The Northern Highlands and the Western Isles: Places to Explore
- Overview
- Itinerary
- Places to Explore
- Sights
- Restaurants
- Hotels
- Entertainment
- Shopping
- Travel Tips
- Features
- Fodor's Choice
- Deals
Helmsdale
Helmsdale is a fascinating fishing village with a checkered past. It was a busy Viking settlement and then the scene of an aristocratic poisoning plot before it was transformed into a 19th-century village to house some of the people removed from their land to make way for sheep. These "clearances," perpetrated by the Duke of Sutherland, were among the area's most inhumane.
Elsewhere in The Northern Highlands and the Western Isles
Free Fodor's Newsletter
Subscribe today for weekly travel inspiration, tips, and special offers.
Fodor's Trip Planning Ideas
- Weekend Getaways: Fodor's Recommends the Best Weekend Escapes in the US
- Great American Vacation: Find Your Next U.S. Trip with Fodor's
- 80 Degrees: Fodor's Helps You Find Your Best Beach Vacation Spots
- Go List: Fodor's Top 25 Places to Go in 2013
- Hotel Awards 2012: Fodor's 100 Top Hotels
- Best of Europe: Fodor's Picks the Best Places to Visit in Europe
Travel Deals in The Northern Highlands and the Western Isles
- Inverness Savings! Book at Ramada Encore Inverness Fr $126+/Nt Save with Expedia, $41/night less
- Mercure Inverness in May: $255 & Up Expedia
- Mercure Inverness in May: $255 & Up — $255 Expedia
- Inverness Savings! Book at Ramada Encore Inverness Fr $126+/Nt — $126 Save with Expedia, $41/night less
- Mercure Inverness in May: $255 & Up — $255 Expedia
* Some taxes, fees additional
