The Guidebook, Towns and Villages, Plockton

rguably the most famous road in the Highlands is the Bealach na Ba - or Pass of the Cattle as it would be called in English language terms.

The route, which was used by drovers when taking their cattle to markets further south, rises to more than 2,000 feet and features some hair-raising hairpin bends.

Not surprisingly, the likes of caravans are prohibited from using the road - but for those adventurous enough to tackle the journey, there is panoramic scenery to enjoy on the way to the remote community of Applecross.

The village looks out across the island of Raasay towards Skye, and is surprisingly busy during the tourist season despite its isolated location.

And if you wonder how caravans have reached the campsite in Applecross, it should be pointed out that there is also a route around the northern coastline of the peninsula from Shieldaig, which offers somewhat more forgiving gradients but also some glorious views out over Loch Torridon.

(Plockton, pictured above)

Plockton is, strictly speaking, in Lochalsh rather than Wester Ross - but the vast majority of visitors to Ross-shire will also take in the quaint charm of the village between Stromeferry and Kyle of Lochalsh.

Set on a sheltered, palm-fringed bay, which regularly features yachts at anchor, Plockton has been immortalised as the home of TV's Highland bobby Hamish MacBeth -played by Robert Carlyle.