Invergordon, Scotland, United Kingdom

Sitting pretty on an inlet in the North Sea, with stunning views of the western Beins and Black Isle, Invergordon was established by the Gordons of Invergordon Castle in the early 1800s. It became a Royal Navy base in 1913 and played a prominent role in World War I and World War II to which the Invergordon Naval Museum & Heritage Center pays tribute. Outside of its lovely harbor and maritime history, Invergordon is the gateway to the Scottish Highlands, a region defined by Loch Ness Lake the legend of the mythical Loch Ness creature. Scenic walking trails abound, including the Invergordon Mural Trail, decorated by murals painted by local artists, and the Saltburn Woodland Walk. Visit the impressive Dunrobin Castle, one of Britain’s oldest continuously inhabited houses and the largest in the Northern Highlands, and along the way explore local distilleries and sample different whiskies.