatory. If the weather allows, we can see the rest of Scotland...Mountains in every direction. We will descend the same path back to The Ben Nevis Inn, returning at approximately 5pm. During the dark Winter Months (November to March) we do expect snow and ice on atleast the summit plateau, and quite possibly down to the 650m contour. Message for more information as there isn't enough room here...

In a beautiful and secret location near Loch Ness with celtic hanging rings and altar where dressed in traditional Scottish dress I will explain this full celtic ritual of handfasting. After the traditional gaelic introduction the rest of the ceremony will be in english and I will join your hands together and you will repeat the old vows of binding from long ago. You will be offered the chance to recite your own vows after this if you wish. After the ceremony you can relax with your loved one and a romantic and decadent Scottish gourmet picnic and drinks complete with fire, rugs, blankets, crockery etc. Other things to note This is not a legally binding ceremony and available for lovers, married couples, same sex and mixed sex couples alike.

Isle of Skye's only commercial smokehouse! A tour of the uniquely designed smokehouse is inspired to look like a traditional Scottish building called a cleit. A peat roof and stonewalled buildings from the bygone years. (Search on google St. Kilda and Cleit). Learn how the local alder wood is prepared by hand using an axe and used to fire the smokehouse and to create the smoke. I will talk about the various techniques of hot and cold smoking, wet and dry curing. Smell the secret 6 spice mix blend used in the current recipe to cure the salmon. Can you guess any of the spices? Finally the best bit tasting, Sample 5 different canapes. A twist on a Cullen Skink, Smoked salmon mousse on beetroot and blini, two additional tasting spoons. Topics covered Isle of Skye, the only commercial smokehouse Wild salmon vs farmed salmon Wood selection, why alder? Dry and wet curing Kitchen equipment Smokehouse design, cleits The smoking processes such as hot and cold techniques, temperatures ect My products can be bought locally at: Aros Centre (Portree) The Top Shop (Broadford) An Crubh ( Sleat) Beths Deli (Balmacara) Plockton Shores Heb Shack (Uig) Pottery by by Lenz Ceramics https://www.lenz-ceramics

During your Whisky Tasting Experience you will be taken on a journey sampling five of the finest Malt Whiskies the Highlands of Scotland has to offer whilst learning about the rich, emotional and powerful history of Inverness and the Highlands, including the Jacobite Rebellion, The Battle of Culloden and the Highland Clearances. Your host will also entertain you with traditional songs and music synonymous with Highland history and Scotch Whisky. Scotch Malt Whisky, history, traditional music and craic, you only have to bring the missing ingredient....... Yourselves!! Be prepared to laugh, cry, clap your hands, tap your feet, maybe even sing along and the best part, enjoy the warm glowing feeling that the whisky naturally provides!!

We will meet on the Croft, beside the workshop. Signage says ‘shop’. Your tour will begin by introducing you to our animals, sheep, Highland cows and donkeys. You will receive a warm Highland welcome and will gain insight into the daily routines of crofting and the life of our sheep and how we produce ethical wool. We will then enter my workshop where you will gain a brief history of fleece preparation, hand spinning, the reasons and history behind our uniquely hand knitted designs including our famous bespoke fisherman’s Gansey. You will have an opportunity to see our products and understand about Croft sustainability here on the Isle of Skye. A humerous story telling experience for everyone. Other things to note: Bring waterproof clothing as the weather can change quickly. The experience is not suitable for small children. As we are a working Croft, and not a petting farm, we cannot guarantee you will be able to touch any of the animals.

On this 1.5-hour tour with a local, expert guide, the main sights of Inverness will come alive as you explore, hear, and learn about how the city has grown. From its humble beginnings as a royal city, to the Jacobite risings and castle sieges to modern life in Inverness today (and of course, the loch ness monster!), come along and discover why Inverness is officially the happiest city in Scotland. Key sights include: • Inverness Castle • Inverness Cathedral • River Ness • Old High Church • Maybe even the Loch Ness Monster! And many more hidden gems!

Join us on our traditional Scottish farm to get a glimpse into crofting life. We are a working croft and aim to give you a real feel of the crofting life, which is unique to the Scottish Highlands. Plan in 2 hours for a guided walk around the animals. While enjoying the stunning views and scenery, learn about crofting and local history, from the Neolithic to the Clearances. There will be plenty of photo and cuddle opportunities with our 4-legged friends in the stunning surroundings. The greedy sheep will come running for their feed and the pet lambs (should we have any at the time of your visit) will need their bottle, too. In June/July the sheep will be shorn, so Tom, who is a professional shearer, will give you an introduction. We will visit our herd of native cows and their calves after feeding and stroking the friendly pigs and giving them treats. Our ponies are always excited about visitors - they will love being fussed over and brushed. Finally we'll see the chickens. Here you can hunt for your own eggs and hug a hen, too. We finish the outdoor tour with a working sheep dog demonstration to show you our collie Salli in action with the sheep. After that, we'll deserve a hearty homemade soup and bread, followed by fresh scones and shortbread. Feel free to fire away with any questions you have regarding the animals or crofting during our walk or over our cuppa afterwards.

