Exploring areas in the Scottish Highlands

Inverness City

Inverness is a bustling modern city, the capital and administrative centre of the Highland region. With a population of close to 80,000 the city is the largest population centre in the area and benefits from a wide range of facilities and services, a thriving entertainment and dining scene, and a wide range of opportunities for shopping and other activities. The city offers an excellent range of potential locations for your new home or property. From city centre living to contemporary luxury developments. There really is something for everyone.

Inverness Rural 

The Inverness Rural area covers a variety of towns, villages and more rural hamlets and individual houses in the districts centered around Inverness City. These locations can offer 'the best of both worlds', rural living in picturesque and attractive situations, while often still being close enough to Inverness to enjoy all the benefits of a vibrant modern city.

Inverness Rural covers the area around the city of Inverness, it takes in a number of towns and villages including, Tomatin, Daviot, Farr, Invergarry, Fort Augustus, Cannich, Drumnadrochit, Glenmoriston, Beauly, Kirkhill, Glenurquhart, Gorthleck, Lentran, Ardersier, and Croy, among others.

The close proximity of Inverness means that the Inverness Rural area can take advantage of the city’s hub transport links.

Nairn District 

Nairn District includes the lovely seaside town of Nairn, well known for its attractive beaches and impressive Victorian era buildings, and the surrounding rural areas. Nairn is a bustling town with a busy High Street and selection of pubs and restaurants, it is also a cultural centre with a popular annual Book and Art Festival.

Nairn District is centred around the town of Nairn which sits beside the Moray Firth, around 15 miles to the east of Inverness. The town of Nairn itself has a population of over 12,000, Nairn District also incorporates several other smaller settlements including Ferness and Piperhill.

The area is served with good transport links. Inverness is around 25 minutes drive (via the A96). Glasgow and Edinburgh are just over 3 hours away (via the A9), while Aberdeen is around 2 hours drive (via the A96). Nairn District is served by the Inverness Airport at Dalcross, around 15 minutes drive from Nairn. The airport provides international and UK flights. There is also a train station at Nairn with a rail line that runs east to Aberdeen and west to Inverness.

Ross and Cromarty 

The Ross and Cromarty area covers a large part of the Highlands, stretching from coast to coast and covering a range of landscapes including stunning beaches and some of the most beautiful mountain landscapes in the country. The population is mostly spread among smaller towns and villages, as well as hamlets and individual houses, offering a fantastic selection of opportunities for your new home or property.

Ross and Cromarty stretches across a considerable area of the Highlands, from north of Inverness to Kincardine in the east, and from Glenshiel to beyond Ullapool in the west. The population of the area stands at around 50,000 people, most of it spread amongst rural areas and smaller settlements.

The significant settlements in the area, include Cromarty, Fortrose, Munlochy, Conon Bridge, Dingwall, Evanton, Alness, Invergordon, Tain, Marybank, Strathpeffer, Ullapool, Aultbea, Poolewe and Gairloch. Along with many smaller villages.

Sutherland 

The area of Sutherland covers a large part of the northern Highlands and encompasses some of the most striking and beautiful beaches and landscapes in the country. It includes a number of towns and villages, as well as many smaller hamlets and individual houses, offering an impressive range of options for your new home or property.

Sutherland covers a large area of the North Highlands including some of the most remote and dramatic scenery in mainland Scotland. The area stretches north from Dornoch in the east, sharing a boundary with Caithness, and in the west stretches from Lochinver north to Durness and Cape Wrath. Sutherland is sparsely inhabited with a total population of around 13,000.

Much of the population live in villages including Dornoch, Embo, Lochinver, Scourie, Durness, Golspie, Lairg, Bonar Bridge, Helmsdale and other small settlements. Many of these villages are in beautiful locations, either close to attractive mountain scenery or the picturesque coastline.

Badenoch and Strathspey

Badenoch & Strathspey is a rural area in the beautiful central Highlands, home to a number of attractive towns and villages, as well as smaller rural hamlets and individual houses. From traditional rural hideaways to modern housing in the bustling resort town of Aviemore, in the shadow on Cairngorm Mountain ski centre, the area offers a wide range of options for your property search.

Badenoch & Strathspey is a scenic area in the central Highlands which stretches roughly from Loch Laggan in the south to the beautiful town of Grantown-on-Spey in the north.

As well as the beautiful Grantown-on-Spey, population over 2,000, there are a number of other towns and villages in the area, including the vibrant resort town Aviemore, which also has a permanent population of over 2,000, and Kingussie the capital of Badenoch, with a population of over 1,000.

Caithness 

Caithness covers a wide area in the far north east of the Highlands, it includes the towns of Wick and Thurso, two of the larger settlements in the Highlands. Less mountainous than the rest of the Highlands, the landscape of Caithness is made up of attractive rolling farm and moorland, and a long and impressive coastline. Whether you're looking for a coastal cottage, a town centre or suburban property, or something more rural, you'll find a wide range of options in this area.

Caithness covers an area on the far North East of the Highlands, in contrast to most of the rest of the Highlands Caithness is largely flat and made up of rolling farmland and moors. On the north and east the area is fringed by dramatic coastal scenery, and to the south and west the area is bordered by Sutherland. Caithness has a population of around 24,000 people spread in a number of villages and towns.

The most significant towns in Caithness are Thurso on the north coast with a population of around 8,000, and Wick on the east coast with a population of over 7,000. Other smaller settlements include Castletown, Halkirk, Reay and the famous John O’ Groats.

Skye and Lochalsh

Including what is perhaps the most famous island in Scotland, the area of Skye and Lochalsh needs no introduction. Renowned for its dramatic mountain scenery, rich history and attractive coastlines the area also includes a number of towns and villages with a range of attractions, from award winning restaurants to great live entertainment. Whether you're searching for your dream cottage close to the mountains, or a modern suburban home you’ll find an inspiring range here.

Skye and Lochalsh includes the famous Isle of Skye, which sits just off the west coast of Scotland, and the area of Lochalsh, to the east of Skye on the mainland. The population stands at around 12,000.

Much of the population is spread in rural areas. Portree in the north of the Isle of Skye is the largest town with a population of over 2,000, other significant settlements include Broadford, Dunvegan and Kyleakin on the Isle of Skye, and Plockton, and Kyle of Lochalsh on the mainland. There is also a rail connection from Kyle of Lochalsh to Inverness, one of the most beautiful railway journeys in the world.