Beach campsites in Beinn Eighe and Loch Maree Islands National Nature Reserve with fishing

Take a hike into the wildest part of Wester Ross, up to the cardiogram-ragged spurs and summits of Beinn Eighe, and it’s easy to see why the area is such a magnet for outdoor lovers and nature enthusiasts. You can gaze at Loch Maree and its islands scattered like jewels; spy throaty stags bellowing in ancient pine forest; and plan canoe and kayak adventures on neighbouring Loch Torridon, below the ridge of the Liathach massif. Best accessed from Kinlochewe, an hour’s drive from Inverness, Britain’s oldest National Nature Reserve offers the sort of rugged peaks and scree-covered slopes travellers dream of.

• As one of the premier mountains to hike in the Highlands, Beinn Eighe is near the top of many people’s Scottish Munro-bagging bucket list. Booking in advance is highly recommended. 
• The North Coast 500—a circular, 500-mile touring route from Inverness—passes through the nature reserve, meaning campsites can be booked throughout the year and the number of motorhomes and caravans can be a concern. Locals look kindly on those who arrive by public transport.
• While wild camping is permitted across Scotland, Beinn Eighe is one of the exceptions to the rule. To protect the home of the country’s most varied Highland wildlife, tents and caravans are only allowed in designated campsites.

The nature reserve experiences four dramatically different seasons, making it okay to visit all year-round. In winter, the snow-fuzzed peaks mirror frozen rivers and streams, while spring sees the reserve burst into life with the arrival of blooms and birds of prey. Summer draws visitors—and hordes of biting insects—to the shores of Loch Maree, while autumn’s rutting stags make it the ultimate for wildlife photographers.

• Beinn Eighe Visitor Centre is only open between March and October from 10am to 5pm. Even on a torrid wet day, you’ll still have the chance to see wildlife from the centre’s viewing windows.
• Beinn Eighe is for serious mountain walkers, but there are plenty of waymarked trails from the visitor centre. Wheelchair access and picnic benches make the lower mountain slopes suitable for all ages and abilities.
• This is a wild part of Scotland, often without phone service. For last-minute supplies, nearby Kinlochewe has a cluster of shops.