Scotland's famous highlands are some of Europe's greatest wilderness areas and boast Britain's highest peaks and most beautiful glens. Here you can try and catch a glimpse of the mythical Loch Ness sea monster, marvel at the natural wildlife and spend time on historical archaeological sites.

The Scottish Highlands include the mountainous regions north and west of the Highland Boundary Fault, though the exact boundaries are not clearly defined, especially towards the east.

Generally speaking, the area is sparsely populated, with many mountain ranges dominating the region including Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the British Isles. There is plenty to see and do here, so book that last minute holiday and enjoy the best this scenic destination has to offer.

Traditions and culture in the Scottish Highlands

Culture in the Scottish Higlands is different from that of the Lowlands but similarities do exist. Most of the Highlands fall into the region known as the Gaidhealtachd which within the last hundred years, was the Gaelic-speaking area of Scotland.

Widely-recognsed icons of Highland culture, which are usually associated with Scottish culture in general, include kilts, tartans and bagpipes.

In terms of cuisine, traditional foods such as vension, salmon and haggis are typcal features of local menus. Scottish beef is also a widely-loved delicacy and known for its rich and tasty meat which makes excellent steaks.

The Highlands' religious culture mostly revolves around Roman Catholicism which, aided by Irish Franciscan missionaries, has remained strong in much of the area. In fact, the Highlands are often described as the last bastion of Roman Catholicism in Britain, with significant strongholds in areas such as Moidart, Morar, South Uist and Barra.

Recommended in the Scottish Highlands

One of the year's biggest celebrations is Hogmanay - tourists around at this time of year should ensure they pencil this in their holiday diaries. There are many exciting local festivities put on to greet the New Year including the Ba, which is an unruly form of rugby held in the streets of Kirkwall in Orkney.

Every May, the Orkney Folk Festival comes into town and features a programme of concerts and workshops. Between April and October, a plethora of festivities also take place in Royal Deeside, Pitlochry, Shetland and Loch Ness.

Weather in the Scottish Highlands

The western Highlands, which face the Atlantic Ocean, receive on average over 3,000mm (118 inches) of rain per year, with summer highs of 19 degrees C (66 degrees Fahrenheit), while the eastern Highlands have drier, milder winters and cool summers.

Destination checklist for the Scottish Highlands

The Scottish Highlands have a combined population of 373,000 and the official language spoken in English.

Pound sterling is the official currency in use and prices are reasonable. The average price for a room in a cheap hotel is up to £50, while more deluxe rooms go for upwards of £100 a night.

The region uses the metric system of measurement and the international dialling code +44.