Excellence Luxury Villas · Scottish Highlands
Luxury Holiday Houses in the Scottish Highlands
Cottages, country houses and castles among lochs, glens and sea, from Loch Ness and the Cairngorms to Skye
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Big skies, deep lochs and a dram at the end of the day
Nowhere in Britain gives you as much space as the Highlands. A morning can start beside Loch Ness, take in a battlefield and a castle by lunch, and end with langoustines on a west coast quay as the light fades somewhere close to eleven at night in June. Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the British Isles, is here, as are the Cairngorms, Skye and the long, empty beaches of the far north.
Our Highland collection runs to 80+ properties: cottages with hot tubs and views of the hills, apartments around Inverness, seaside houses on the Moray Firth, and a handful of castles and grand country houses for family gatherings, the largest with 24 bedrooms.
The distances are larger than most people expect, so choosing the right base matters. Here is how the region divides up, and when to come.
The Scottish Highlands at a glance
- Properties
- 80+ houses, cottages, apartments and castles, with up to 24 bedrooms
- Guide prices
- Typically £2,100 to £4,300 a week, from around £1,500
- Best areas
- Inverness and Loch Ness, Nairn and the Moray Firth, Easter Ross, the Cairngorms and Skye
- Best time
- May and June for long days, September for autumn colour; winter for snow and quiet
- Getting there
- Inverness airport, or the Caledonian Sleeper from London Euston to Inverness or Fort William
Browse all 80+ properties in the Scottish Highlandsor see them on the map
Villa numbers and guide prices are updated daily from our live collection.
Caledonian Lodge | 7-Bedroom Manor with Spa in Ardgay Scotland7 bedrooms
Cairns House United Kingdom24 bedrooms
House Morven Caithness: Luxury 9-Bedroom Apartment with Seaviews – Highland9 bedrooms
Freya House | 9-Bedroom Villa in Nairn9 bedroomsWhere to stay in the Scottish Highlands
Inverness and Loch Ness for an easy, central base, Nairn and Easter Ross for links golf, distilleries and the start of the North Coast 500, the Cairngorms for walking and winter sports, and Skye for drama on the west coast.
The Highland capital and its famous loch
Inverness is the obvious place to begin: a small city on the River Ness with a good airport, decent restaurants and a castle on the hill. Loch Ness starts just to the south, long, dark and very deep, with the ruins of Urquhart Castle on its western shore.
East of the city lies Culloden, where the Jacobite cause ended in April 1746, and beyond it Cawdor Castle and the seaside town of Nairn, with its sandy beach and fine links golf. A house here puts most of the north within a day's reach.
Browse houses in Inverness
Dolphins, distilleries and the North Coast 500
North of Inverness, the Black Isle and Easter Ross are gentler country than the name suggests: farmland, firths and small towns with good whisky. Dalmore distils at Alness, Glenmorangie at Tain, and bottlenose dolphins are often seen from Chanonry Point on a rising tide. Golfers make for Royal Dornoch.
This is also the start of the North Coast 500, the 516-mile loop that leaves from Inverness Castle and runs up to John o' Groats, along the north coast to Durness and back down through Assynt and Wester Ross. It is best taken slowly, with a comfortable house to return to.
Browse houses in Ross and Cromarty
Mountains on both sides of the map
Skye is reached by bridge from Kyle of Lochalsh, around two and a half hours' drive west of Inverness. Come for the Quiraing and the Old Man of Storr, the coloured houses of Portree harbour, Dunvegan Castle and a tour at Talisker.
Further south, Fort William sits beneath Ben Nevis, with Glen Coe close by and the Jacobite steam train crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct on its summer run to Mallaig. Inland, the Cairngorms National Park offers forest walks, Britain's only free-ranging reindeer herd and, when the snow obliges, skiing on Cairngorm Mountain.
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Langoustines, venison and very long evenings
Highland cooking relies on what's around it: west coast langoustines and scallops, hill venison, wild salmon, and cranachan made with raspberries, oats and cream. Whisky is never far away, and a distillery tour fits into most days.
May and June bring the longest days and fewer midges. July and August are warm and busy, and September is quieter, with bracken turning gold and red deer stags beginning to roar later in the month. Winter is short of daylight but makes up for it with snow on the hills, log fires and Hogmanay. Our concierge can arrange private chefs, distillery visits, ghillies and transfers.
