Free things to do in the Scottish Highlands

Oban War and Peace Museum, Oban, Argyll & the Mull ferryPhoto: M J Richardson, CC BY-SA 2.0

Landmark Forest Adventure Park, The Cairngorms: Aviemore & Grantown-on-SpeyPhoto: Mike Pennington, CC BY-SA 2.0

Highland Wildlife Park, The Cairngorms: Aviemore & Grantown-on-SpeyPhoto: Peter Bond, CC BY-SA 2.0

Places on this page where we hold a photo; the others show sights elsewhere in our guide.

Free means general admission. Special exhibitions and events can be ticketed, some places ask you to book a free slot, and some suggest a donation. Check the venue before you go.

Every entry below is a museum in our the Scottish Highlands guide whose own website said, when we read it, that entry is free. We quote what the page said, link the page, and do not give opening hours, because they change. If a venue's page changes, we remove it at the next check.

Free museums, galleries and sites

Oban War and Peace Museum

Museum · Oban, Argyll & the Mull ferryFree entry

Its page says admission is free, with donations welcome.

Official site for Oban War and Peace Museum (opens in new tab)

Free self-guided walks

Following a walk costs nothing, though places you pass may charge. Each walk page has a map, the route, stops and a GPX file.

West Highland Way: Kingshouse to Kinlochleven: The Devil's Staircase stage, climbing from Glencoe moorland to the highest point of the West Highland Way.
West Highland Way: Kinlochleven to Fort William: The final stage of the West Highland Way: a rough Lairigmor track and a forest path into Glen Nevis.

Getting around the Scottish Highlands for less

Local transport: Regional coaches, buses, trains and ferries. Scottish Citylink's website refused automated access, so we have not read its ticket or pass pages. Check it for coach routes and any pass or concession that applies to you. See the ports page for CalMac and NorthLink ferries, and the airports page for Inverness Airport buses and trains.

Fares and tickets: Scottish Citylink (opens in new tab), Traveline Scotland (opens in new tab). Our getting around guide compares every destination.

Where next in the Scottish Highlands

Open the The Scottish Highlands guide for neighbourhoods, eating and getting there. For sights that need a timed ticket, see what to book ahead; for indoor ideas on a wet day, see the rainy-day guide.

Free museums, galleries and sites

Oban War and Peace Museum

Free self-guided walks

Getting around the Scottish Highlands for less

Where next in the Scottish Highlands

Other destinations