The Jacobite Steam Train - Board the Hogwarts Express

Thomas Telford’s Caledonian Canal stretches 60 miles from Inverness to near Fort William. This engineering feat links lochs as it sweeps through the magnificent Great Glen.

Over 100 years, attempts to restore the Stuarts to the throne ultimately led to the tragic Battle of Culloden. Many clans fought alongside Bonnie Prince Charlie in the 1745 Jacobite Uprising. Culloden was also where Outlander’s Jamie and Claire said their goodbyes in the fictional TV series.

Enjoy a truly magical experience aboard the real-life Hogwarts Express. Puffing past lush scenery, you’ll recognise many landmarks from the Harry Potter films, including Loch Shiel, AKA the Dark Lake, and Dumbledore’s final resting place at the isle of Eilan na Moine. Best of all is the dramatic crossing of Glenfinnan Viaduct, as you traverse its 21 giant arches.

Catch ‘the Road to the Isles’ and visit this traditional fishing port where you’ll enjoy the perfect blend of sightseeing and Highland hospitality. Stretch your legs with a stroll around the Mallaig Circuit, complete with glorious views of Loch Nevis and Knoydart. Or relax beside the bustling harbour and watch the ferries and fishing boats coming and going.

Throw off your shoes and feel the sand between your toes at one of Scotland’s most famous beaches. Morar’s beautifully unspoilt coastline played a starring role in both Local Hero and Highlander. Bonnie Prince Charlie is also said to have hurried along the shore as he fled his enemies in 1746, his footsteps now washed away by centuries of time and tide.

Journey back 250 years and immerse yourself in the fascinating life of Prince Charles Edward Stuart. Learn how the ‘Young Pretender’ raised his Jacobite army in an attempt to seize the British throne – and see where he made his valiant last stand at Culloden. Packed with romance, intrigue and bloody battles, discover how his legacy still reverberate around the Highlands.

Looming large over its surrounding peaks, the 4,406ft-high Ben Nevis dominates all around it as the tallest mountain in the UK. Forbidding and imposing, it’s a magnet for climbers and walkers determined to reach its snow-capped summit. Seen from afar it is equally impressive, with nearby Fort William the ideal spot to appreciate its raw natural beauty.

Expertly built by the great Thomas Telford, this astonishing feat of engineering has to be seen to be believed. Wander its length and marvel at a dramatic staircase of eight locks that raises the Caledonian Canal by 62ft over a quarter of a mile. As the longest of its kind in Scotland, it’s fitting that the mighty Ben Nevis forms the perfect backdrop.