Best Hidden Gems in Inverness & the Highlands
Written by UK Hidden Gems Editorial
Updated 5 August 2026
The best hidden gems in Inverness & the Highlands are Foyers Falls, Lochan Lunn Da-Bhra, Lower Falls, Glen Nevis, Loch Ruthven, Uath Lochans, Glen Nevis Rope Bridge, Loch Duntelchaig and Loch Vaa.
The Highlands around Inverness hold some of Scotland's most stirring scenery, from the deep waters of Loch Ness to the pinewoods and lochans of the Cairngorms. Away from the well-trodden honeypots, a wealth of quieter places waits for those willing to walk a little further or follow a single-track road to its end.
You can descend a steep forest path to the Falls of Foyers, seek out the Slavonian grebes at Loch Ruthven, or follow a waymarked circuit around the Uath Lochans among Scots pine and birch. There are cascades and pools at the Lower Falls in Glen Nevis, a swaying three-wire rope bridge on the route to Steall, and clear hill lochs like Duntelchaig, Vaa and Lochan Lunn Da-Bhra that reward the effort of reaching them.
Some are easy roadside stops, others ask for boots, care and good weather. Each offers a genuine taste of the Highlands at their most rewarding and least crowded.
Here are eight of the best hidden gems to seek out in Inverness & the Highlands.
Foyers Falls
Photo: Anne Burgess via Geograph.org.uk
Foyers Falls are a wooded waterfall on the River Foyers, dropping through a gorge to the southeastern shore of Loch Ness. A steep path from the village leads down through forest to viewpoints over an upper and a lower fall, the main drop being around thirty metres.
The flow is often reduced because water is taken off upstream for hydro-electric power, so the falls run fullest after rain. A power scheme has used the river here since an aluminium works arrived in 1895, and Robert Burns wrote some lines on the falls in 1787.
Time your visit for after wet weather to see them at their best.
Lochan Lunn Da-Bhra
Photo: Richard Webb via Geograph.org.uk
Lochan Lunn Da-Bhra, also spelled Loch Lundavra, is a small hill loch in the moors a few miles south of Fort William, reached by a single-track road to Lundavra farm. It sits at around 150 metres among rough grazing, with two small islands once used as defended dwellings, and it is fished for brown trout.
The final stage of the West Highland Way passes close by on its way into Fort William. Local legend links the loch to Macbeth, though the tale is folklore rather than history.
A peaceful, out-of-the-way spot for those who enjoy the road less travelled.
Lower Falls, Glen Nevis
Photo: John MacKenzie via Geograph.org.uk
Lower Falls, Glen Nevis are a set of cascades and pools on the River Nevis by the glen road at Polldubh, a few miles up Glen Nevis from Fort William. The falls are seen from the roadside near the bridge, with a path along the bank leading to further views and boulder-strewn pools above and below.
A small car park and laybys serve the spot, with a seasonal bus stopping nearby. They are the easily reached lower counterpart to the taller Steall Falls higher up the glen, and make a fine stop on any drive through Nevis.
Loch Ruthven
Photo: Anne Burgess via Geograph.org.uk
Loch Ruthven is a quiet freshwater loch among heather hills south-west of Inverness, fringed with sedge beds and run as an RSPB reserve. It is one of the most important places in Britain for the Slavonian grebe, a small crested diving bird, seen in spring in its breeding colours from a hide reached by a short, mostly level trail.
Other birds around the water include willow warblers and tree pipits, and the remains of an old crannog sometimes show above the surface when the level drops. There is a small car park and a walk of about half a kilometre to the hide, so bring binoculars.
Uath Lochans
Photo: Peter Bond via Geograph.org.uk
Uath Lochans are a group of small, shallow lochans set among Scots pine and birch woodland near Insh, south of Kingussie in the Cairngorms, looked after by Forestry and Land Scotland. From a car park and picnic area a short waymarked circuit of about a mile and a half runs on gravel paths and boardwalk over marshy ground, while a longer route climbs to the Farleitter Crag viewpoint over the pools and across Strathspey.
Dragonflies, water lilies, frogs and red squirrels are among the wildlife here. A rewarding short walk for all the family.
Glen Nevis Rope Bridge
Photo: Ian Taylor via Geograph.org.uk
Glen Nevis Rope Bridge is a three-wire bridge strung across the Water of Nevis, on the walk through the Nevis Gorge toward the great fall of Steall near Fort William. You cross by shuffling along the lower cable and holding the two above, the whole thing swaying underfoot over the river.
It is the way to the far bank, though the main view of Steall Falls can be had from the gorge path without crossing. Steep, wooded mountainsides close in around the gorge, so take care on the approach and cross only if you feel confident.
Loch Duntelchaig
Photo: Mike Pennington via Geograph.org.uk
Loch Duntelchaig is a large freshwater loch in the hills southwest of Inverness, east of Loch Ness, running for several miles between low crags. Its clear water is used for wild swimming, and the gneiss crags along the shore are an established rock-climbing venue, with restrictions in spring and summer to protect nesting peregrines.
It also serves as part of the water supply for Inverness. Quiet minor roads run along its sides, making it easy to find a peaceful spot by the water.
Loch Vaa
Photo: John MacKenzie via Geograph.org.uk
Loch Vaa is a small, secluded loch in pine and birch woodland between Aviemore and Boat of Garten in the Cairngorms, known for its very clear water. It is spring-fed, with no stream running in or out, which makes its level sensitive to dry spells; it dropped to a record low in 2019 before recovering.
A distinctive red-roofed boathouse stands on the shore. It is reached on woodland paths from a small car park off the A95, and although privately owned and managed for fishing, it is also used quietly for swimming.
A tranquil place to pause among the pines.
FAQs
Which Highland hidden gems are easiest to reach?
The Lower Falls in Glen Nevis are seen right from the roadside near the bridge, with a small car park nearby. The Uath Lochans offer a short waymarked circuit of about a mile and a half, and the hide at Loch Ruthven is a walk of roughly half a kilometre. Others, like the Falls of Foyers, involve steeper paths.
Are these Highland lochs safe for swimming?
Loch Duntelchaig is used for wild swimming and Loch Vaa is also used quietly for swimming, though both are wild, cold and unsupervised. Always judge conditions for yourself and take sensible precautions, as no safety facilities are provided.
When is the best time to see wildlife at these sites?
Spring is a highlight at Loch Ruthven, when Slavonian grebes appear in their breeding colours. Warmer months bring dragonflies and red squirrels to the Uath Lochans. The Falls of Foyers run fullest after rain, so wet spells can be rewarding for waterfalls.
Conclusion
The countryside around Inverness and the wider Highlands offers a rare kind of reward: places that stay quiet precisely because they take a little effort to reach. Whether you are picking your way down to the Falls of Foyers, watching grebes at Loch Ruthven, or steadying yourself across the swaying rope bridge in Glen Nevis, each outing brings you closer to the region's wild heart.
Clear lochs such as Duntelchaig and Vaa, the pinewood pools of Uath Lochans, and the roadside cascades of the Lower Falls all repay the journey. Come prepared for changeable weather, wear proper footwear on steep and boggy ground, and respect any seasonal restrictions.
Take your time and let the landscape set the pace, because from waterfall to hill loch, these are the best hidden gems to seek out in Inverness & the Highlands.
