SHETLAND, ORKNEY & THE OUTER HEBRIDES

This is Scotland's Castle and Whisky country. This region of Scotland is blessed with outstanding scenery - the majestic Grampian Mountains dominate the skyline to the West whilst miles of unspoiled and often dramatic coastline frame the area in the East. Follow the Castle Trail taking in 13 of the finest gems the region has to offer, or visit one of the many picture-postcard towns dotted along the coast, where vast empty beaches are waiting to be explored. Hit the ski slopes, play on championship golf courses or sample a locally made whisky . There’s something for everyone in Aberdeen and Grampian Highlands.
With its sparkling granite buildings, Aberdeen has one of Scotland’s most enchanting skylines, while the old town has a magical air of time gone by. A fantastic range of first class restaurants and a vibrant nightlife combined with a thriving cultural calendar and numerous shops, all help make Scotland’s third largest city well worth the trip.
Whether you choose to enjoy the cosmopolitan grandeur of a city break or decide to get away from it all and relax in the tranquil splendour of the countryside - Aberdeen and Grampian offers the perfect break.

HIGHLANDS & SKYE

The Northern Highlands offer an excellent choice of things to do. Naturally, these sublime landscapes are made for walkers and climbers, but you can also find numerous lochs to satisfy anglers who love solitude. There is a good choice of boat trips and cruises for close encounters with sea-caves, sea-stacks, seals and dolphins - and even to a special garden accessible only by sea. Golf, cycling, riding and water sports are all to be found here as well.
The Scottish Highlands have so much to offer - spectacular mountains, majestic glens and mirror-like lochs form the perfect backdrop to picturesque towns, isolated crofts and towering castles. History, legend, romance and the great outdoors combine seamlessly here to guarantee visitors a warm Highland welcome and a truly memorable holiday. Ultimately, however, it is the wilderness experience of the far north and its all but empty grandeur which will leave the strongest impression.

ABERDEEN & GRAMPIAN HIGHLANDS

This is Scotland's Castle and Whisky country. This region of Scotland is blessed with outstanding scenery - the majestic Grampian Mountains dominate the skyline to the West whilst miles of unspoiled and often dramatic coastline frame the area in the East. Follow the Castle Trail taking in 13 of the finest gems the region has to offer, or visit one of the many picture-postcard towns dotted along the coast, where vast empty beaches are waiting to be explored. Hit the ski slopes, play on championship golf courses or sample a locally made whisky . There’s something for everyone in Aberdeen and Grampian Highlands.
With its sparkling granite buildings, Aberdeen has one of Scotland’s most enchanting skylines, while the old town has a magical air of time gone by. A fantastic range of first class restaurants and a vibrant nightlife combined with a thriving cultural calendar and numerous shops, all help make Scotland’s third largest city well worth the trip.
Whether you choose to enjoy the cosmopolitan grandeur of a city break or decide to get away from it all and relax in the tranquil splendour of the countryside - Aberdeen and Grampian offers the perfect break.

PERTHSHIRE, ANGUS & DUNDEE & THE KINGDOM OF FIFE

Scotland's heartlands are an area with an incredibly diverse terrain with plenty to attract and entertain visitors. From the rolling moorland of Rannoch in the west, all the way to the well-manicured golf courses and path network of coastal Fife, you'll find a region with plenty to attract and entertain visitors. And in between, the Angus Glens with their unspoilt wildness and sense of space make for the perfect escape.
This is where you'll find some of Scotland's most attractive towns and cities; Perth, with its vibrant atmosphere, busy shops along with its relaxing pubs and wine bars; Pitlochry and Aberfeldy, friendly, small-scale and welcoming; Dundee, with it's fascinating cultural and history. Then there are the Pantile houses and colourful harbours of Fife's East Neuk - truly, a photographer's paradise.
Away from habitation, the region offers plenty of active opportunities, from world class golf courses to more adventurous alternatives, all set against countryside and coastlines rich with abundant wildlife.

