This is one of the wildest parts of Britain. Many amazing animals, birds and plants live here, including some of Britain's rarest. Glenmore Forest Park, and nearby Rothiemurchus, beside Aviemore, have extensive networks of trails through stands of old pine and out across heaths. Both have ranger services, guided walks programmes and visitor centres. Scottish crossbills, crested tits and ospreys breed and feed in the area, as do pine martens and red squirrels. Or visit the Loch Garten visitor centre near Boat of Garten to see an osprey eyrie or to join a dawn watch for capercaillie in early summer.

Beside Loch Ness at Abriachan, there are trails in oak, birch and conifer woodland, including an intriguing boardwalk through a conifer plantation to a loch (good for dragonflies) and hide. West of Loch Ness, colour-coded routes run through the native pinewoods at beautiful Glen Affric. Scottish crossbill, redstart and tree pipit use the woods while red deer, golden eagles and peregrines range the hills here.

Around the inner Moray Firth, many different operators offer boat trips to see some of the area's famous resident bottlenose dolphins. To ensure maximum enjoyment, and the welfare of the dolphins, choose a member of the Dolphin Space Programme for your excursion. Or try a shore-watch for the creatures from Chanonry Point near Fortrose or North or South Kessock beside Inverness. In the west, the Isle of Skye is an equally popular location for cetacean spotting.

Other boat companies cover large stetches of the Highland west (such as Lochaber, Ardnamurchan and Wester Ross) - good for seals and sea ducks among the dramatic coatsal scenery. An island boardwalk on Handa, near Tarbet, north of Scourie, leads to views of Britain's largest guillemot colony, plus puffins, razorbills and great skuas.

Inland in Caithness and Sutherland, the largest blanket bogs in the world soften much of the landscape. The centre at Forsinard Station is a good place to get a taste of this 'Flow Country' and some tips on wider bog rambling possibilities. Greenshank, golden plover, dunlin and black-throated divers are among the star birds of the Flows.

There is a small visitor centre with ranger service at Dunnet Bay between Thurso and John o'Groats, where Caithness overlooks the Pentland Firth. Summer flowers on Dunnet Links include orchids and Scots primrose.