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Here the Lowlands meet mountains of the north and west. Both The Trossachs and Loch Lomond have enthralled travellers since Sir Walter Scott's writings first popularised the area in the early 19th century.

The romantic landscapes and islands of Argyll are also dramatic, but the gentler hills and the communities of the Lowland edge, by Falkirk, around Clackmannanshire and in Stirling - focal point of the nation's history - have plenty to attract visitors.

Royal Stirling

In olden days, all routes led to Stirling. Because of its strategic position, whoever held Stirling Castle controlled the Scottish nation. The Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, the final conflict of the Scottish Wars of Independence, was fought within sight of its walls. Led by King Robert I (Robert the Bruce), the Scots defeated the English occupying forces and gained almost three centuries of independence.

Today, Stirling Castle still watches over the Old Town of Stirling with its many picturesque buildings.

Close by is the National Wallace Monument, a tribute to Scotland's first freedom fighter, Sir William Wallace, whose struggle to free Scotland from England's occupation was portrayed in the Oscar-winning movie, Braveheart.

Around the Trossachs and Loch Lomond

Close to Stirling, the Trossachs, with their heather-clad hills and lochs half-.Eiidden in woodlands have attracted generations in search of the picturesque. Start your Trossachs adventure from the Rob Roy and Trossachs Visitor Centre in Callander. Portrayed in the Hollywood film of the same name, Rob Roy MacGregor was a real life Highlander, cattle dealer and outlaw who became a Scottish folk hero. Many visitors take time out to visit his grave, here at Balquidder.

To the west, Loch Lomond is the most famous of Scottish lochs and there are proposals for it to gain new status as a National Park.

It also offers a choice of cruising or a chance to walk the West Highland Way, the official long distance footpath which runs through the wooded slopes of its eastern bank.

Road and rail run in parallel to the walking route. They climb to the final destination near Crianlarich, surrounded by the mighty hills of Breadalbane. The charming village of Killin with its folklore centre is nearby. Close to the route of the West Highland way are many interesting villages and tourist attractions including the Glengoyne Distillery whose products make good company after an invigorating walk over the Scottish countryside.

South of Loch Lomond, is the former shipbuilding town of Dumbarton with its castle on a conspicuous rock overlooking the River Clyde.

Also within easy reach is the Rosneath peninsula, with its fine views over Loch Long and the Gare Loch, fjord-like sea lochs which add to the cruising options on the sheltered waters of the Clyde estuary.

A programme of pleasure cruises and ferry links reveals the grandeur of the sea-lochs, from resorts such as Dunoon and Helensburgh. The latter towns sometimes described as a 'museum of villas' referring to the fine houses built with the wealth generated in Glasgow by its many Victorian entrepreneurs. The finest building of its type is Helensburgh's Hill House by the famous Scots architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh - open to view and in the care of the National Trust for Scotland.

The Lowland Edge

East of Stirling, the steep slopes of the Ochil Hills overlook the Hillfoots towns, strung together by a common heritage in textile weaving and forming a trail which starts from Scotland's Mill Trail Visitor Centre in Alva. The Pineapple House at Dunmore near Airth is just one of many unusual visitor attractions in this area. On the other side of the River Forth, the substantial town of Falkirk features Callendar House as just one of its attractions.

This mansion set in attractive parkland has connections with Mary, Queen of Scots. Costumed servants bring to life a working kitchen of the 1820s. Nearby, the past of a different kind is evoked by the Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway, with its re-creation of a typical Scottish branch line from the days of steam.

To the south and west of Stirling the beautiful hills known as the Campsie Fells provide a backdrop for many delightful rural villages.

The West Highlands

The mild Atlantic south westerlies prevail on the western seaboard and create a climate without extremes, much appreciated by gardeners.

The Glorious Gardens of Argyll and Bute are the result. Enjoy the wild setting of Crarae Garden on Loch Fyne, or the specialities of Arduaine Garden south of Oban, or the grand scale of the Younger Botanic Garden by Dunoon, with giant redwoods and thriving rhododendrons.

