"Scotland the Brave" Scotland by JanPeter74

Scotland Travel Guide: 12,278 reviews and 26,610 photos

Typically Scotland - near Loch Maree - Scotland

Of course a three week roundtrip in Scotland won't show you everything, but we got pretty close.

The great thing about Scotland is that despite it's desolate image, you can reach most mainland destinations rather easily and quickly, since the country is not extremely big and roads are (in general) pretty good.

Bear in mind that due to the changing weather and time of year, everybody will experience the places he or she visits differently. Therefore, everybody will have other favourites after a visit to Scotland.

Brief intro of the different areas

Pipes at the Scottish border

Basically the country can be divided into several areas. In the south, close to the border with England, you can find the Scottish Border Country which is a nice area resembling the landscape of northern England.

A bit further north you can find the cities of Edinburgh, Glasgow and Stirling. This is the area where much of Scotlands history was written. Many castles and battlefields can be found here.

North of this area start the Scottish Highlands. Most popular area of the Highlands is the southern part with Inverness, Fort William en Britains highest mountain Ben Nevis. Here you will also find Loch Ness, the most famous of Scotlands lochs, which together with some other lakes and canals forms the so-called Calledonian Canal that connects the east and west coast of Scotland. This waterway starts with Loch Ness on the eastcoast (Inverness) and runs southwest in the direction of Fort William.

East of the southern Highlands you will find the part of Scotland that is most famous for it's whisky. The Speyside is the most famous area of this region.

Queen's View near Pittlochry

The northern Highlands are not so frequently visited. Most people who make a roundtrip don't come above the line Ullapool (westcoast) - Inverness (eastcoast). However, this northern part of the country perhaps was the most impressive of our entire trip. It really felt like driving to the end of the world. Simply follow the entire coastline of northern Scotland. From Inverness all the way up to John o'Groats (take the ferry here for a daytrip to the Orkney Isles) and back via the north and westcoast to Ullapool takes you 3-4 days. (1 day from Inverness to John o'Groats, 1 day to the Orkneys, 1 day (2 is more relaxed) back to Ullapool).

In the west of the country you can find the Isle of Skye, another highlight of a trip to Scotland. Since a few years this island is connected to the mainland by a bridge and can easily be reached.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Anything but the weather
Cons:Obvious ....... the ever changing weather

Last visit to Scotland: Jun 2002
Intro Updated Dec 1, 2004
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Comments (13)

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Samscalling Jun 8, 2006 at 12:13 AM

Great page! I'm going to Dundee for a week on 17th June with my boyfriend & 6 friends. We're staying in a log cabin so should be lovely. You've got some great pictures!
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Tetreus Feb 18, 2006 at 1:02 AM

Great pictures and good information ! We would like to go next summer to his beautiful country. Janine & Andrea
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Voyageuse30 Dec 25, 2005 at 3:43 PM

I love your photos of Urquhart Castle - one of my favorites in Scotland...
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Jim_Eliason Dec 20, 2005 at 1:45 AM

great tips!
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sprdak11 Oct 21, 2005 at 11:35 AM

Nice page with great pictures! Greetings!
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margaretvn Mar 27, 2005 at 2:20 AM

great page with an excellent overview of one of my favourite parts of the world.
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matcrazy1 Feb 24, 2005 at 10:34 AM

Excellent overview - the best of Scotland! Awesome pictures and interesting writings! My congratulations!
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nickandchris Feb 17, 2005 at 6:34 AM

Wonderful Scottish page. Love Scotland but haven't seen all you have. We Brits don't travel enough in our own country!!!
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IceBear7 Dec 21, 2004 at 11:57 AM

hey JP, excellent page!! and some fantastic photos!
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iandsmith Dec 16, 2004 at 12:44 PM

Useful tips and some excellent photos.