Meet with Inverness-born Cath outside Inverness visitors center where you will be welcomed in Gaelic (the native language of the Highlands of Scotland). Travel around the city and the banks of the River Ness stopping to listen to the history of buildings and the people who lived and worked in them. Learn about Highland folklore, tales of fairy folk, and prophecies that local people still believe in today. Hear how Inverness and the Highlands were shaped in the aftermath of the Battle of Culloden in 1746. The history of the bloody battle, places, and local clans were used as the basis for the Outlander books and TV series. Discover the real history that Diana Gabaldon used as her inspiration. Walking in a loop back to the starting point you will visit Inverness Town House, Castle, Graveyard and along the way uncover the best restaurants and bars to take in the real taste of the Highlands. The River Ness is home to a plethora of wildlife from salmon and otters to herons and you never know the Loch Ness monsters might put in an appearance!

Visit the shore of a stunning, Scottish sea loch, surrounded by mountains, and mixed woodland - join me here on a unique, canoe-based experience. I am a trained ecologist (studied otters for my PhD) and Chief Survival Instructor for Wildwood Bushcraft. During our experience you will explore the sheltered sea loch by canoe. We can use the canoe to access places that are hard to reach from the land - e.g. beautiful silver sand beaches, small wooded islands, and a wild rocky pensinsula. You will be able learn about this unique environment, collect shellfish and cook on a fire. You should leave with a better understanding of this beautiful landscape, its fascinating history, how to survive there in harmony, while making minimal impact. You will have been deeply involved in nature and leave with some fantastic memories, new skills and a great bonding experience!

There is nothing quite like the magic of the Scottish Highlands. They have a moody beauty to them that just appeal to the soul. Join me on an unforgettable journey through one of the stunning areas in the world as we explore the glens of the Scottish Highlands. We will meet in a central location in the highlands and I will guide you through the most beautiful and iconic areas in one of Scotland's most beautiful areas. We will chat about the history in the areas we wander through and I will photograph you in a natural way as you experience it together. I’m an experienced professional photographer which means I am experienced at putting people at ease in front of my lens. Together we can craft some beautiful memories for you to cherish your trip for years to come. The price you pay here is your session fee which covers the time of the session. Prior to your experience, you’ll be provided the opportunity to purchase any images from the session from your personalized online gallery! You can see more info on the session and packages at thistleandstonephoto .co .uk /airbnb_highlands @thistleandstonephoto

We the start day meeting at the Ben Nevis Inn. Here we will meet and greet, discussing the kit and weather for the day. The journey starts, with a gentle introduction to the Pony Track, built in 1883, with plenty of history about the area along the way. Ascending steadily, we reach half way up approximately 2 hours into the journey, with a good opportunity to feed, and refill water bottles at the Red Burn. Now we start to ascend the famous Zig Zags, gaining height rapidly, along with the extending views across Ardnamurchan to the Great Glen. The plateau will be reached, followed by a steady walk to the summit, arriving in about 4 hours from the start. There is plenty to see on the summit whilst we eat (Weather allowing). The ruins of the Weather Observatory (1883-1904), The old "Hotel", and the iron frame that held Clement Wragge's observation instruments which pre dates the Observatory. If the weather allows, we can see the rest of Scotland...Mountains in every direction. We will descend the same path back to The Ben Nevis Inn, returning at approximately 5pm. During the dark Winter Months (November to March) we do expect snow and ice on atleast the summit plateau, and quite possibly down to the 650m contour. Message for more information as there isn't enough room here...

In a beautiful and secret location near Loch Ness with celtic hanging rings and altar where dressed in traditional Scottish dress I will explain this full celtic ritual of handfasting. After the traditional gaelic introduction the rest of the ceremony will be in english and I will join your hands together and you will repeat the old vows of binding from long ago. You will be offered the chance to recite your own vows after this if you wish. After the ceremony you can relax with your loved one and a romantic and decadent Scottish gourmet picnic and drinks complete with fire, rugs, blankets, crockery etc. Other things to note This is not a legally binding ceremony and available for lovers, married couples, same sex and mixed sex couples alike.

