Top Attractions - Scotland

Attractions - Edinburgh

Scottish Highlands, Scotland

The highlands of Scotland are one of Europe's last grand wildernesses and are inexpressively beautiful. With towering mountains, beautiful lochs, windswept moors and fragrant heather, it is a place to go to feel the wind in your hair and see nature at its powerful best.

The Highlands cover an upland area in the far west and northern half of mainland Scotland. The Great Glen, made up of a string of deep narrow lochs, stretches from Inverness to Fort William and divides the southern Highlands from the North. The area offers some of the best walking in Britain. The Cairngorms – Britain’s highest mountain range and most popular skiing area – lie to the east of the Great Glen. The native woodlands in the area are home to red squirrels, pine martens and other rare animals. The town of Aviemore is the main resort town in the area and is hugely popular with skiers and walkers alike.

The town of Fort William is one of Britain's most beautifully situated towns, lying in magnificent mountain scenery. It is a great base for climbing towering Ben Nevis – Britain's highest mountain – for exploring Glencoe and for visiting Loch Ness. Glencoe is a beautifully steep valley made famous by the 1692 murders of members of the McDonald clan by the Campbell clan. This became known as the Massacre of Glencoe. See if you can spot the Loch Ness monster when you visit the dark and mysterious Loch Ness which stretches from Fort Augustus to Inverness. The icy waters of the lake have been extensively explored for the monster after a 1934 photograph showed what looked like the neck of a dinosaur emerging from its murky depths. Lying at the opposite end of the Great Glen on the Moray Firth, Inverness is the capital of the Highlands. With a castle dating originally to the 11th century, an interesting museum and art gallery and some fine restaurants, the town is well worth a visit. Travel north to John o’Groats and then westwards to the town of Thurso. The coastline beyond Thurso is truly spectacular with large silent lochs and snow-capped mountains. Indeed, the entire northwesterly coastline is stunningly arresting. Head for the Kyle of Lochalsh where you can travel over the Skye Bridge to the ruggedly beautiful Isle of Skye. Plot your own route through this magical region – everywhere you go will leave a lasting impression.

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