WEST HIGHLANDS & ISLANDS, STIRLING & TROSSACHS

This region is the birthplace of Scotland and the focal point for much of its dramatic history. It's home to the beautiful Hebridean Islands, where the natural frontier separates the rugged grandeur of the West Highlands from the gentler beauty of the Lowlands. Here too, you can trace the footsteps of heroes like St Columba, Sir William Wallace, Robert the Bruce and Mary, Queen of Scots ... and villains like the notorious outlaw, Rob Roy. In these rugged lands you can spot an eagle, an osprey, a wildcat, a fine antlered stag or even whales and dolphins. And the enthusiasts can enjoy the spectacle of a Highland Games, a traditional folk night or local food festivals that are well worth checking out.
Scotland's first great travel writer, Sir Walter Scott, was captivated by the beauty of this fascinating area. In his best-selling poem, the Lady of the Lake, he wrote of the landscapes around Loch Katrine: From Kintyre to Killin and Tobermory to Tillicoultry, an open invitation awaits you in these heartlands of Scotland.

EDINBURG & LOTHIAN

This is a city that knows how to blend modern and medieval. 'Edinburgh,' said the writer Robert Louis Stevenson, 'is what Paris ought to be'. With its magnificent architecture that ranges from ancient churches to monumental Victorian masterpieces. All dominated by a fantastic castle, right in the centre which completely dominates the city and surrounding skyline. Edinburgh is probably the least Scottish city in Scotland, but nevertheless it has an elegance that will completely overwhelm you. It's multicultural and sophisticated population set it apart from other Scottish cities, with its vibrant pub and club scene, student population and some excellent full-on festivals. The city is also home to some of the best galleries and museums in the UK, so whether you're into modern art, want to learn more about Scotland's history or fancy a trip down memory lane with the toys of your childhood, the city has something for you.
The Lothian countryside, just beyond Edinburgh, is spectacular. It's steeped in history, filled with ancient castles, grand houses and epic battle sites. It's also the ancient home of the game of golf and you can find some of the great links and parkland courses of the world here. This isn't just a golfer's paradise, since the countryside is open for everyone, from picnickers on the fine golden beaches, to walkers high in the Pentland Hills.

GREATER GLASGOW & CLYDE VALLEY

Vibrant and energetic, Glasgow has become one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Europe. It has lost its rough image and has been reborn as a centre of style and vitality set against a backdrop of very impressive Victorian buildings. Glasgow was also the UK's City of Architecture and Design in 1999 and its architecture is certainly an attraction in itself. The city also has some world famous art collections and the best shopping and nightlife in Scotland. Over 200 arts organisations, including the Scottish Ballet and Scottish Opera, are based there, creating cutting-edge productions and attracting high-profile exhibitions.
Surrounding the city is some of the best of Scotland's scenery, from the rolling hills of the Clyde Valley to the stunning walking country of East Dunbartonshire that borders the south-west Highlands. Go further and you'll find many small picturesque villages and towns in the areas of Paisley, Hamilton, Biggar, Greenock, Gourock and the New Lanark World Heritage Site. All within relatively short distances from the city these places are perfect for day trips and all well worth a visit.
The region today is broken down in seven council areas, Glasgow City, Inverclyde, East Dunbartonshire, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, East Renfrew and Renfrewshire respectively.

THE SOUTH OF SCOTLAND

The 'real' Scotland starts right at the Southern border. The accents change in the shops and even the beers in the pubs have different names. This is one of the ways the locals differentiate themselves from the rest of the country. Also the scenery changes dramatically as you pass from England to Scotland. Rich, rolling farmland, rugged sea coasts and islands characterise the south of Scotland. It's a land of ancient abbeys, castles and historic houses. It also has some strong literary connections, with both Robert Burns and Sir Walter Scott having lived here.
Then there are the forests and wild moors of upland Galloway and the vivid greens of Ayrshire's rich pastures, with the steep mountainous profile of the island of Arran as a backdrop. Wherever you travel here, you can be sure of a real Scottish experience. Imagine standing on the cliffs at Scotland's most southerly point, breathing the fresh ocean air, watching as seabirds glide below, listening to the crash of the waves and looking out to the horizon and seeing Ireland, England and the Isle of Man, silhouetted against the setting sun.