Scotland Travel Guide

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Imposing peaks sweep down to breathtaking lochs and remote glens, while white sandy beaches, sheltered bays and rocky cliffs line the coastline: Scotland certainly packs a mighty punch.

Scotland has long evoked romantic sentiments, with stories of heroic clans and a rugged wilderness, and as prominent as the country's spectacular scenery is the proud Scottish heritage and a thriving arts scene.

In Scotland's two major cities, Glasgow and Edinburgh, visitors have the best of city activities at their feet, including galleries, museums, architecture, shops, restaurants and a vibrant nightlife.

Prehistoric forts, stone circles and burial mounds are there for exploring, particularly at the Neolithic Heart of Orkney, Scotland's latest UNESCO World Heritage Site, while nature lovers should head to the Highlands and Outer Hebrides where eagles, whales and dolphins are common sights.

Geography

The country consists of the southern Lowland area, a region of moorland and pastoral scenery – where most of the population is concentrated – and the northern Highlands, dominated by the Grampian Mountains and Ben Nevis (1,344m/4,140ft), the highest peak in the British Isles.

The whole of the exceedingly beautiful coastline is indented with lochs (particularly in the north and west). Off the west coast there are many islands, the largest of which are Skye and Lewis, the latter being part of the Outer Hebrides. The Orkney and Shetland Islands lie to the northeast of the Scottish mainland, across the Pentland Firth from John O’Groats.