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The Highlands
of Scotland form one of the last wildernesses in Europe - through
the soaring beauty of Glencoe to the idyllic charm of the isles,
and from the crashing waves of the Northern coastline to the silence
of the windswept moors.
The Eastern Seaboard
The Highlands'
eastern seaboard between Nairn and John o' Groats is well worth
discovering. The Moray Firth town of Nairn is noted for its mild
climate and low rainfall, as well as its superb beaches nhad it
is the location for Boath
House Hotel & Spa. Minutes away is the battlefield of Culloden,
where the last battle on Scottish soil was fought in 1746. A visitor
centre tells the poignant story of Prince Charles Edward Stuart's
doomed cause. At Cromarty on the Black Isle (really a green and
wooded peninsula) the old Courthouse tells the fascinating story
of this historic Scots burgh.
At
Clanland and Sealpoint at Foulis Ferry by Evanton, discover local wildlife and
history, as well as the heritage of the Clan Munro. Further on, the attractive
little town of Tam was a place of pilgrimage in medieval times - a story told
in the visitor centre Tain through Time. Northwards, Dornoch, famed for the Royal
Dornoch golf course, is another picturesque place, with colourful gardens in the
streets around its cathedral. This small highland cathedral found fame in the
well publicised wedding of Madonna and Guy Ritchie.
Timespan
Heritage Centre in Helmsdale uses sound effects, models and historic artefacts
to portray times past. With fine seascapes and many opportunities to stop and
explore the dramatic coastline along the way, the main road leads on to Wick,
where the Wick Heritage Centre tells the story of the heyday of this northern
fishing port.
Many visitors continue to John o' Groats, though the most northerly mainland point
is at Dunnet Head, a little to the west. Thurso
is Scotland's most northerly mainland town, a base for excursions into the typical
countryside of Caithness: open pastures and endless loch-studded moorland rolling
down to a rugged coastline. On the way west, the north-facing coast has its own
special qualities: cool, cleat light, tugged headlands and dazzling white beaches.
West of the Kyle of Durness is the lighthouse at Cape Wrath (access to the
area is by ferry and mini-bus) and nearby are the highest mainland sea cliffs
in Britain.
The Western Seaboard
On the west
coast, the island of Handa has spectacular seabird colonies. A luxury
cruise on the Hebridean
Princess has to be the best way to see this part of Scotland.
Back on the mainland Eas Coul Aulin is the highest waterfall in
Britain. These are just two of the natural attractions for wildlife
enthusiasts. Between the fishing port of Lochinver and the town
of Ullapool lies a choice of routes: the coastal route offers sublime
sea views across a pattern of rocky islands, while the faster main
road reaches Ullapool via the dramatic mountainous landscapes of
the Inverpolly National Nature Reserve.
Ullapool,
by the shores of Loch Broom, a ferry port for the Western Isles and a touring
centre for the northwest; the town has a good range of services, as well as local
museums. Continuing southwards, the main road passes close to the Corrieshalloch
Gorge, a deep and wooded ravine. Inverewe Garden at Poolewe is in the care of
the National Trust for Scotland. Here, exotic plants and trees give an almost
continuous display of colour throughout the year, because of the frost-free, gentle
climate, warmed by the Gulf Stream.
Nearby
Gairloch offers a range of accommodation and places to eat, as well as a Heritage
Museum. The road then leads on to the beauties of Loch Maree, where fragments
of ancient natural pinewoods survive in the Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve.
The
mountainous scenery around. Glen Torridon is spectacular, partly in the care of
the National Trust for Scotland, who also look after Kintail, to the south. Nearby
on the shores of Loch Duich you will find Eilean Donan Castle - atmospheric backdrop
to films such as "Highlander"
Strathspey and the Great Glen
Along the River Spey, from Grantown-on-Spey westwards, lies a good range of attractions.
Landmark Visitor Centre at Carrbridge combines indoor Highland history presentations
with outdoor enjoyment of the forests by way of trails and a nature centre - plus
an excellent adventure playground for children. Nearby, the Strathspey Railway
offers a nostalgic return to the days of steam. Also near Boat of Garten is the
Loch Garten Nature Reserve, where you can view the domestic life of nesting ospreys
from a special observation hide. Aviemore
offers plenty of choice for shopping, eating and overnight stays. Close by, you
can sample life on a Highland estate starting from the Rothiemurchus Visitor Centre
or take a trip to see the reindeer which thrive on the slopes of the Cairngorm
Mountains. Further up the River Spey, Newtonmore is home to the Clan MacPherson
Museum.
To
the west, the Great Glen is a coast-to-coast valley formed in ancient geological
times. Today it holds the main Inverness-Fort William road as well as the string
of lochs connected to form the Caledonian Canal. Visitors taking the main road
to the north of Loch Ness can visit two exhibitions in Drumnadrochit exploring
the theme of the Loch Ness monster. Alternatively, the road down the south side
of Loch Ness offers fine forest walks near Inverfarigaig, a spectacular waterfall
at Foyers, plus outstanding views over Loch Ness itself. Both routes converge
at Fort Augustus.
Fort William
at the southern end of the Great Glen has a wide range of shops,
places to eat and accommodation. At the top of the discerning traveller's
list has to be Inverlochy
Castle. Down by the waterfront is one of Scotland's many high
quality seafood restaurants, with its own fishing boat unloading
its catch directly into the kitchen. The town's West Highland Museum
has a number of items associated with Bonnie Prince Charlie. Britain's
highest mountain, Ben Nevis, 4,406ft (1,344m) overlooks the town.
Superb views of the surrounding hills can be enjoyed from the gondola
system (operating all year) on the Nevis Range ski area, a few minutes
drive northwest of the town on the slopes of Aonach Mon
Fort
William is also a natural touring centre. The Corran Ferry to the south of the
town is just one gateway to the peerless landscapes of Ardnamurchan. It is well
worth exploring the peninsula all the way to the tip for dramatic landscapes and
seascapes. Another option is to join the scenic route, sometimes described as
"The Road to the Isles" running from Fort William westwards to Mallaig
via Glenfinnan, where a monument stands on the site where Bonnie Prince Charlie
rallied the Highland clans for his ill-fated rebellion of 1745. The impressive
viaduct at Glenfinnan carries the famous Fort William to Mallaig railway, one
of the great railway journeys of the world.
Finally,
for scenic spectacle, Glencoe is breathtaking. Scene of an infamous massacre of
a branch of Clan Donald, the rocky slopes of the Glencoe mountains soar up from
the roadside - perhaps the most atmospheric of Scottish glens.
Skye and the Small Isles
Skye has a bridge linking it to the mainland, giving a useful round-trip option
using the ferry service from Mallaig to Armadale in the south of the island. Skye
offers some of Scotland's most dramatic landforms, the best known of which are
the Cuillin Hills. Beyond the main town of Portree, the dramatic geology continues
with the rock formation known as the Old Man of Storr. The Quiraing, an extraordinary
assembly of pinnacles, rock towers and secret places is yet another example of
Skye's spectacular landscapes. The
seat of the Clan Macleod at Dunvegan Castle is a favourite excursion-... while
the Skye Museum of Island Life recalls the past ways of the ordinary crofters
and farmers. The Clan Donald Centre at Armadale explores the theme of the powerful
clan whose chiefs were he Lords of the Isles. Also important for its perspective
of Skye, is the Aros Heritage Centre in Portree, telling the story of the island
since 1700 from the point of view of the ordinary islanders. There are also island
crafts, including souvenirs in Skye marble. Echoing
the dramatic skyline of Skye on a smaller scale, Rum is the most spectacular of
the Small Isles, which also include Eigg, Muck and Canna -a scattering of green
islands, tiny communities reached by boat from Mallaig or Arisaig - the ultimate
in get-away-from-it-all excursions.
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