Page 97 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

SC O TLAND  95

The Highlands

The Scotland of your imagination – filled with clans and tartans,
whisky and porridge, bagpipes and heather – will come to life
in the Highlands. Gaelic-speaking Celts arrived from Ireland
before the 7th century, establishing small fishing and cattle-
raising communities. Nowadays the region has oil and tourist
industries. Inverness, the Highland capital, makes a good
starting point for exploring Loch Ness and the Cairngorms.
The Isle of Skye has some of Britain’s most dramatic scenery.

Inverness Castle, a Victorian Sea lochs on the Isle of Skye, dominated by
building of red sandstone. the Cuillin peaks
Below the castle, the Inverness x Isle of Skye
Museum and Art Gallery
provides a good introduct ion to * 11,500. g from Mallaig or
the region’s history. Its exhibits Glenelg. @ n Bayfield House,
include a fine collection of Portree (01478-612 137).
Inver ness silver. The Scottish
Kiltma ker Visitor Centre offers Skye, the largest of the Inner
an insight into the history, Hebrides, can be reached by the
Snow-covered peaks of the Cairngorms, culture, and tradition of the kilt. bridge linking Kyle of Lochalsh
viewed from Aviemore In summer, Jacobite Cruises and Kyleakin. The coast is shaped
l Cairngorms (call 01463-233 999 for by a series of dramatic sea lochs,
information) runs regular boat
while the landscape from the
£ @ Aviemore. n Grampian Rd, trips along the Caledonian Quiraing – a plateau of volcanic
Aviemore (01479-810 930). Canal and on famous Loch towers and spikes in the north –
Ness, southwest of Inverness. to the Cuillins – one of Britain’s
Rising to a height of 1,309 m The Loch is 39 km (24 miles) most spectacular mountain
(4,296 ft), the Cairngorm long and up to 305 m (1,000 ft) ranges – is majestic. Bonnie Prince
mountains form the highest deep. On the western shore, the Charlie (1720–88) escaped here
landmass in Britain. ruins of the 16th-century from the mainland disguised as a
Cairn Gorm itself is the site of Urquhart Castle can be seen. maidservant following the defeat
one of Britain’s first ski centers. The Official Loch Ness of his army at Culloden.
Transportation to the 28 ski runs Exhibition Centre, in nearby Skye’s main settlement is
is provided daily from Avie- Drumnadrochit, provides Portree, with its colorful harbor.
more. The chairlift that climbs information about the Loch Dunvegan Castle, on the
Cairn Gorm affords superb views and its mythical monster. island’s northwest coast, has
over the Spey Valley. Rothie- been the seat of the Clan
murchus Estate has a visitor E Museum and Art Gallery MacLeod chiefs for over seven
center offering guided walks. 1 Castle Wynd. Tel 01463-237 114. centuries. South of here, the
The Cairngorm Reindeer Open Tue–Sat. Closed Jan 1 & 2, Talisker distillery produces one
Centre organizes walks in the Dec 25 & 26. 7 of the best Highland malts.
hills among Britain’s only herd
of reindeer, and ospreys can be
observed at the Loch Garten
Nature Reserve.
Drivers can see bison, bears,
wolves, and boar in the Kincraig
Highland Wildlife Park.

z Inverness
* 60,000. £ @ n Castle Wynd
(01463-252 401).
∑ visitscotland.com
Inverness is the center of
communication, commerce,
and administration for the
Highlands. Dominating the high
ground above the town is The ruins of Urquhart Castle, on the western shore of Loch Ness

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