SCOTLAND FOR
AMAZING LANDSCAPES
Snow-capped peaks that tower high above mirror-still lochs and windswept moors, fast-flowing rivers that lead to silver firths, and rugged coastlines, pounded by Atlantic waves. It’s no wonder that Scotland is best known for its breathtaking scenery and abundance of awe-inspiring landscapes.
t Overlooking the rugged highland landscapes on the Isle of Arran
Majestic Mountains
From Arran to Applecross, mountains are in no short supply in Scotland. The highest, Ben Nevis, reigns over an impressive entourage of smaller peaks. Forbidding Lochnagar looms high above the rolling moors of the Cairngorms, while on Skye, the treeless black basalt Cuillin range rises in stark contrast to the island’s gentler lowlands.
Dramatic Coastlines
With its miles of long sandy beaches, narrow sea lochs, calm island-studded bays and castle-topped crags, Scotland is home to Britain’s most breathtaking shores. A scenic drive along the wild and windswept north coast from the sea-pounded cliffs of Cape Wrath to John O’Groat’s and the northern tip of the British mainland, is truly unforgettable.
Lochs and Rivers
Scotland is a land shaped by water. Dotted with tree-tufted islands, Loch Lomond is Scotland’s loveliest inland sea. Further north, Loch Ness is one in a chain of lochs that form the Great Glen. And of course there are the Fairy Pools on the River Brittle – perfect for a dip in the shadow of Skye’s Black Cuillins.
Woodland and Forest
Oak and beech woods dominate the verdant slopes of Perthshire, Scotland’s “Big Tree Country”. In summer, this part of the world can look almost tropical; in autumn its foliage turns russet, gold and crimson. Further south, gaze west over Loch Tummel to the leafy expanse of the Great Trossachs Forest, once the lair of 17th-century outlaw Rob Roy.
Reforestation
Scotland is famed for its untouched scenery, yet its landscapes were shaped by centuries of human activity. Almost 2,000 years ago, the land was blanketed by thick forest. In the years that followed, most of this vast Caledonian forest was felled for fuel, timber and pasture, while on private estates the ground was razed for grouse shooting and deer stalking. Now, environmentalists are working to bring back mixed woodland and foster biodiversity.