For scenic relaxation - beaches, lochs, cascading waterfalls, majestic mountains, wonderful gardens, local wildlife, rolling hills and glens. Pure clear air and wonderful light. Fabulous big country touring especially to the west. Three of the most beautiful Scottish glens - Affric, Cannich and Stratfarrar.

Championship golf at Royal Dornoch (consistently voted by the Americans one of the world's greatest courses), and Nairn - and real hidden gems at Fortrose, Inverness itself, and Muir of Ord. Castles (including Scotland's largest and most famous, Urquhart Castle), distilleries, monuments to history, the battlefield at Culloden and the gateway to Bonnie Prince Charlie country.

The world's most famous monster at Loch Ness only a short trip away.

Country sportspeople just love the potent mix of wonderful scenery, wildlife watching and great sport, which can all be enjoyed together - excellent fishing, shooting and stalking opportunities simply abound.

Island hopping, John o'Groats, Braemar and Royal Deeside, whisky and castle trail country are all comfortably within a wonderful day trip on easy roads, as are the fishing villages and towns scattered along the Moray Firth coast to the east, all the way to the great North Sea.

And why not forget the car for a day or two and travel the North Highland railway line to Kyle or Torridon. The Highlands are home to several unique cultures, and have their own dialects and living traditions of music, dance, clan and custom, many of which have been transported to the far flung corners of the earth by generations of emigrant Scots, living descendants of whom flock to the area perennially to rediscover their roots.