I thought i would do a Ulysses type of thread, so i decided upon this
Introduction
There can be no doubt that Scotland is one of the most beautiful and historically fascinating countries in the world with each region having its own unique character and attractions to captivate visitors of all ages and interests.
Although relatively small, this is a land bursting with variety - gentle rolling hills, rugged coasts, and dramatic, towering peaks that surround vibrant, dynamic cities and towns that rub shoulders with ancient castles, monuments and folklore. If the urban pace gets too much, you are never far from the peace and tranquillity of sandy beaches, country parks and outstanding nature reserves.
With such a distinctive and magical quality it is little wonder that Scotland has shaped an identity recognized the world over.
Borders and Lowlands
Often overlooked by visitors keen to get to Edinburgh, Glasgow and the Highlands, the Borders and Lowlands have witnessed some of the greatest dramas in Scottish history. The large number of castles, historic houses, abbeys and battlegrounds are a visible reminder of Scotland's violent internal feuding, brigandry and battles with invading English and Romans.
Today, the tranquil rolling countryside around the Borders and the mountain scenery of Dumfries and Galloway belie the region's violent past but the characterful towns, such as Pebbles and Jedburgh preserve and thrive on their historic associations with Walter Scott and Bonny Prince Charlie.
Westwards, the life and times of the national bard, Robert Burns, can be traced in a number of trails and heritage centres in Dumfries, Alloway, Auldgirth and Mauchline. The close-by Ayrshire coast has a string of holiday resorts including Ayr, Troon and Largs, while Ardrossan is the gateway to the Isle of Arran, otherwise known as 'Scotland in miniature'.
Daffodils in Edinburgh city centre
Capital attraction: Edinburgh remains the most visited Scottish destination
Central Scotland
The physical heart of Scotland hosts the major urban sprawl of vibrant Glasgow, and refined Edinburgh, and the surrounding countryside that soon spreads north to the timeless beauty of the southern Highlands and Western Isles.
The perennially popular Loch Lomond can be reached in thirty minutes from the northern Glasgow suburbs, while the forests, hills and remote lochs of the Trossachs are easily reached from the vibrant and history-rich university city of Stirling.
For a fun and fascinating insight into the regions industrial heritage, New Lanark is a beautifully restored 18th century cotton mill village forty minutes drive south of Glasgow and makes a great day out for families. Just south of Edinburgh, Rosslyn Chapel has achieved renewed prominence through Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code, its architecture and links to the Knights Templar.
Cows and swirling mist on a remote Scottish landscape
Swirling mists and deserted landscapes are par for the course
Highlands
Most of the stock images of Scottishness – clans, tartan, whisky, bagpipes, porridge, lochs and heather – originate in the Highlands, in an area that stretches from the north of Glasgow and Edinburgh to John O' Groats. The Highlands contain some of Scotland's most stunning scenery amongst National Parks and vast areas of unspoilt wilderness.
Edinburgh Castle
The handsome city of Inverness not only has some wild and unspoilt North Sea beaches nearby but is also the starting point for those crossing the country from east to west by boat along the Caledonian Canal and Loch Ness to Britain's adventure capital of Fort William.
The whole of the Highlands is an adventure playground for hikers, mountain bikers, sailors, and come winter, skiers in the Cairngorms. For the less energetic, there is a great deal of wonderment to be had by simply admiring the scenery from the few roads and railway lines that cut through the remote and romantic landscapes.
Fabulous rail routes include Glasgow to the harbour town of Mallaig, Edinburgh to Inverness and from Inverness to either the Kyle of Lochalsh, or Thurso for onward ferries to Orkney. Travelling in these parts can be time consuming with distances between places greater here than anywhere else in Britain.
Glasgow skyline at night
Glasgow is fast emerging as Scotland's trendiest city
Western Isles
There are literally hundreds of Western Isles (Inner and Outer Hebrides) scattered like jigsaw pieces along the intricate western seaboard, each with a character of their own.
Rough moorland, rocky peaks and a surprising number of pristine white beaches and clear seas - created by the warm currents of the Gulf Stream – are within easy reach. Archaeology, like wildlife is everywhere and Gaelic is both widely spoken and promoted by the college on Skye and Islay.
The Inner Hebrides includes Mull with its colourful harbour town of Tobermoray, the setting for children's show Balamoray and base for whale and dolphin trips. Across the island is the tiny Iona, a place of pilgrimage to what is considered 'the cradle of Christianity'. The barren Jurra is over run by red deer and popular with serious hikers, Islay is worth visiting for its archaeological interest and collection of whisky distilleries and Coll and Tiree (the most westerly isles) record more hours of sunshine than the rest of Britain and have some beautiful beaches.
Skye is the largest and most geographically dramatic of the archipelago and best known for its Bonny Prince Charlie associations. Staffa has one of Scotland's natural wonders, Fingal's Cave, and there are boat trips to the seven uninhabited Treshnish Isles to see the vast bird colonies of puffins, razorbills, kittiwakes and skuas. The Outer Hebrides include Lewis, and Harris - a single island with the colourful and bustling Stornaway as its capital. North and South Uist with Benbecular in between offer a flatter interior carpeted with wild flowers in the summer and long sandy beaches. Barra is a pretty island with over a thousand species of flowers recorded and a dramatic beach that doubles up as the island's airstrip.
The 'Islands on the Edge of the World', St. Kilda is owned by the National Trust and features soaring cliffs and a unique lifestyle and economy based on harvesting seabirds.
Northern Isles
Orkney and Shetland to the far north are scarcely 'Scottish' at all and still retain much of their Norse character in dialect and culture. Buffeted by the wind and sea, these desolate islands offer some of the country's wildest scenery, most fruitful bird watching and densest collection of archaeological sites.
Orkney is a cluster of seventy islands with the independently minded Orcadians considering the largest of these as 'Mainland' rather than Scotland. Low lying and gently fertile the main point of arrival is the enchanting port of Stromness which is a good base from which to explore.
The Shetland Islands are a lot closer to Bergen than they are to Edinburgh and as with Orkney the mainland is the largest of the islands. Most visitors come for the wildlife and landscapes shaped by the extremes of weather on the coastal rock formations. Lerwick, the capital, is a bustling small harbour town that gets even busier with visiting pleasure boats in the summer months.
When the sun does shine it can last for 19 hours making time on the fine beaches and amongst the prehistoric and Norse sites extremely pleasurable. Later in the day, the 'simmer dim', the twilight that lingers on this latitude into the wee small hours makes summers quite special, and for those so inclined it's light enough to play midnight tournaments of golf.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-569846/Scotland-Destination-Guide.html#ixzz1abEjh8hw
Ballachulish, Western Highlands
Callanish Stones, Isle of Lewis
Dunrobin Castle, Highland
Dunvegan Castle, Isle of Skye
Edinburgh
Eilean Donan Castle, Near Dornie
Evening Falls on Eilean Donan Castle
