Aviemore and
The Cairngorms

Inverness, Nairn
and Loch Ness

East Northern Highlands

West Northern Highlands

Isle of Skye and Lochalsh

Fort William and Lochaber

The Highlands of Scotland, that mystical land of ' Brigadoon ', with the haunting sound of the pipes echoing across the mistclad moors which are only broken by the gentle rippling of water from a mountain stream or loch. The land of the wild clansmen and the hated 'Redcoats'. The land of Jamie Balfour and Alan Brek Stuart clambering through the heather pursued by Cumberland's men, of Bonnie Prince Charlie and Flora Macdonald. The land of castles and ghosts, monsters and witches, it's all here in the Highlands.

Of course there is more than the above to Highland history for the land had been fought over by Picts, Scots, Celts and the Vikings. During the times of Duncan and Macbeth most of the mainland area was in the domain of Moray, under the tutelage of that Mormaer, or warlord. The Shakespearean play tells us that Macbeth and Torfinn the ruler of Caithness and Orkney were continually at loggerheads if not blows over Sutherland to the north. The play hints that Banquo was the ruler of an area certainly in part of the highland region. On the Islands the Vikings had a stranglehold and were a constant menace to the people of the mainland. Later on when Macbeth had been overthrown there was a great influx of new blood to the area by the settlement of many Norman and Anglo Saxon nobles with their retainers through the policies of subsequent rulers.

Nowadays the peoples of the Highlands see themselves as the ' real' Scots and are very proud of it. Anyone who has ever experienced the singing festival known to us Scots as the Mod will acknowledge the exquisite and sometimes haunting Celtic lilt which only the Highlander can produce. Visitors to the Highlands can be sure that they will experience a holiday to remember. The scenery is without doubt dazzling and the clear air most refreshing, so make sure that your next vacation is a visit to that ancient wonderland.

Basically the Highlands are sectioned as such :-

(1) Aviemore and the Cairngorms
(2) Inverness, Loch Ness and Nairn
(3) East Northern Highlands
(4) West Northern Highlands
(5) Isle of Skye Lochalsh
(6) Fort William and Lochaber

Each area has it's differences with much to commend it and if possible to tour the region is a most worthwhile experience.

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