The Scottish Highlands stand synonymous for Scotland. High mountains, deep blue lochs, remote glens and wildlife give the Highlands its beauty. Once they were the battleground of the clans and their chieftains and we all know the stories of Rob Roy McGregor and William Wallace. Since the 18th century however the Highlands are almost deserted because of the clearances. The crofters had to leave to make way for sheep. Nowadays the Highlands are still largely uninhabited and the population live mostly close to the shores. The Highland Council is the administrative body for much of the Scottish Highlands, with its administrative centre at Inverness. However the Highlands also includes parts of the council areas of Aberdeenshire, Angus, Argyll and Bute, Moray, Perth and Kinross, and Stirling. Although the Isle of Arran administratively belongs to North Ayrshire, its northern part is generally regarded as part of the Scottish Highlands.

Glen Shiel

Because of the sheer size of the Scottish Highlands I've split up the Highland section of this website into several of its former counties.

• Sutherland and Caithness
• Moray - Speyside
• Aberdeen and Grampian
• Wester Ross
• Inverness, Loch Ness and Nairn
• Badenoch and Strathspey
• Morar, Rum, Lochaber and Fort William

Inverness is the capital of the Highlands and a good startingpoint for trips. Famous tourist attractions are Eilean Donan castle, Fort George, Culloden, Loch Ness, Urquhart castle and Aviemore. Close to Fort William rises the Ben Nevis, with 1344 meters the highest mountain of Scotland and Great Britain.

The weather in the Highlands can vary from moment to moment and the combination of sharp showers, bright sunny spells, low clouds and mist gives the Highlands a mystical touch, hence the term "four seasons in a day." But beware for early mornings and evenings without wind, then it is midgee time.

Loch Ness from Fort Augustus, from one of the few stopping places at the A82

Glen Shiel. One of the finest Glen's in Scotland

Loch Duich from Eilean Donan. For me this was the most beautiful part of Eilean Donan. Too many tourists and buses but the view over the Loch is magnificant.

Urguhart Castle at Loch Ness. A must in my opinion.

Fort George is located next to the Moray Firth. On the other side is Chanonry point and in the Moray Firth dolphin's can be spotted easily.

Slioch seen from the Beinn Eighe Mountain Trail

Chanonry Point seen from Fort George. With some luck and the right tides you can almost touch the dolphins at Chanonry Point.

Loch Lomond from Luss.

Dark clouds and a sun burst at the Cairngorms seen from the A9 near Kingussie.

Ben Nevis. What else is there to say.

Hidden in the center of Beauly behind some huge trees you can find Beauly Priory.

Sunset over the Beauly Firth.

Ben Wyvis covered in snow which was fallen beginning of May. The contrast between the trees and the snow is bizar!

Loch Shiel from Glenfinnan. A very nice inside of the church as well where the Glenfinnan Spring Festival was in progress.

Islands like this you see a lot in various loch's, always with trees on because there are no sheep. This one next to the Road to the Isles.

Loch Carron seen from Stromeferry at the viewpoint where the sngletrack road starts (A890)

Loch Carron seen from the same viewpoint looking north Top of Page

The Scottish Highlands | Sutherland and Caithness | Moray - Speyside | Aberdeen and Grampian | Wester Ross | Inverness, Loch Ness and Nairn | Badenoch and Strathspey | Morar, Rum, Lochaber and Fort William | Argyll and Bute | Stirling, Loch Lomond and Perth | Angus and Dundee | Fife and St Andrews | Glasgow and West Central Lowlands | Dumfries and Galloway | The Scottish Borders | Edinburgh and Lothian