Leisure Activities in the North of Scotland

If you are into outdoor pursuits, then the Highlands could be just what the doctor ordered! Sometimes described as a place of superlatives, the home of Scotland’s highest mountains, deepest lochs and most beautiful beaches — the Highlands and Islands of Scotland are also known as one of the last great wildernesses in Europe. In a crowded world, there are not too many places left where “getting off the beaten track” is such an everyday reality.

Not surprisingly then, the Highlands and Islands are ideally suited to activity lovers. And the great thing is that although people come here from all over the world every year, to get active in the mountains, the lochs, along the coastline and on the isles, there’s room and enough to spare for all of them.

Badenoch and Strathspey is one of the definitive areas of Scotland for outdoor pursuits. It’s not just Aviemore (although Aviemore is an important activity holiday centre) it’s the range and breadth of activities on offer in a region that is dominated by the huge wilderness area of the Cairngorm mountains. Whether it’s downhill skiing at Scotland’s original skiing area on Cairngorm or canoeing down the River Spey, mountain biking around Rothiemurchus or rock climbing on Craig Dubh, there really is a superb range of activities on offer all year round.

Hunting for Nessie is not the only outdoor pursuit you can try on Loch Ness! In fact there is a whole raft of activity holiday options in the Inverness, Loch Ness and Nairn district. Whether it’s canoeing or sailing down the world’s most famous loch, walking the Great Glen way or watching for dolphins in the Moray Firth, there is plenty here to keep even the most ardent activity enthusiast happy.

The unspoilt spaces of the Northern Highlands (roughly, Caithess, Sutherland and Ross and Cromarty) are THE great outdoors — an activity holiday playground par excellence. Outdoor pursuits include walking and climbing in the fabulous ranges of Torridon and Assynt, cycling — both on- and off-road — through the foothills and forests, riding, fishing, golfing or just enjoying some of the most spectacular landscapes in all of Europe.

With Ben Nevis, the Aonachs and Glencoe on the doorstep, it is not hard to see why Fort William and Lochaber have a well-deserved reputation as a world-class destination for activity holidays and outdoor pursuits. Mountaineers and skiiers are spoilt for choice; watersports fans have a huge range of lochs, sea lochs and rivers to play in; walkers and cyclists (and increasingly riders) can explore the beautiful and unspoilt West coast country in areas like Knoydart and Ardnamurchan.

Think of outdoor pursuits or activity holidays and the Isle of Skye, and one word immediately springs to mind — Cuillin! Reckoned by many to contain the finest peaks in Scotland (there are over 30 of them, 11 of them Munros) the Cuillins are a magnet for climbers and rock climbers from around the world. But you don’t need to be a hardened climber to be drawn to Skye. Watersports fans will enjoy the area’s stunning coastline, wildlife enthusiasts will come for the superb marine life and bird watching opportunities around the Minch — and the list goes on and on…

But it’s not just outdoor activities that make living and working in the Highlands and Islands a pleasure. The area is rich in culture, famous for its music and art all over the world.

Visitors are guaranteed a warm welcome and a truly memorable experience. Whether you are looking for an action-packed adventure, a taste of the local culture and history, or just complete peace and quiet, the Highlands of Scotland is the place to be in 2008.

Check out the local weather across the north of Scotland: