The Highlands of Scotland and Isle of Skye

The Scottish Highlands have spectacular mountains, majestic glens and numerous lochs - a true picture postcard landscape which forms a backdrop to picturesque villages, isolated crofts, and ruined castles. The hills and glens are home to a huge variety of wildlife.

The Highlands also provide the backdrop to the BBC series, Monarch of the Glen, based loosely on Compton Mackenzie's novel. The area in which the series is set is Badenoch and Strathspey. Also set in this region are the novels about everyone's favourite Highland policeman, Hamish McBeth.

There is a thriving writers' scene in the Highlands and a number of small book and magazine publishers.

Scotland's only Gaelic-language college, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, is in Sleat on Skye.