As well as being a wonderful holiday or golf destination, the Highlands of Scotland are home to a quarter of a million people living in communities spread throughout the area from the vibrant city of Inverness to remote crofting communities and sparsely populated islands. All of these communities have something in common that soon becomes particularly apparent to visitors: they are all part of an area which is culturally distinct and directly influenced by a violent history, a strong cultural heritage, and the gaelic language. The natural world of the Highlands is also different: the wildly varied climate makes for a wide range of habitats while the relatively sparse population makes them the premier area in Britain, if not Europe for wildlife.
There’s really nowhere on earth quite like the Highlands of Scotland and Islands with theri picture-postcard scenery, wild and lonely places, towering mountains, ancient pine forests and shimmering lochs. From the remote, rocky wilderness of north west Sutherland to the green rolling coastal lands by the Cromarty Firth the scenery is spectacular and the golf… well, the golf is exactly what one would expect it to be in the land where the game was invented: always challenging, often fraught with wind and rain, and just about as remote as you can imagine. The ‘Road to the Isles’ takes us through Mallaig and beyond to Skye and the ‘brooding’ and spectacular natural beauty of Glencoe.
In the Highlands, evidence of its storied past is all around. The hills and glens are dotted with ancient cairns and stone settings and brochs (defensive round towers), then the Picts with their mysterious carved symbol stones have all left their faint marks upon the towering landscape.
To the north, the Viking war galleys swept ashore and placed an indelible mark upon the Highlands; Gaelic place names in the west such as Shieldaig (sild-vik - herring bay) or Diabaig (deop-vik- deep bay), while more obviously Norse in Caithness where Langwell (lang vollr - long field), or Whaligoe (hvair gja - whale inlet) or dozens more remind us of times long ago when they ruled unopposed here.
The clan system evolved with Mackays and Sinclairs, Mackenzies and Frasers, Camerons, Macdonalds and many more, all holding their territories by force of arms. For hundreds of years, these gaelic-speaking Highland clans fought among each other and the result is history of culture unique to the Highlands kept alive by the chieftains and bards and storytellers, each one adding its own inimitable twist to the rich heritage of music and legend which has survived until today.
Though the old clan ways have long-since vanished, the Highlands of Scotland are still a special place and a place apart, to be enjoyed not only for their unspoiled environment, but for their particular sense of the intertwining of past and present. A little imagination on your part, together with its ancient relics and sites, and the Highlands will provide a window to the past where the Neolithic folk, Bronze Age warriors, Picts, Vikings and clansmen and heroes – Wallace, Rob Roy, The Bruce and a hundred more – will live again.
The Highlands are not only blessed with vast stretches of unspoiled countryside, there are also hundreds of miles of dramatic coastline bordered by pristine sandy beaches, deserted and seemingly untouched by the hand of man. From John-O-Groats to the Scottish border with England, hundreds of tiny coastal villages that time seems to have forgotten have been left much as they were in the days when William Wallace, or even Bonny Prince Charlie, fought so hard for idependence from an oppressive England.
The Highlands is what we really mean when we talk of the “Great Outdoors.” Beyond golf, The Highlands mean adventure and activities from mountain climbing and white water rafting to gentle family walks and mountain biking; bird watching - wildlife flourishes in this wilderness. Take a boat trip for a close encounter with seals, whales and dolphins; head out into the glens, hills and forests to see eagles, deer and maybe even the elusive pine martin; visit Scotland’s many historical sites, ancient castles, stately homes and fascinating museums and learn about the rich and colorful history of the Highlands, its culture, clans and conflicts, the tragedy of the Highland Clearances and its role in the Jacobite risings. Finally, a summer visitor to the Highlands - July and August – offers a chance to view the annual Highland Games, a unique spectacle of athletic, dancing and piping events, held in towns and villages all across the Highlands, a spectacle not to be missed.
How to Get There:
By AirInverness is the gateway airport to the Highlands, and just over 1½ hours by air from London. You can fly to Inverness from London Gatwick and Luton; Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Dublin, Exeter, Leeds/Bradford, Manchester, Nottingham, Southampton, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Shetland, Orkney and the Outer Hebrides. By Car
The A82 (Glasgow-Fort William-Inverness), the A9 (Stirling-Perth-Inverness-Thurso) and the A96 (Aberdeen-Nairn-Inverness) are the three arterial routes to and from the Highlands. By Train
Daily services to and from Inverness and Fort William connect the Highlands with Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh and all the major UK cities. Rail services from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh, Wick and Thurso, and Fort William to Mallaig (where steam trains run in the summer) provide opportunities to take in the spectacular scenery. The Caledonian Sleeper service operates from London Euston to Fort William and Inverness (not Saturday evenings).
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Getting around the Highlands:
Train services and regular bus services link towns and villages and there are also tours by bus or taxi to key attractions and facilities. Post Buses carry fare paying passengers in rural areas where there is no other form of public transport. Local and national car hire companies operate throughout the area.