Northern Highlands

The northern Highlands boast some of Scotland's most awe-inspiring country. The going gets really wild as you head north-west, the scenery shaped by seascapes and mighty mountains. Then there is the flat Flow Country of Caithness and Sutherland, and the gentle east coast.

The names themselves are dramatic: Assynt, Torridon, Loch Maree... the north-west Highlands burst forth with grandeur and beauty. Deep forests, dizzy cliffs, ragged peaks and tumultuous seas crash together in a sublime epic landscape. The north coast: Tongue, Cape Wrath, Loch Eriboll (ah, those names!) is wild, unspoilt and dramatic. 'The Flow Country' that covers much of Caithness and Sutherland is unique, a stark, yet wondrous land that is refuge for rare wildlife.

From the cavernous dark depths of Smoo Cave at Durness to the exhilarating hairpin bends of the 'Pass of the Cattle' over the mountains to Applecross and from the towering sea-stacks at Duncansby to the dolphins leaping off the coasts of the Black Isle, the northern Highlands is thrilling and designed to leave a big impression. It is a land of escape - a place to discover the wonders of the natural world amid one of the most dramatic landscapes in Europe. There's also a long human heritage in this area, starting with archaeological gems such as the Grey Cairns of Camster and passing through 5000 years of Pictish, Viking and Gaelic history. There is so much to treasure here for those who love wildlife, adventure and the great outdoors.