Scottish Highlands
This article pertains to the geographic region of the Scottish Highlands. See Highlands and Highlander for alternate meanings The
Scottish Highlands are the
mountainous regions of
Scotland north and west of the
Highland Boundary Fault. It is popularly described as one of the most scenic regions of
Europe.
The area is generally sparsely populated, with many
mountain ranges dominating the region. Remarkably given that it is part of the crowded island of Britain, the average population density in the Highlands and Islands is lower than that for Sweden, Norway, Papua New Guinea or Argentina. Regional administrative centres include
Inverness. The
Highland Council is the administrative body for around 40% of this area; the remainder is divided between the
council areas of
Aberdeenshire,
Angus,
Argyll and Bute,
Moray,
Perth and Kinross, and
Stirling. Although the
Isle of Arran administratively belongs to
North Ayrshire, its northern part is generally regarded as part of the Highlands.
*
Highland Clearances*
Highland Land LeagueCulturally the area is quite different from the
Scottish Lowlands. Most of the Highlands fall into the region known as the
Gàidhealtachd, pronounced roughly
Gailtahk, which was, within the last hundred years, the
Gaelic speaking area of Scotland. The terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but have slightly different meanings.
Highland English is also widely spoken.
Some similarities exist between the culture of the Highlands and that of
Ireland: examples include the
Gaelic language, sport (
shinty/
hurling), and
Celtic music. Highland music, which is similar to Irish traditional music, often reflects an (historical) antipathy to the
English which is less commonly seen amongst Lowland Scots.
The Scottish
Reformation, begun in the Lowlands, achieved only partial success in the Gaelic-speaking
Highlands.
Roman Catholicism remained strong in certain parts, aided by
Irish Franciscan missionaries who regularly came to the area to perform
Mass, as they shared a similar language.
In traditional Scottish
geography, the
Highlands refers to that part of Scotland north-west of a line drawn from
Dumbarton to
Stonehaven, including the Inner and Outer
Hebrides, parts of
Perthshire and the
County of Bute, but excluding
Orkney and
Shetland,
Caithness, the flat coastal land of the Counties of
Nairnshire,
Morayshire and
Banffshire, and most of
East Aberdeenshire. This Highland area differed from the
Lowlands by language and tradition, having preserved
Gaelic speech and customs centuries after the
anglicization of the latter. The cultural distinction between Highlander and Lowlander is first noted towards the end of the
14th century. The City of
Inverness is usually regarded as the capital of the Highlands. However, there are several definitions of the Highland line, which create further confusion.
Highland council area
The
Highland council area, created as one of the
local government regions of Scotland in 1975, has been a
unitary council area since 1996. The council area excludes a large chunk of the southern and eastern Highlands, and the
Western Isles, but includes
Caithness.
Highlands is sometimes used, however, as a name for the council area, as in
Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service.
Northern, as in
Northern Constabulary, is also used to refer to the area covered by the fire and rescue service. This area consists of the Highland council area and the
island council areas of
Orkney,
Shetland and the Western Isles.
Highland council signs in the
Pass of Drumochter, between
Glen Garry and
Dalwhinnie, saying "Welcome to the Highlands", are still regarded as controversial.
Highlands and Islands
Much of the Scottish Highlands area overlaps the
Highlands and Islands area. An
electoral region called
Highlands and Islands is used in elections to the
Scottish Parliament: this area includes
Orkney and
Shetland, as well as the
Highland local government area, the
Western Isles and most of the
Argyll and Bute and
Moray local government areas.
Highlands and Islands has, however, different meanings in different contexts. It means Highland (the local government area), Orkney, Shetland, and the Western Isles in
Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service.
Northern, as in
Northern Constabulary, refers to the same area as that covered by the fire and rescue service.
Highland Park
Highland Park is a single malt
Scotch whisky, which is distilled in
Orkney, which is not part of either the administrative area of Highland nor the Scottish Highlands. However, Orkney along with Western Isles and the Shetlands, is grouped together with the Highlands when it comes to economic development; under the umbrella of the Highlands & Islands Enterprise.
 |
The Quirang |
The Highlands consist of an old dissected
plateau, or block, of ancient
crystalline rocks with incised valleys and
lochs carved by the action of mountain streams and by ice, the resulting
topography being a wide area of irregularly distributed mountains whose summits have nearly the same height above sea-level, but whose bases depend upon the amount of
denudation to which the plateau has been subjected in various places.
*
Aberfeldy,
Aboyne,
Alness,
Altnaharra,
Applecross,
Aultbea,
Aviemore,
*
Back of Keppoch,
Ballachulish,
Beauly,
Blair Atholl,
Braemar*
Cannich,
Coldbackie,
Crianlarich,
Cromarty Culbokie*
Dalwhinnie,
Dingwall,
Dornie,
Dornoch,
Durness*
Fort Augustus,
Fort William*
Gairloch,
Glencoe,
Glenelg*
Inveraray,
Invermoriston,
Inverness (a city since 2001)
*
Killin,
Kingussie,
Kinlochleven,
Kinlochewe,
Kinloch Rannoch,
Kyle of Lochalsh*
Lochcarron,
Lochinver*
Mallaig*
Nairn,
Newtonmore,
North Ballachulish,
Nethy Bridge*
Oban*
Plockton,
Poolewe,
Portmahomack*
Shieldaig,
South Ballachulish,
Strathpeffer,
Strathy*
Tain,
Taynuilt,
Thurso,
Tobermory,
Tomintoul,
Tongue,
Torridon*
Ullapool*
Wick*
Castle Tioram*
Glencoe Ski Centre*
Glen Orchy*
Glen Spean*
Inverewe Gardens*
Loch Linnhe*
Loch Lochy*
Rannoch Moor*
Tor Castle*
Glen Coe*
Glen Lyon*
Loch Rannoch*
Loch Katrine*
West Highland Way*
Eilean Donan*
Loch Ness*
Sutherland Cataibh*
Assynt Asainte*
Coigach Còigeach*
Kintail Cinn Tàile*
Knoydart Cnòideart*
Morar Mòrar*
Moidart Mùideart*
Sunart Suaineart*
Ardnamurchan Àird nam Murchan*
Morvern A' Mhorbhairne*
Ardgour Àird Ghobhar*
Lochaber Loch Abar*
Appin An Apainn*
Lorne Latharna*
Argyll Earra-Ghaidheal*
Knapdale Cnapadal*
Cowal Comhghall*
Strathspey Srath Spè*
Badenoch Bàideanach*
Braemar Bràigh Mhàrr*
Rannoch Raineach*
Atholl Athall*
Breadalbane Bràid Albainn*
Trossachs Na TrosaicheanImage:Loch Gairloch.jpg|Loch GairlochImage:Kyle of Durness.jpg|The Kyle of Durness.Image:Eilann Donan Castle.jpg|Eilean Donan Castle, at Dornie near Kyle of Lochalsh.Image:Lochan Stones, Rannoch Moor.jpg|Lochan Stones on Rannoch Moor.Image:Loch Long.jpg|Loch LongImage:Scotland single track road.jpg|A Single Track Road, bear Aultivullin.Image:Blaven geograph.jpg|Blaven.Image:Inverness Ness Footbridge 15760.JPG|InvernessImage:Loch Maree.jpg|The islands of Loch Maree.Image:Smoo Cave Interior.jpg|The interior of Smoo Cave, Sutherland.Image:Cape Wrath lighthouse.jpg|Cape Wrath Lighthouse in the far NW of the Highlands.Image:Glenfinnan Viaduct from below.jpg|The Glenfinnan Viaduct from below.
