Scottish Highlands Holiday
The dramatic, wild natural features of the Scottish Highlands are interspersed with enough excellent hotels, restaurants and visitor attractions to keep the most discerning traveller in their thrall.
The dramatic Scottish Highlands draw crowds of tourists each year, attracted to the high skies, towering peaks and under-populated wilderness.
Situated in the north of Scotland, the famous Highlands and Islands region has a great deal to offer travellers of all kinds, with historical sites, cosy villages, mountains and rich flora and fauna.
The history of the Highlands stretches back to before the Neolithic Era, with hunter-gatherers thought to have peopled the region 6,000 years ago. Iron Age and Celtic villages and artefacts have been uncovered across the Highlands, and tourists can visit several ancient ruins.
The Celtic Highlands converted to Christianity in the eighth century and became part of a tussle with the Norsemen during the Middle Ages. The Highland clan system remained in place for centuries, until the 1600s saw widespread upheavals, leading to the Act of Union with England of 1707.
In the 19th century, widespread poverty and deprivation led to the Highland Clearances and many people were forcibly moved out of the Highlands or encouraged to emigrate. The region has witnessed an influx of new residents in recent years, as more people seek a better quality of life, away from Britain's crowded towns and cities.
The Highlands landscape is the major draw for visitors every year, but those looking for a relaxing break can find it at one of the many luxurious country house hotels and health farms in the area.
With such a vast area to explore, there is plenty for every tourist, with some of the best sights including the stunning Isle of Skye, mystical Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle and the city of Inverness, the 5,000-year-old Calanais Standing Stones, Cawdor Castle, Ben Nevis, Great Glen and John O'Groats.
More active travellers can take part in a wealth of outdoor pursuits, from walking and climbing to watersports, biking and kayaking.
The dramatic Highlands backdrop provides excellent opportunities for painters and photographers, while the many lochs will appeal to enthusiastic fishermen and the Highlands has a number of top-class excellent golf courses.
Birdwatchers and nature lovers can find an array of species, from the seabird around the cliffs of Handa to the wildcats of the northern Highlands and the myriad species of flowers.
There is not a great deal in the way of shopping and nightlife in the Highlands, though visitors should take advantage of the excellent local foods and crafts on offer. The region is particularly strong on knitwear and tartan, whisky, antiques, ceramics, art and jewellery.
The Highlands has some very cosy restaurants, with many serving hearty Scottish fayre, while hotels tend to be comfortable, independently-run and picturesque. The best way to travel around the region is by car, although there are limited bus and rail services available.
The best time to visit the Highlands is during the spring and summer, when the weather is more clement and the landscape less bleak. The region's main tourist season runs from April to September and it is best to book ahead during the busy summer months.
