Glen Culligran

Glen Culligran sits about six miles south of Beauly, a proper slice of Highland terrain that feels genuinely remote despite being accessible by car. It's a nature reserve rather than a formal visitor attraction - no entrance booth, no gift shop, just valley floor, woodland, and the river that gives the glen its character.

What you're really after here is walking. The glen floor offers straightforward rambles alongside water, while steeper routes up the sides reward you with views across the Highlands proper. It's the kind of place where you might spot red squirrels if you're quiet and lucky, and the birdsong alone makes it worth the drive from Beauly.

Walkers get the most from Glen Culligran. Families with young kids will manage the flat sections easily, though there's nothing specifically designed to entertain them - no play park, no cafe, no interpretive boards. Bring a packed lunch and stay as long as you like. It's the sort of place you visit for three hours or six hours depending on your mood and legs.

Free to explore, though the exact access arrangements aren't entirely clear from the official channels, so a quick local check in Beauly first makes sense. If you're staying at Highland Premier Glamping Pods just up the road, Glen Culligran becomes your daily escape - somewhere to walk off breakfast and clear your head before heading back for a proper meal. It's genuine Highland walking without the crowds of better-known glens.