Ask our conciergeFeatured properties in the Scottish Highlands
Manor Strathglass Inverness: Luxury 5-Bedroom Lodge with Countryside Views – Highland5 bedrooms · sleeps 12From £9,254 a week
Loch Ness Maison United Kingdom6 bedrooms · sleeps 12From £7,525 a week
House Anagach Kingussie: Spacious 9-Bedroom Luxury House Ideal for Skiing – The Cairngorms9 bedrooms · sleeps 23From £7,497 a week
Manor Shiel Highland: Luxury 8-Bedroom Apartment with Hot Tub & Seaview – Highland8 bedrooms · sleeps 16From £7,308 a week
Ross-shire Hall | 7-Bedroom Manor in Dingwall Evanton7 bedrooms · sleeps 14From £7,310 a week
House Ness Inverness: Elegant 6-Bedroom House with Lake Views – Inverness6 bedrooms · sleeps 12From £6,475 a week
Manor Braeriach Inverness: 9-Bedroom Luxury Apartment with Hot Tub & Tennis Court – Inverness9 bedrooms · sleeps 16From £6,363 a week
Rent Fort William Castle Scotland13 bedrooms · sleeps 26From £6,311 a weekSearch all 80+ properties in the Scottish Highlandsor see them on the map
Why book your house in the Scottish Highlands with Excellence Luxury Villas
The right house, not the nearest one
The Highlands are vast, the roads are slow and many are single-track, so we know which houses put Loch Ness, the hills or a beach within easy reach and which ones mean a long drive for dinner. With 80+ properties in the Scottish Highlands, we can usually find the house that suits you rather than the one that happens to be free. Search by size, pool, location and price, or tell us what you have in mind and we will put together a shortlist.
Book direct
You book with us directly, with no booking fees. Questions about access, parking, pool heating or how far it really is to the nearest beach go to people who can find out the answer.
A concierge who knows the territory
Car hire and transfers from Inverness, private chefs, distillery visits, tee times at Royal Dornoch and Nairn, ghillies for a day on the river and boat trips on Loch Ness. Our concierge team arranges all of it, leaving you free to decide which terrace to sit on.
A house for every kind of party
Couples, families with small children, three generations together or a crowd of friends celebrating a birthday: we match the house to the group, down to the number of bathrooms and whether the pool is fenced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to stay in the Scottish Highlands?
Inverness and Loch Ness make the most practical base, with the airport close by and much of the region within a day's drive. Nairn and Easter Ross suit golfers and whisky lovers, the Cairngorms suit walkers and families, and Skye is the choice for dramatic west coast scenery.
When is the best time to visit the Highlands?
May, June and September are the favourites, with long days, fewer visitors and fewer midges. July and August are the warmest months and the busiest. Winter is quiet and atmospheric, with snow on the mountains.
Are midges a problem in the Highlands?
Midges are at their worst on still, damp days from around June to August, especially on the west coast. A breeze keeps them away, and they are much less of a nuisance in late spring and from September. Pack repellent and you will barely notice them.
Can you arrange a private chef at a house in the Scottish Highlands?
Yes. Our concierge can arrange a private chef for a single dinner or your whole stay, along with cookery lessons, guided visits, transfers and restaurant reservations.
How much does a luxury propertie in the Scottish Highlands cost?
Across our 80+ properties in the Scottish Highlands, weekly rates typically range from £2,100 to £4,300, with the most affordable from around £1,500 a week and the largest estates well above. Prices depend on the size of the property, its location and the season, with July and August the most expensive. These are guide prices based on current listings; each property page shows its own rates for your dates.
How do I get to the Scottish Highlands?
Inverness airport has flights from London and other UK airports. The Caledonian Sleeper runs overnight from London Euston to Inverness and Fort William. A car is essential once you arrive, and our concierge can arrange hire or transfers.
Are there houses in the Scottish Highlands for large groups?
Yes. Our Scottish Highlands collection includes properties with up to 24 bedrooms. Tell us the size of your party and the occasion, and we will send a shortlist that suits it.
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Find your house in the Scottish Highlands
80+ houses, cottages and castles across the Highlands, booked direct with our concierge on hand