This post was originally published in 2018. I've chosen to update it in 2022 to share additional free destinations to explore. They are listed in alphabetical order. Enjoy!

Scotland is such a wonderful destination to have a holiday. With the cost of living, petrol and more all going up, finding places in the Scottish Highlands that won't cost the earth to visit will be useful for any holiday makers like us. Read on to discover our top picks for free days out in the Highlands.

The four Hassan children are facing away from the camera on the sandy beach at Nairn with the sea in front of them. Munchkin is turning around and grinning cheekily, holding a blue spade. Peanut is on Squidgy's hip.

If you're visiting the Scottish Highlands, use the smart map below to help organise your travel plans. Click on the drop pins to view the free days out listed below to start your holiday arrangements.

Beauly Priory

Originallt built for French monks of the Valliscaulian order, the ruins of this large priory are found in the heart of the small village of Beauly and are definitely worth a visit if you're in the local area.

To find Beauly Priory, use this postcode: IV4 7DY

The Hassan family are stood together in the centre of Beauly Priory. They are surrounded by really high hand cut stone walls with stunning carved windows.

Planning to visit? Here are a few things you need to know:

Beauly Priory is one of three priories founded in Scotland in the 1200s.
The ruins are smaller than some we have explored, but still offer a great spot to visit.
Whilst the building is roofless, many of the walls still stand to their full height and are epic.
As well as the ruined walls of the priory itself, the grounds are also home to some impressive, well-preserved, burial monuments, tombs, and headstones - if that's your thing.
Beauly Priory is open 9-5 in summer and 9-4 in winter.
Public toilets are available next to the Old School at the east end of Beauly village square.

Naomi's parents are outside the handcut red / orange stone walls of Beauly Priory. They are with the three Hassan girls.

Burghead Fort

We found the old Pictish fort in Burghead by accident really, after seeing one of those brown signs on the road and following them down to the village.

To find the Burghead Fort, use this postcode: IV30 5TZ

Safety note: This is not a destination for any parent not prepared to fully supervise their children. There is nothing to stop them running straight off the side of the cliffs.

Here are a few things to bear in mind if you plan to visit:

Despite not having any fences, it is a truly beautiful place to visit.
You can visit the white, circular structure which houses the Burghead Visitor Centre.
Additional places to explore include Burghead Well, the Lower Ward, and earthworks.
This spot does not require a full day's visit.
The nearest toilets are at the harbour.
There a plenty of picnic benches to enjoy a packed lunch.

Chanonry Point

Chanonry Point is located between Rosemarkie and Fortrose at the end of Chanonry Ness. It not only offers spectacular views but also the added bonus of regular dolphin sightings.

To find Chanonry Point, use this postcode: IV10 8SD

The four Hassan children are sat to the left of the image on a stone wall with a grassy field behind them, and a lighthouse beyond the grass to the right of the image.

If you plan to visit, here are a few things you need to know:

The shingle beach behind the lighthouse is the best spot to keep an eye out for dolphins.
The best time to see the dolphins is as the tide comes in during the summer months.
The car park at Chanonry Point costs £1 - £3, except for blue badge holders who can park for free.
Max stay time is 3 hours.

The car park is small, and motorhomes, caravans, trailers and coaches are prohibited at all times.

There are no facilities available. The nearest public toilets are in Avoch, Fortrose and Rosemarkie.

Squidgy and Munchkin are holding hands in the distance, walking away from the camera across a pebble beach with the sea across the image in front of them.

Duffus Castle

We have visited Duffus Castle a couple of times now, and it's still a fantastic spot to explore. The girls loved it, although I'd recommend visiting on a dry day. It could potentially be a super windy, muddy destination in the wrong conditions. This Historic Scotland site is completely free to visit and explore, making it the perfect place to spend some time together as a family.

