The Highlands

Taking in the north and west of Scotland and its many coastal islands, the Scottish Highlands has been renowned for hundreds of years for its wild scenery of hills, glens, lochs and mountains. It's also the historic homeland of the Scottish clans, many of whom were exiled after the Jacobite uprising; some of their descendants today can still speak Gaelic, the ancient language of Scotland. And there’s one Highland local whose ancestry stretches back even further: Loch Ness, a huge freshwater lake near the northern capital Inverness, is rumored to be home to “Nessie”, a gigantic water-monster which some claim is a plesiosaur.

Travel to Inverness on your own Nessie-spotting mission, climb Ben Nevis, the highest peak in the UK, or go hiking or kayaking in Fort William (not forgetting to bring your midge repellent!) And of course, no trip to the Highlands would be complete without a taste of Scottish whisky, the national specialty – check out the distilleries in Speyside and the Isle of Islay to "drink in" Highland culture, literally and figuratively!