I always feel at home sipping a double Port Ruighe in a pub called the Something-and-Something. Traditional inns with piping-hot meat pies and extra cold stout, golf courses that shave years off your handicap, and centuries-old Gothic architecture wrapped in even older cobblestone streets. All this would be enough to draw almost anyone but these gems are nothing compared to the raw beauty of the rugged Highlands.

Scotland is home to the most diverse panoramas I’ve ever seen. I've photographed in a lot of countries but this might just be the top of the list for me. Here’s the dope on my highlands tour should you ever find yourself amidst the lochs and foggy moors.

East Coast

There’s no shortage of picture-worthy seascapes from dozens of vantage points along the East Coast. The A90 from Dundee to Aberdeen is a nice, straight shot but veers away from the coastline quite a bit. If you’re in no hurry, the A92 hugs much closer to the coast and has dozens of lookouts with ruins like Abroath Abbey, Red Castle and Dunnottar along the way.

The contrast between the rolling green hills and sheer rock cliffs on this stretch of seaside is jarring. On my first trip to Switzerland, I was taken aback by how vivid the colours were; the mountains and lakes didn't look real like an over-saturated postcard photo. This stretch of my Scottish tour was much the same. I felt like I was on the set of Game of Thrones on a daily basis, just less sexy.