Scotland may be small in size but there are few countries that can claim to pack so much into such a small space: amazingly diverse scenery, fascinating wildlife, archaeology and history, pretty villages and towns, bustling cities, challenging activities, enthralling attractions and events.....and warm, welcoming, proud people.
The country can be divided into three main areas: the wild and romantic Highlands & Islands in the north; the fertile, rolling and more populous Central Lowlands in the middle; and the hills and moors of the Southern Uplands in the south. As if that wasn’t enough, each of these areas can be broken down still further into smaller and smaller areas according to your interests: landscape, history, culture, activities and so on.
To make it easy for you to find the holiday and property of your dreams we have divided Scotland into 5 main Regions
Highlands & Islands : This region includes mainland Scotland north of a line linking Inverness with the West Coast (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross & Cromarty), plus the Isle of Skye, Outer Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland. A region of striking contrasts on the outermost fringe of Europe, here you will find thousands of square miles of freedom, peace and tranquillity: magnificent countryside, numerous islands, lots to see and do, quiet roads and very few people.
Central Highlands & Aberdeenshire: This region straddles mainland Scotland from wild Ardnamurchan, Great Britain’s most westerly point, east through Fort William, Ben Nevis, Loch Ness, Inverness, Aviemore and the Cairngorms, to the fertile, rolling farmland of Aberdeenshire, where it ends in the Moray Firth and North Sea coasts. This extremely diverse region is famed for its scenery, outdoor activities, historic castles, whisky distilleries and fishing heritage.
Argyll & The Isles: This region comprises the South West Highlands, an unbelievably rugged coastline with two long peninsulas containing a landscape of mountains, moors, lochs and rivers, forests and occasional fertile patches, and the towns and villages of Oban, Tarbet, Machrihanish, Campbeltown and Lochgilphead. Offshore, the serrated coastline is fringed by myriad islands including Coll, Tiree, Mull, Iona, Islay, Jura and Bute.
Central Scotland: This region sandwiches the Central Lowlands between the hills of the Southern Highlands to the North and the gentle foothills of the Southern Uplands to the South. The result is a region that combines mountains, lochs and glens with fertile, rolling fields, long coastlines studded with sandy beaches, and numerous villages, market towns and historic cities. Here you will find Angus, Perthshire. Loch Lomond & The Trossachs, Edinburgh & The Lothians and Glasgow & Clyde Valley.
South Scotland: Combining the Southern Upland hills north of the English Border with Ayrshire and the Isle of Arran in the west, South Scotland is easily reached and readily accessible, with numerous hidden nooks and crannies off the beaten track to explore and enjoy. Whether it be the North Sea coast around Eyemouth, the small abbey and mill towns of the Borders, the lovely coastal towns of Dumfries and Galloway, the Ayrshire resort towns or “Scotland in Miniature”, the Isle of Arran, there is always something new to savour and enjoy.
Have a wonderful holiday In Scotland!
For Cottages and Castles accomodation links outside of Scotland click here
