Scotland
Much more than kilts & bagpipes
There is a border between England and Scotland, but it’s easy to miss. Driving north you’ll know it only by the 'Welcome To Scotland' signs.
But welcome to what? It’s all the same country, isn’t it?
Don’t let the Scots hear you say that! They may concede that yes, Scotland is one of the four entities that make up the United Kingdom. But they will politely remind you that it was once an independent country, and may be one again in the not-too-distant future.
But for now, all a visitor needs to know is that Scotland is utterly distinctive in just about every way. There are the cities, buzzing, hyper-active, at the cutting edge of culture and the arts; the Scottish Highlands and Islands with scenery as stunning as anywhere on the planet; the wildlife; the burgeoning food scene with some of the finest seafood anywhere, and of course the world-famous whiskies.
In short, Scotland is so much more than kilts and bagpipes, although you’ll find them too. The only problem with visiting Scotland is the thought of having to leave. But those Scots who welcomed you so warmly will wave you off with the immortal words, “Haste ye back!”
Walking in the UK
An essential guide to planning a walking holiday in the UK
The United Kingdom is a walking holiday paradise: Hundreds of thousands of miles of well-mapped public footpaths, beautifully varied landscapes, excellent hospitality, and easily accessible. It’s no wonder this is a nation of walkers. From the Scottish Highlands to the South Downs and almost everywhere in between, walker-friendly accommodation, well organised baggage transfer services and convenient transport connections make organising walking trips a piece of cake...read more
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The Highlands
Scotland’s geological fault line runs from the Isle of Arran in the south-west to Stonehaven in the north-east, delineating the dramatic Highlands from the more gently rolling landscapes to the south... -
Great Glen Way
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Caithness
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John O'Groats
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Thurso
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Speyside
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Cairngorms National Park
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Loch Ness
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Caledonian Canal
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Inverness
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Fort William
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Sound of Arisaig
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Knoydart
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Loch Lomond & the Trossachs
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The Borders
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Dumfries and Galloway
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Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park
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Loch Linnhe
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The Lowlands & Central Belt
The Scottish Lowlands sweep up from the English border past the major cities of the Central Belt, the old Kingdom of Fife and up to Stonehaven in the northeast... -
Inner Hebrides
When looking at a map of Scotland, it can be hard to distinguish peninsulas from islands on the wonderfully convoluted west coast... -
Isle of Mull
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Isle of Jura
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Isle of Islay
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Shuna Island
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Isle of Barra
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Isle of Lewis
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Isle of Skye
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St. Kilda
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Isle of Rùm
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Isle of Eigg
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Isle of Arran
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Outer Hebrides
In the westernmost reaches of Scotland, embrace Gaelic culture, archaeological wonders, and remote and wild landscapes... -
The Northern Isles
The Northern Isles feel a world away from the mainland UK—both Orkney and Shetland are closer to the Arctic circle than to London—yet these rugged archipelagos at the collision of North Sea and Atlantic Ocean are surprisingly accessible... -
Orkney Islands
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Edinburgh
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Oban
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Glasgow
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Aberdeen
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Balmoral
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Morvern Peninsula
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Kintyre Peninsula
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Glencoe
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