Visit Scotland

SCOTLAND is the perfect choice for those who want a varied or active holiday destination.

It boasts white sandy beaches and countryside galore and offers the most impressive glacial scenery anywhere in the UK.

Scotland, which shares a 60-mile border with England, has three distinct areas – the Southern Uplands, the Central Lowlands and the northern Highlands and Islands.

The Southern Uplands are the fertile plains and hills bordering England. The region is perfect for those who want a gentler range of walks, with the highest peak in the area being just 815m (2,763ft) high. This is a land with strong connections to Sir Walter Scott, Scotland’s first great travel writer, and Robert Burns.

The Central Lowlands stretch from the Firth of Forth in the east, to the Firth of Clyde in the west. This area includes Scotland’s main industrial areas and the two largest cities – Glasgow and Edinburgh. Most of Scotland’s population lives in this area.

The Highlands and Islands are the biggest and most varied portion of Scotland and although further to drive are well worth the extra car time.

The Highlands incorporate half of Scotland but the only major cities are Aberdeen, Inverness and Dundee. The dramatic mountain ranges include Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest mountain standing at 4406ft.

The 790 islands scattered around Scotland’s coast include the Inner and Outer Hebrides on the west coast and the Orkneys and the Shetlands to the northeast.

Only 130 are inhabited, making them the perfect place to get away from the crowds.

Mountains

Uniquely, Scotland has three different classifications for its mountains, based on their height – the Munros, the Corbetts and the Grahams.

All mountains higher than 3000ft (914.4m) are classed as Munros, including among them Ben Nevis and many of the Cairngorms. The Corbetts range from 2500ft-2999ft and include The Fara near Inveraray and Beinn ‘Bhreac near Loch Rannoch.

Smaller mountains (between 2000ft and 2499ft are known as the Grahams.

Lochs

Not so keen on walking up hills? Then try a different pace and head for one of the many lochs that Scotland has to offer. These can either be freshwater or seawater and range the vast 27.5 sq km Loch Lomond to the lowland Loch Leven near Kinross. The lochs offer activities like water sports, dolphin spotting, wildlife havens, fishing, low level and high level walking….just about everything in fact!

Aurora Borealis – The Northern Lights

Nature’s own gigantic light show is caused by charged particles streaming out from the sun reacting with gases in the upper atmosphere. The spectacular reds, greens, blues and violets can be seen most visibly at the most northerly points and in the Orkneys and Shetland. Expect the full effect in 2012/2013.

And finally…

We couldn’t publish a travel article about Scotland without publishing some information about Scotland’s most dominant form of wildlife – the midges.

They are more rife in the north and west than the south and east. They dislike strong sunlight, preferring the cooler light of dawn and dusk. If you want to avoid them, be outside in the middle of the day and stay away from sheltered valleys and woodlands in the mornings and evenings.


Love Scotland? Then visit the website of our sister-title Scottish Memories by clicking here.

Scottish Memories needs your help – find out more by clicking here.


For inspiration of what to do and what to see in Scotland, go to the Visit Scotland website.

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