Spirit of the Highlands

17/11/2023

⭐ Film Friday ⭐

Where the fast-flowing River Thurso streams into the wild waters of the Pentland Firth you’ll find Thurso, the most northerly town on mainland Scotland and a terrific base for anyone wanting to explore the wonderful natural environment and fascinating history of Caithness.

Discover what makes the area so special with local jeweller, Lindsey Gallacher Jewellery and Art

Follow Inverness Castle Gallery for the latest project updates ✨

14/11/2023

📢 Project Announcement!

Over the past two and a half years, the Spirit of the Highlands and Islands project has been gathering your stories of the Highlands and Islands. We have a phenomenal archive of over 500 stories from the people who live, work and travel in our beautiful region!

We have used these stories to inspire others to travel to the breathtaking places that are on our doorsteps. Like the view from Suisnish Pier on the Isle of Raasay pictured below 📸 (Credit: Airborne Lens).

You can find these stories on our project website: https://discoverhighlandsandislands.scot/discover

Sadly, however, our project is now coming to an end! Our team are so proud of everything that the project has achieved and thankful for the unwavering support of local communities who have given so much and helped us to create amazing content to promote the unique natural and cultural heritage of our home.

Your story, however, is just beginning! The project website will continue to run so keep your eyes peeled for new content 👀

The stories collected have also inspired the design of the Inverness Castle Experience, opening 2025. If you would like to keep up to date with news on our project, please follow .castle ✨

We still have a number of exciting films to share in the next few weeks so stay with us for some exceptional views and local characters!

10/11/2023

⭐ Film Friday ⭐

Loch Migdale is a freshwater loch near Bonar Bridge, in Sutherland, and is a must-see for every visitor to the area. The change of seasons brings beautiful mornings which can be enjoyed out on a paddleboard in the water, or walking around the area, where you can take the time to soak in the stunning landscape.

The Sutherland Girls on Boards is a project hosted by Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust.

Plan your next Highlands adventure below 🧡
https://discoverhighlandsandislands.scot/explore

Follow Inverness Castle Experience for the latest project updates ✨

03/11/2023

⭐ Film Friday ⭐

The Isle of Gigha, the most southerly and one of the most beautiful of the Hebridean Islands, is a community-owned island which is seven miles long by a mile and a half wide and situated three miles west of the Kintyre peninsula. A haven for slow travel, enjoy a few days exploring the different landscapes and habitats of this island gem.

Discover more about the Outer Hebrides ⬇
https://discoverhighlandsandislands.scot/en/visitor/region/outer-hebrides

Follow Inverness Castle Experience for the latest project updates ✨

27/10/2023

⭐ Film Friday ⭐

Home to the most westerly point on the British mainland, the Ardnamurchan Peninsula is an unspoilt boundary between the Highlands and the Atlantic Ocean. With a name meaning ‘the headland of the great seas’, the geography, history and way of life in Ardnamurchan have all been shaped by the waters which surround it.

Discover more ways to explore Ardnamurchan ⬇
https://discoverhighlandsandislands.scot/en/visitor/location/ardnamurchan

Follow Inverness Castle Experience for the latest project updates ✨

24/10/2023

Have you had a peek inside the new Inverness Castle Experience yet? 👀 Check out the video at the link below for a preview of the magical new visitor attraction!

Discover a world of stories brought to life by stunning visual effects. The visitor attraction will be guided by stories submitted by the community of the Highlands giving it a truly unique angle. A celebration of the heritage, environment and culture of the Highlands past, present and future! 🤩

Give their page a follow to keep up to date with the latest project developments ✨

An ongoing description of the transformation of Inverness Castle to its launch in 2025

23/10/2023

⭐ Film Friday ⭐

The spectacular village of Durness is the most north westerly on the British mainland. Bounded by rocky shores, sandy beaches and the dramatic mountainous scenery of Sutherland. The village and the area that surrounds it, such as Balnakeil, are a haven for walkers of all levels with some of the most beautiful landscape features in the mainland Highlands.

Explore how to experience the area at its best with a local crafter Mudness Ceramics

Follow Inverness Castle Experience for the latest project updates ✨

19/10/2023

Not long now until we can see Inverness in those beautiful Autumn colours from the new Castle terrace 🤩

This view! Just imagine sitting here, on the terrace, sharing stories and watching the world go by. Inverness Castle Experience in 2025, we can't wait!

🏰 View from the terrace, Inverness Castle Experience
📷️ Janina Morgan

The Highland Council High Life Highland The Scottish Government Visit Inverness Loch Ness VisitScotland Inverness City Centre BID Spirit of the Highlands

13/10/2023

⭐ Film Friday ⭐

The Highlands are a great place to explore on bike. Whether you enjoy a slow ride through rolling landscapes or the thrill of racing down a mountain, there is a route for all paces to be found in the region. At Glenlivet, Moray Speyside, purpose built mountain bike trails offer a fantastic fun-filled day for all the family.

Click the link below for more ways to explore Moray Speyside 🧡
https://discoverhighlandsandislands.scot/en/visitor/region/moray

Follow for the latest project updates ✨

06/10/2023

⭐ Film Friday ⭐

Caithness is home to around 500 brochs, many barely visible, but others are amazingly well preserved 3,000 years later. With their curved and incredibly thick twin walls, brochs may have offered communities a place of refuge when attacked, but their exact purpose is unknown.

Today, the Caithness Broch Centre explores everything broch, while the Caithness Broch Project is building a modern-day broch by hand to bring prehistory back to life.

Discover more areas to explore in Caithness below ⬇
https://discoverhighlandsandislands.scot/en/visitor/region/caithness

Look out for more stories from local communities at the Inverness Castle Experience, opening 2025. Give them a follow to stay up to date with the latest news ✨

03/10/2023

Want to see our stories in action? You don't have long to wait! ✨

As a project, we have been collecting stories from communities across the Highlands and Islands to feature on our digital archive and give you plenty of inspiration when visiting our beautiful region 🧡

Did you know that our stories have also inspired a brand new visitor attraction in Inverness? The Inverness Castle Experience, open in 2025, is built on stories from across the Highlands and promises to be pure magic! Give Inverness Castle Experience a follow to keep up to date with the latest news and some teasers of what to expect 🤩

Check out their website below ⬇️
https://invernesscastle.scot/

📸 Ewen Weatherspoon

29/09/2023

⭐️ Film Friday ⭐️

The Highlands have some of the finest local produce in Scotland from freshly caught lobster to foraged fruits and locally distilled whisky. Coming together to enjoy fine food and drink, a roaring fire and many, many stories is, to some, the epitome of Highland hospitality. Let Verity and Jenny from Eòlach in Glenelg inspire your next taste adventure!

Discover what's on offer in Glenelg this Autumn 🍂 https://discoverhighlandsandislands.scot/en/visitor/location/glenelg

Look out for more stories from local communities at the Inverness Castle Experience, opening 2025. Give them a follow to stay up to date with the latest news ✨