To find Duffus Castle, use this postcode: IV30 5RH

There is so many different areas to explore within the castle walls and beyond including:

The map which shows you how it all would have looked back in the day.
The outer walls.
Labelled rooms.
The river at the base of the hill, complete with hundreds of tadpoles when we visited in May 2018.
Here are a several additional things to bear in mind if you plan to visit:
There are no facilities available.
Duffus Castle is off the beaten track, and depending on the weather it’s likely you’ll need decent footwear to explore the grounds as it can get muddy.
You will need to bring snacks and drinks with you as there is no shops nearby.

Fort Augustus

Loch Ness has got to be one of the most famous landmarks in the Scottish Highlands and it is such a lovely place to visit with so many little villages and places to stop all the way around it. Fort Augustus is a historic hamlet and popular tourist destination.

To find Fort Augustus, use this postcode: PH32 4DD

Here are a few things to bear in mind if you plan to visit:

The car park at the postcode above is free.
Adjacent to the car park are public toilets.
Picnic spaces are also available.
The Caledonian Canal runs through the centre of Fort Augustus.
There are 29 locks on the canal, 5 of which are located in Fort Augustus, linking the canal to Loch Ness.

You can spot all different vessels on the Loch and moving through the locks to the canal from sail boats to river cruise liners.
It's amazing how much the water falling, flowing, and filling each section of the lock to raise and lower the ships each way can entertain a child!
If you don't have much patience, this isn't the place for you! Moving from loch to canal (or canal to loch) via the lock is not a quick process.

Logie Steading

A recommendation from my grandparents, Logie Steading was worth the drive to visit. There is plenty here to make it a worthwhile free day out for all the family.

To find Logie Steading, use this postcode: IV36 2QN

Here are a few things to bear in mind if you plan to visit:

The walks from the car park are not all fully accessible or pushchair friendly.
You can follow footpaths and marked walks to explore the area.
There are some amazing views over the salmon river below.

There is a small café which we bought ice creams from, and adjacent toilet facilities.
The complex also contains several small artisan shops.
Pick from a variety of local meats, local whiskeys, and even handmade goodies.
The girls’ favourite spot was the playground (obviously!)
There are plenty of benches to enjoy a picnic lunch or have a rest while you watch your children explore.

Nairn Beach

Not far from where my grandparents live is the beautiful stretch of coastline, Nairn Beach. We have visited here a few times for coastal walks and to enjoy the sandy beach.

To find Nairn Beach, use this postcode: IV12 4EA

The four Hassan children are stood in the centre of the image facing away from the camera. They have no shoes on, stood on Nairn Beach facing the sea which you can see in front of them. Squidgy has Peanut on her hip, with the others stood beside her.

Here are a few things you should know if you plan to add Nairn Beach to your places to visit list:

Nairn Beach is just a half-hour drive from Inverness.
This stretch of the Moray coastline has been a popular seaside town since Victorian times.
Nairn Beach is a dog-friendly beach and a great place to take your children too!
The beach offers a range of coastline walks, a nature reserve at Kingsteps in the east, a viewpoint to the west, a resident pod of dolphins, a waterpark, and more.

Ruthven Barracks

Ruthven Barracks was another accidental find, just down the road from where my aunt and her family live. We actually saw it from the road as we were driving South, and came off at the following junction to try and find it.

To find Ruthven Barracks, use this postcode: PH21 1NS

Ruins always seem to provide the most fun for all the family and we all had a lovely time exploring.

Here are a few things to bear in mind if you plan to visit:

Parking is extremely limited.
There are no facilities available at Ruthven Barracks.
The hill path walk is not long, but is quite steep, so bear this in mind for little legs.
There are plenty of rooms, holes in the wall, and more to explore once you get it inside.

We had such an amazing time in Scotland, and I loved every second of spending time with my family and my grandparents. I can't wait for our next trip up and I know that we have so many great places that we will want to revisit when we go up again; and knowing there are free days out makes it much easier.

For more blog posts about exploring the beautiful places available in Scotland, check out the category here. Have you found somewhere free and amazing in Scotland? We love to explore new spots, so feel free to share in the comments below.