Lonely Planet’s Scotland’s Highlands & Islands is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Sip whisky, walk the West Highland Way, and climb Ben Nevis; all with your trusted travel companion. Get to the heart of the Highlands & Islands and begin your journey now!
Up-to-date information - all businesses were rechecked before publication to ensure they are still open after 2020’s COVID-19 outbreak
Colour maps and images throughout
Highlightsand itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests
Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots
Essential infoat your fingertips - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices
Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, sightseeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss
Cultural insights give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - history, people, music, landscapes, wildlife, cuisine, politics
Over50 maps
Covers West Highland Way, Central Highlands, The Great Glen & Lochaber, Skye & The Western Isles, Northwest Highlands, Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands
The Perfect Lonely Planet’s Scotland’s Highlands & Islands, our most comprehensive guide to Scotland’s Highlands & Islands, is perfect for both exploring top sights and taking roads less travelled.
Looking for more extensive coverage? Check out Lonely Planet’s Scotlandfor a comprehensive look at all the country has to offer.
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Not good for the west of Mainland Shetland or Yell
If you are planning a more general tour of the Highlands and islands, this book probably works well, since it suggests some of the highlights of the area as a whole. However, as a guide to Shetland, it is quite hit and miss. It makes no reference at all to the Westside of Mainland Shetland and is lacking on the cafes and restaurant in Yell. The ones we tried were excellent and deserving of your custom, so it's a shame the guide doesn't mention any of them. Obviously a guide like this cannot cover everything, but surely it is helpful for visitors to one of the more remote areas to be aware that that there are places to eat during the day and that the restaurant is open on the evening. When it comes to Lerwick, it is useful on both attractions and eateries.
My suggestion is that you either use this book for planning purposes or that you flick through it to check the level of detail on the areas you wish to visit. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited, it is also worth a try.
Hmm, this appears to be identical to the Highlands and Islands portion of the Scotland guide, which is disappointing. It's no more detailed or specific than the nation-wide coverage in the full book.
This review is for the 5th edition of February 2021. Good introduction to Scottish history, landscape, and culture in the Highlands and Islands. I like the maps at the beginning of each section and then within the section for some of the towns. I've used Lonely Planet lodging and restaurant suggestions in other parts of the world and found them to be accurate. The ideal travel guide for me would include more on hiking trails, such as a combination of a Falcon Hiking Guide with Lonely Planet. I will pull the hiking info from various park websites.
Best Scotland travel guide I've read. That said, the only other I have read was Frommers.
I loved Frommers Ireland guide, but their Scotland guide left much to be desired. Lonely Planet did a much better job with Scotland and will check them out again in the future.
Fairly good - not completely accurate on some points, lists the most dreaded campsite on Arran, but not the better two, or the museum... - Not good for anyone with pets (the 'pet friendly' picture in the key is not used anywhere in this book, but there are a few entries that specify no dogs allowed) - best for single holiday makers, into walking.