Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
he splendour of the Highlands would be bare without the islands off the west and north
coasts. Assorted in size, flavour and accessibility, the long chain of rocky Hebrides which
necklace Scotland's Atlantic shoreline includes Mull and its nearby pilgrimage centre of
Iona ; Islay and Jura , famous for their wildlife and whisky; Skye , the most visited of the
Hebrides, where the snow-tipped peaks of the Cuillin rise above deep sea lochs; and the
Western Isles , an elongated archipelago that is the country's last bastion of Gaelic language
and culture. Off the north coast, Orkney and Shetland , both with a rich Norse heritage,
differ both from each other and quite distinctly from mainland Scotland in dialect and
culture - far-flung islands buffeted by wind and sea that offer some of the country's wildest
scenery, finest birdwatching and best archeological sites.
When to go
he summer months - June, July and August - are high season, with local school
holidays making July and early August the busiest period. While the weather is
MUNRO BAGGING
As the Inuit have hundreds of words for snow, so a hill is rarely just a hill in Scotland. Depending
on where you are, what it's shaped like and how high it is, a hill might be a ben, a mount, a law, a
pen, a brae or even a pap (and that's without talking about the Gaelic beinn , cnoc , creag , meall ,
sgurr or stob ). Even more confusing are “ Munros ”. These are the Scottish hills over 3000ft high,
defined by a list first drawn up by one Sir Hugh Munro in 1891. You “bag” a Munro by walking to
the top of it, and once you've bagged all 284 you can call yourself a Munroist and let your
chiropodist retire in peace. Actually, Munro-bagging at heart is less about conquering than
appreciating the great Scottish outdoors. And if you do meet Sir Hugh's challenge, you can then
start on the “Corbetts” (hills between 2500-2999ft) and “Donalds” (hills above 2000ft).
 
 
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