WELCOME TO GNWS TRAVEL GUIDE FOR SCOTLAND

DISCOVER THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

• Highly regarded as Scotland’s ultimate holiday destination, The Scottish Highlands is one of the UK’s most sparsely populated regions and boasts the finest mountainous landscapes in the country, from the dramatic snow-capped peaks of the Cairngorms to breathtaking Fjords and Sea Lochs on the North West Coast of Scotland. The Highlands occupy the northern half of the Scotland and has retained its gaelic and Celtic heritage over generations and evidence of this can be traced in the bi-lingual signposts in various communities, including Inverness, the capital of the Highlands.
  
  Situated between the northern and central highlands of Scotland, Inverness is a popular base for exploring and discovering this magnificent and quintessentially Scottish region. With a population of 60,000, it is by far the largest settlement in the Highlands and offers an excellent array of shops, first-class accommodation and visitors attractions, including Inverness Castle, skirting the banks of the River Ness. The town is accessible by coach, rail and air from most UK and Scottish destinations including London, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh and offers the perfect combination of a relaxing or energising break with vibrant nightlife, Loch Ness, Cairngorms and spectacular wildlife at its door step.
  
  Steeped in long and turbulent history, The Highlands was once home to rivalling clans such as Mackays MacDonalds and MacKenzies to name but a few, each vying over territories through a series of battles. Today, traces of Highland Clans are apparent through dress code with tartans at special events and occasions, and folklore through poetry and song.
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  Lying at the centre of The Highlands rich heritage and culture is the Gaelic language, which is embraced in various aspects of Highland life from business to music. Widely spoken in the isles and crafting communities, the language continues to strive and is passed down through generations into the 21st Century. A multitude of Highland Historical sites can be visited such as the infamous and haunting site of Culloden to Eilean Donnan Castle near Kyle of Lochalsh, unveiling the history of Highland Clansmen.
  
  Boasting more mountainous landscapes and lochs than anywhere else in the country, The Highlands is home to the outdoors capital of the UK, Fort William. Situated beneath the imposing backdrop of Ben Nevis (UK’s highest peak), the area around Fort William and Lochaber is the perfect destination for trekkers and winter sports enthusiasts who take to the slopes of Aonach Mor each year. Equally, the Central Highlands and Cairngorm National Park offer a more varied selection of ski-resorts and outdoor activities, from dog sleighing in winter to White Water Rafting and Trekking in the milder summer months, particularly around Aviemore, a leading destination for vacations and romantic week end breaks in the Highlands. Whatever your interests and reasons for visiting this awe-inspiring region of granite peaks, you will be captivated in every sense of the word, from fine dining and fresh local produce to the haunting sounds of the Bagpipes and Gaelic Song and Verse.