The Scottish Highlands and Manchester in North West England have been named as two of National Geographic’s ‘Best of the World’ destinations for 2023, the only UK destinations to make the annual list.

Hillwalker in the ancient Caledonian Pine Forest of the Scottish Highlands © VisitScotland / Kenny Lam

The Scottish Highlands was chosen as one of the top five wild escapes for nature lovers in 2023, alongside Botswana, Slovenia, Big Bend National Park in Texas and the Azores. Manchester was included as one of the five best destinations in 2023 for family trips that educate and illuminate, alongside Trinidad and Tobago, San Francisco in California, Colombia and Switzerland.

The travel list, which is created, researched, reported and written in collaboration with National Geographic Traveler’s international editorials teams, celebrated Scotland’s rewilding efforts, which aim to restore the original landscape of the Highlands by replanting and restoring native species. Manchester was celebrated for its soccer heritage and inspirational arts scene.

National Geographic says: “The windswept Scottish Highlands are celebrated for their austere beauty, but the sheep-scoured landscapes are in fact the result of human interference. Now a move to return the Highlands to its original woodlands, by reintroducing former flora and fauna in a process called ‘rewilding’, is gathering steam—with major strides to come in 2023.”

It references areas such as Alladale Wilderness Reserve and the Affric Highlands project which will start restoring 500,000 acres stretching from Loch Ness to the west coast of Scotland. (Neil, one of our team, visited the Cairngorms in the Scottish Highlands recently, and his blog gives a flavour of this spectacular area.)

Glen Affric in autumn © VisitScotland / Kenny Lam

According to National Geographic, Manchester launches a number of new attractions in 2023, with the centrepiece being the summer opening of Factory International, a new multi-million-pound cultural space, which will become the permanent home of the Manchester International Festival.

2023 will also see the reopening of the reimagined Manchester Museum, which features new galleries focused on Chinese, South Asian, and British Asian culture. The National Trust’s new ‘sky park’ on the Castlefield Viaduct, a walkable Victorian-era rail bridge in the city is also set to come into its own.

Old Trafford, home of Manchester United Football Club

In response to the Highlands' addition to the National Geographic Best of the World line-up, Scottish Tourism Minister Ivan McKee said: “This is excellent news, Scotland continues to go from strength to strength in developing sustainable tourism and to be recognised alongside Botswana and the Azores reinforces that tourism and environmental protection can be developed alongside each other through strategic planning and appropriate interventions.”

Malcolm Roughead, Chief Executive of VisitScotland, Scotland’s national tourism organisation, added: “Our landscapes and scenery is one of the top reasons that people visit Scotland and the Highlands is home to some of the country’s most important and special natural assets.

“It is fantastic that National Geographic has recognised the valuable environmental efforts that are being undertaken across the region and are sharing this with audiences across the world.”

A warm welcome awaits in Manchester

Talking about Manchester’s inclusion in the influential global list, Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “This international recognition is great news for Manchester. Tourism is really important for our economy and creates and supports thousands of jobs and opportunities.

“We have a long-term vision for a vibrant city with an array of activities, especially for families, and this accolade and others show that is bearing fruit. There is so much to do here – both for residents and visitors. From the recently opened Mayfield Park to the forthcoming Factory International, there’s always something new.”

Nathan Lump, National Geographic’s Editor-in-Chief, summarised: “’Best of the World’ is Nat Geo’s annual love letter to the most incredible places in the world, both near and far. We couldn’t be prouder to shine a light on these 25 extraordinary places that most inspired us this year, and which we know will define travellers’ itineraries for years to come.”

If you or your group would like to enjoy a tailor-made tour of the Scottish Highlands, one of the world’s most magnificent landscapes, or a family vacation in Manchester, one of the most exciting cities in the UK, please do contact our friendly team today.