The Scottish Highlands are renowned for their natural beauty and are a popular subject in art (here depicted by Henry Bates Joel) The area is very sparsely populated, with many mountain ranges dominating the region, and includes the highest mountain in the British Isles, Ben Nevis.

The Scottish Highlands are situated to the north and west of the Highland Boundary Fault and are very mountainous. For over a hundred years the Scottish Highlands has been the Gaelic speaking area of Scotland, although Highland English is also spoken here. The city of Inverness is generally regarded to be the capital of the Highlands.

Although the region covers 9,906 square miles, it’s home to just 600,000 people, making it one of the most sparsely populated areas in Europe. Visitors to the Highlands can immerse themselves in a landscape of serene lochs and towering mountains, along with some of Scotland’s largest forests and a rugged coastline that’s rich with wildlife.

The Highlands are also characterized by deep valleys known as glens and expansive lochs that were carved by the last ice age, including the world-famous Loch Ness. The region’s coastline is equally breathtaking thanks to a combination of sheer cliffs, sandy beaches, and quaint coastal villages.