We ride along the River Ness. We will see the oldest trees and the non native trees grow on the Ness islands. We stop briefly at Inverness Botanical Gardens a hidden gem prior to arriving onto the world famous Caledonian Canal before stopping at the bridges and learning about the stairway locks, leaving the Canal we go through the only Nature Reserve in the Highlands the Merkinch Nature Reserve, riding along the reserve sea wall we have the chance of seeing the most northerly pod of Bottlenose Dolphins. Joining the River Ness again heading upstream towards Inverness finishing with views of the city skyline and oldest churches in Inverness before returning to the City. Other things to note This is a adults only tour, 13 years and above. Guests must be able to cycle a bike. The tour is on the flat so not to energetic. Height restrictions are 4 foot 9 and above. We meet 15 minutes prior to the tour start time to fit the bike and helmet to your comfort.

Guests will be introduced to a wide colour palette of ethically sourced merino wool reflecting the rich colours of the Scottish Highlands. We will then tease apart and layer the wool to form a landscape scene before adding sparkling strands, and other felted fibres to represent sheep, trees and crofts. We will then sprinkle warm soapy water onto our artwork before rubbing it between 2 layers of bubblewrap. It's a bit like shinking a jumper in the wash! Our fibres will eventually bond, forming a firm piece of fabric. The artwork is rinsed and excess water squeezed out. Once dry, your unique felted landscape will be ready for you to take home and frame. Other things to note The cabin is accessed via a series of steps and gentle slopes which may be challenging for guests with limited mobility. The cabin has quite a low roof so please mind your head if you're over 5' 8"

Learn about processing raw wool and how to weave a seat pad on a peg loom, using wool from sheep you will meet in a relaxed outdoor setting. On arrival we'll have a cuppa and introduce the farm, then go and meet the sheep - get a scratch or a cuddle if they're up for it! Wandering through the pasture, we'll discuss the farming system, their characteristics and behaviour, fleeces and wool then go and have a look at some fleeces and choose one to weave. We'll break for lunch (please bring a pack up) After lunch we'll learn how to set up a peg loom, look at how to weave the fleeces then get cracking! Weaving a seat pad or a small rug, help will be at hand, and you can carry on until you're finished! While we weave you can absorb the beautiful surroundings and views (hopefully!) while enjoying a blether about whatever takes our fancy! We'll be weaving outside (with a gazebo if needed) so prepare for the weather! This activity isn't suitable for young children, but if you'd like to bring older kids along please book a private group experience and get in touch with ages!

Half-day highland bucket list Tour from Inverness Our first stop Clava Cairns is where you will find the standing stones made famous by Diana Gabaldon the author of Outlander. But what else happens at this famous site. Find out with your guide the stories and mysteries of this 4000 year old site. We now move on to where in April 1746 on a cold wet moor by the name of Culloden, a battle took place which would change the life of the Highlanders forever. Visit where the gallant Jacobite's took on the might of King George II army. A trip to the Highlands is never complete without visiting the most famous Loch in the world, Loch Ness. Take your camera just in case Nessie makes an unexpected appearance. Next lets try some Nessie water and taste some Gin and grab a free dram at the award winning Great Glen Distillery. Note Distillery closed in winter months. They say save the best to last and you will not be disappointed as we stop and visit the most romantic ruin in Scotland Urquhart castle. 1000 years of history to explore and grab the stunning views which awaits. Castle Entrance fee £ 14.50 Adults We now head back to Inverness and finish our tour.

Isle of Skye's only commercial smokehouse! A tour of the uniquely designed smokehouse is inspired to look like a traditional Scottish building called a cleit. A peat roof and stonewalled buildings from the bygone years. (Search on google St. Kilda and Cleit). Learn how the local alder wood is prepared by hand using an axe and used to fire the smokehouse and to create the smoke. I will talk about the various techniques of hot and cold smoking, wet and dry curing. Smell the secret 6 spice mix blend used in the current recipe to cure the salmon. Can you guess any of the spices? Finally the best bit tasting, Sample 5 different canapes. A twist on a Cullen Skink, Smoked salmon mousse on beetroot and blini, two additional tasting spoons. Topics covered Isle of Skye, the only commercial smokehouse Wild salmon vs farmed salmon Wood selection, why alder? Dry and wet curing Kitchen equipment Smokehouse design, cleits The smoking processes such as hot and cold techniques, temperatures ect My products can be bought locally at: Aros Centre (Portree) The Top Shop (Broadford) An Crubh ( Sleat) Beths Deli (Balmacara) Plockton Shores Heb Shack (Uig) Pottery by by Lenz Ceramics https://www.lenz-ceramics

Join me on a canoe-based wildlife tour of Loch Ailort - a stunning, sheltered sea loch on the West Coast of Scotland. You will be given instruction on open canoe and we will travel around the loch visiting a wild rocky peninsula, white sand beaches and wooded islands. We will keep a look out for iconic Scottish Wildife such as otters, seals, eagles, red deer, and black throated divers. We will also explore the habitats of shore and atlantic oak woodland and learn about the trees, plants, seaweeds and shellfish an the ecology of the area.