High Wood

A proper forest walk rather than a manicured attraction, High Wood sits just outside Inverness and delivers exactly what you'd hope for - tall pines, quiet trails, and enough space to actually escape the crowds. The woodland here is dense enough to feel genuinely remote, though you're never more than a few minutes' drive from town. Walking through feels like stepping into somewhere the Highlands actually are, not a postcard version of them.

It's best suited to anyone who wants a straightforward woodland ramble without the hype or the entrance fees. Families with walkers aged eight and up will find it decent - the paths are manageable and there's enough to discover among the trees to keep kids engaged for a couple of hours. Leave the pushchair at home though. Serious hikers might find it a bit limited for a full day out, but it works brilliantly as a half-day filler or a morning's leg-stretch between other activities.

There's no formal visitor facility that I could establish, so come prepared with what you need. An hour to ninety minutes is realistic unless you're dawdling. Best visited outside peak summer when the midges aren't in full force - May or September are proper lovely.

If you're based at Ardtower Caravan Park or Fortrose Bay Campsite, High Wood makes a sensible addition to a broader Inverness-area itinerary. It's not the star attraction, but it's a genuine bit of Highland forest without the tourist machinery. That's worth something.