The resort and ferry port of Oban features a range of attractions, for example Highland Theatre, Oban Distillery Oban Experience, Oban Glass, A World in Miniature, plus a choice of cruises. Touring routes south from Oban offer many places to visit including little Kilmartin with its concentration of prehistoric sites. At the Loch Fyne end of the picturesque Crinan Canal, the handsome little town of Lochgilphead marks the start of the peninsula running down through the attractive area of Knapdale into Kintyre.

Westward loops through Knapdale's woodlands to a rugged sea coast give fine views of the Hebridean islands of Jura and Islay. There are magnificent seascapes to be enjoyed all the way down the Kintyre peninsula. Near its southern end is the town of Campbeltown (a ferry connection with Northern Ireland). Here, too, is the famed Machrihanish Golf Course, as well as the Mull of Kintyre, right at the tip - great views at sunset!

The delightful Crinan Hotel at the head of the famous Crinan Canal makes a perfect spot from which to enjoy some excellent golf at the courses of Machrihanish, Dunaverty, Tarbet, Carradale and Machrie.

Returning north and following the shores of the long reaches of Loch Fyne, the fascinating Auchindrain Highland Township is a survivor from earlier rural times. Inveraray itself is one of the most handsome of Scottish towns, with Inveraray Castle, the seat of the Clan Campbell. Other attractions include the popular Inveraray Jail Museum. Travelling round the head of Loch Fyne and turning southwards brings the visitor to the Cowal Peninsula, with attractive wooded countryside and views of the Kyles of Bute at its south end. The island of Bute is easy to reach and is a peaceful place with the traditional resort of Rothesay as its main town. Four miles (6km) from Rothesay is the magnificently ornate 19th century stately home, Mount Stuart, a Gothic fantasy in marble and stained glass.

Islands of the West

Mull has rugged scenery, castles and the tiny adjacent island of Iona among its many attractions. Whether approaching by ferry from Oban, the main route, or from Lochaline in Morven, visitors arrive within easy reach of both Duart Castle, the restored seat of the Clan Maclean, and Torosay Castle, a charming and friendly Victorian mansion. Mull Little Railway runs from the Craignure ferry pier to Torosay. All who visit the tiny island of Iona are charmed by the sense of peace and stillness which clings to its ancient abbey. This was the cradle of Christianity in Scotland. Outdoor lovers visit Mull for the adventurous walking along its spectacular coastline to places such as the Carsaig Arches or The Burg, with its ancient fossil tree embedded in the rocky cliff.

Islay and Jura are two contrasting islands. Islay is a vibrant, working community and is a centre of whisky distilling. Empty beaches where seals bask, outstanding birdlife, wild seascapes and the exquisite perfection of the 8th century Kildalton Cross, testimony to the expertise of its early Christian craftsman, are some of the other attractions. By contrast, Jura is an island wilderness, whose peaks, the Paps of Jura, watch over an empty moorland landscape given over to red deer.

Ferry schedules make it possible to combine a visit to two islands - Islay and Colonsay - using Oban and Tarbert on the mainland - if you time it right. The very essence of a small Hebridean island, Colonsay offers a gentle and peaceful outdoor experience. Coil and Tiree, beyond Mull, also have many enthusiasts. Both low-lying, Tiree in particular is noted for its good sunshine records and is a favourite of surfers.

Hebridean islands come in all sizes. One popular excursion (from both Mull and the mainland) goes to Staffa, noted for its unusual rock formations and caves, the best known of which is Fingal's Cave. Other islands to explore include Lismore in Loch Linnhe, and Kerrera, just offshore from Oban. In fact, there is a Hebridean island to suit every schedule. You can, for example, reach Seil Island, south of Oban, simply by crossing a picturesque hump-backed 18th century bridge (known as the Bridge over the Atlantic!).

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