Travel in county Highlands

From cricket at Lords to darts in Lakeside and boxing in London, here's ten of our favourite British sporting breaks. Share your own below.

It’s a relief to lay my rucksack down, plunge hot feet into the cool stream and pause to revel in the fairytale surrounds. Foxgloves stand tall against a cornflower-blue sky, ferns look almost luminous, the water glints in the early summer sunshine. A patch of moss-covered ancient forest provides shade, a cuckoo calls in the distance, mountains layer on the horizon.

As the holy month of Ramadan draws to a close, JA Resorts & Hotels extends warm wishes to all observing this sacred time. As we await the joyous occasion of Eid Al Fitr, we are thrilled to announce a host of celebratory offerings across our properties, spanning from the vibrant city of Dubai to the serene mountains of Hatta. Dubai’s largest experience resort, the iconic JA The Resort, invites guests to celebrate this auspicious occasion surrounded by luxury and comfort. Meanwhile, nestled amidst the beauty of the Al Hajjar mountains, JA Hatta Fort Hotel offers a tranquil retreat for families seeking a unique Eid getaway.

There’s a party atmosphere round the lighthouse on Chanonry Point near Inverness, the UK’s best place to see dolphins from land. It’s an hour after low tide and there are pipers, picnics and kids running barefoot over long, evening sands. Already in late spring, the sun barely seems to set in the Highlands. The kelp-strewn pebbles are glowing as I walk from the bus stop near Fortrose cathedral (bus 26/26A from Inverness) along one side of the promontory. The dolphins don’t show up. But, somehow, it’s fine – the first of many reasons to return. It’s still light as I walk back along the beach for a 9pm bus, past wild lupins and views of Fort George and pink clouds over the Moray Firth. I’m in Inverness at the start of a week exploring Scotland’s wild north coast by train and bus.

As the owner of one of the leading companies that move our clients used household goods to Mexico, in addition to being asked about the procedure for moving household goods, I get asked all sorts of questions about what it’s like to live in Mexico, such as:

In the much-awaited second season of The Reluctant Traveler, which premieres March 8 on Apple TV+, award-winning actor, writer, producer and comedian Eugene Levy isn’t quite as adamantly travel-averse as he used to be. In fact, last year’s filmed far-flung journeys have worked magic on Levy, who now anticipates getaways with less apprehension and more appreciation. While he still dislikes the getting there via airports part of travel, Levy loves staying at pampering hotels. Who wouldn’t? This year’s seven distinctive European hotspots, where Levy slept, are fascinatingly cool. Which one would be your fantasy destination?

The cities of Scotland may be full to the brim with history and atmosphere, but it's the countryside in between that captures most visitors' hearts.

There are plenty of unique and memorable ways to make the most of the European winter, whether you want to take a snowy train ride across the Alps, cosy up in a wood cabin in the Scottish Highlands or watch the Northern Lights dance across the skies from a frozen lake.

Nemacolin is a resort in Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands, outside of Pittsburgh, that takes me back to the spectacular castle estates in Ireland and Scotland that I’ve been lucky to experience over the last decade.

Scotland is making impressive strides to be one of the world’s most economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable places. The driving force behind movements on a national scale is the country’s commitment to protect its natural and cultural heritage. This includes rewilding efforts to restore the local ecology, as well as preserving coastal habitats for birds such as the golden eagle and woodlands for the charming red squirrel. Travelers are encouraged to adopt slow travel, and Scotland’s affordable trains and impressive network of EV charging stations make it easy to utilize clean transportation when you visit.

If most of us had to write a bucket list for travel experiences, chances are that seeing the northern lights would be pretty near the top. But the unearthly spectre of the aurora borealis is just one in a myriad of charms the dark skies of the Highlands and islands will boast this autumn. We spoke to seven local residents to get their tips for how to broaden your horizons – while scanning them for shooting stars and delving into the awe-inspiring mysteries of the Milky Way.

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JA Resorts & Hotels brings a sprinkle of festive magic to Dubai this season, with a series of events and activities across its portfolio from flagship destination, JA The Resort, to JA Ocean View Hotel on the iconic Jumeirah Beach Residence and Dubai’s only mountain resort, JA Hatta Fort Hotel. The Greatest Show at JA The Resort

Some of the best places to visit in Scotland will be instantly familiar to anyone who’s ever gazed at a whisky label or shortbread tin. Think dramatic peaks, lonely glens, lochs, tartan and haggis!

Fall foliage, in most parts of the United States, has reached peak status, with blazing auburn, gold and orange leaves on full display. If you’re eager to squeeze in one more leaf-peeping adventure in 2023, or you want to plan an epic fall foliage excursion for next year, why not switch up your perspective and take in the gorgeous colors from above?

Ecuador has emerged as a popular travel destination in South America, and with good reason.

It’s almost that time of year again, when the nights get longer, the temperature drops and the smell of Pumpkin Spiced Lattes is in the air. Not only will autumn (hopefully) bring relief from summer's extreme heatwaves, it will also treat us to stunning fall colours.

Of the half million annual visitors to the Edinburgh International Festival (running from 4-28 August this year), the vast majority don’t leave the city. Which is understandable given the cultural smörgåsbord on offer, and that it takes place in (arguably) the UK’s most attractive city. But it’s also a wasted opportunity given that this is the capital of one of the most beautiful countries in the world, with a wealth of stunning scenery on its doorstep.

All travel is by definition quixotic — the most seasoned globetrotters can be led on wild goose chases, deceived, and/or just plain make huge mistakes all by themselves about what's around that next corner. Trekking up to the Scottish highlands to look for "Nessie," aka, the Loch Ness "monster," allegedly "sighted" — perhaps even several times — a half-century ago in the Highlands' breathtakingly gorgeous 23-mile-long freshwater lake just south of Inverness, is an epic, decades-long wild goose chase.

The well-trodden western coast of the northern Scottish Highlands is a common road trip destination for visitors to the United Kingdom. But to escape the crowds flocking to the Isle of Skye, head to the east and north, where far fewer visitors venture and you can actually enjoy a bit of peace and quiet at the top of Britain. These five spots along the North Coast 500 route will make for an unforgettable road trip, that can be easily extended even further west should you want to continue the journey. You may even have the winding roads to yourself along the way, except for the occasional flock of sheep crossing the road.

This summer, many families had their first holiday abroad since the pandemic began. But as autumn sets in and the cost of living crisis deepens, that week or two by the sea may soon seem a distant memory. Perfect timing, then, for the Ocean Film festival’s UK tour. Nell Teasdale, the tour director, says audiences can “dive into a night of wild seafaring voyages and astounding marine life, without getting their feet wet”.