National Geographic announces world renowned award

The Scottish Highlands has been awarded National Geographic’s Best of the World 2023. The Scottish Highlands features in the 5 wildly underrated natural escapes for 2023 category to celebrate Scotland’s rewilding efforts, which aim to restore the original landscape of the Scottish Highlands by replanting and restoring native species.

wildly underrated natural escapes for 2023

In National Geographic’s Best of the World 2023 destination list the Scottish Highlands was shortlisted for ‘wildly underrated natural escapes for 2023’ and it was revealed that the region was one of only two UK destinations to make the cut. The Chief Executive of VisitScotland, Malcolm Roughead, said in a statement:

“Our landscapes and scenery is one of the top reasons that people visit Scotland and the Highlands is home to some of the country’s most important and special natural assets.”

“It is fantastic that National Geographic has recognised the valuable environmental efforts that are being undertaken across the region and are sharing this with audiences across the world.”

rewilding in action

Affric Highlands is a large-scale, long-term rewilding initiative in the Scottish Highlands. Covering a vast area that stretches from Loch Ness to Kintail, Affric Highlands will restore nature across Glens Cannich, Affric, Moriston and Shiel – supporting communities and bolstering rural economies.

What will Affric Highlands do for nature?

”It will help it recover – on a big-scale. It will create a more rich and diverse landscape. By connecting habitats, wildlife will be able to move and flourish. This will boost biodiversity, and the land’s ability to sequester carbon.”

What will Affric Highlands do for people?

”As nature thrives, it will become a more important partner in our lives. We hope that people will live in closer contact with the land. As communities grow, people will develop new skills and share what they already know with others.”

Discover more about Affric Highlands and Trees for Life

Escapes to wild, beautiful places

The nonprofit organisation Trees for Life is opening a centre in Dundreggan to educate the public on the concept of rewilding. Above Inverness, the 23,000-acre Alladale Wilderness Reserve has already planted nearly a million trees, runs a breeding program to reintroduce the native Scottish wildcats, and has a longer-term plan to bring back wolves. And most ambitiously, the Affric Highlands project will start restoring 500,000 acres stretching from Loch Ness to the west coast in a 30-year initiative that could make Scotland the planet’s first rewilded nation.

Take on an epic adventure through the secluded lochs and heather-draped hillsides of the Scottish Highlands!

Explore The Scottish Highlands in a Campervan

Escapes to wild, beautiful places in the Scottish Highlands in our easy to drive, automatic transmission Campervans. Whether it is a short weekend break or a longer roadtrip you have in mind, we have the perfect mode of transport for exploring the Scottish Highlands!