| Scotland is a country
bordering the north of England and can be geographically divided into three
regions: the Southern Uplands, the Central Lowlands, and the Northern
Highlands and Islands. Scotland is roughly half the size of England,
covering an area of 78,772 sq km and has a population of 5 million English
and Gaelic speaking people, mainly concentrated in the Central Lowlands, a
largely industrial area where the capital, Edinburgh, can be found. The
Southern Uplands are situated at the border with England and consist of
rolling hills and fertile plains dotted with croft houses, while the
Highlands are a series of rugged sandstone and granite mountain ranges,
glens and lochs surrounded on three sides by dramatic coastline and cliffs,
home to a vast array of seabird colonies and seals. 790 islands are
scattered off-shore around the entire country; the Inner and Outer Hebrides
to the west and north-west and Orkney and Shetland to the north-east.
Scotland is a proud and ancient land rich in history and raw natural beauty.
Much of the country was once covered by the Caledonian forest and today
almost three quarters is occupied by uncultivated peat bog and rocky
outcrops. Red deer can be found in large numbers rubbing shoulders with
grouse and capercaillie amongst the heather, and golden eagles and wildcats
are still clinging on to survival in the remotest parts of the Highland
wilderness. The landscape is breathtaking and largely untouched by modern
progress - a truly wild place of contemplation and peace, where relics of
Scotland's past are still apparent today, and croft houses and estate
cottages still exist as working evidence of historical industries in these
far-flung communities.
The climate in Scotland is unpredictable and can vary greatly over short
distances. Despite it's northerly location, the Gulf stream helps keep the
conditions temperate, but extremes of weather can be felt, particularly in
the Highlands, where snow caps the highest mountains virtually all year
round. The west coast tends to be milder and wetter than the east coast,
which can suffer bone-chilling winds off the North Sea through the winter
months. The most popular time to visit this country is from June to
September when the temperatures are at their best and the sun barely sets,
especially the further north you travel.
People from all over the world visit Scotland each year, and holiday home
accommodation can be easily found according to individual requirements. Self
catering
cottages in the Scottish Highlands make an excellent base from which to
spend a holiday walking or cycling through the hills and mountains, to fish
the rivers and lochs which teem with salmon and trout, or to enjoy the
winter sport facilities. Alternatively,
apartments in Edinburgh are ideal for experiencing the excitement of
this cosmopolitan city with its wealth of cultural heritage and historical
architecture - and shopping! Legendary Scottish cuisine can be enjoyed
nationwide, with many regional specialities, including such delicacies as
haggis and bannocks, as well as whisky from every region.
On the southern border of Scotland, Selkirk lies just south of the river
Tweed and above Ettrick Water on the edge of some spectacular countryside
that is popular with many visitors travelling across from England. This old
town was once home to a prosperous woollen mill, whose imposing greystone
presence can still be felt. On the Moray coast in the north-east of
Scotland,
holiday cottages in Grampian can be found near to Elgin - a thirteenth
century market town close to the river Lossie. This fascinating town with
its medieval street plan and cobbled market place is conveniently situated
for a shopping trip to the city of Inverness, or to watch dolphins, frequent
visitors to the waters of the Moray Firth. You could pick up 'The Whisky
Trail' not far from here where you can enjoy some of Scotland's finest
scenery, and sample a 'wee dram' of its national heritage without having far
to travel back to your holiday home! In Dornoch, you'll find a coastal
Highland community steeped in tradition and graced with some fine Edwardian
hotels - not to mention Skibo Castle with its championship golf course, the
most northerly of Scotland's many excellent courses, miles of sandy beaches
and some breathtaking views of the magnificent Highland landscape. From the
Borders to the Highlands, Scotland has a destination for the perfect
holiday.
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