Scotland is a wild and untamed country stretching from rolling farmlands in the South and East to the dramatic highlands and islands in the West, where the craggy coastline is pocketed with beautiful beaches and rises up to rugged, empty mountains divided only by shimmering lochs and deep rivers. This ancient land has a brutal history and is studded with ancient castles and strongholds.

Although part of the United Kingdom, the Scots are a fiercely independent and proud nation. They have their own legal system and more recently have their own parliament and are developing into an economic force in their own right - Aberdeen is the hub of the North Sea oil industry and Edinburgh is now home to Europe's largest bank.

Scotland is the home of golf and whisky, and has a cultural heritage stretching from the festivities of the clans, to the poetry of Robert Burns. Scotland's rich traditions can be best seen over the summer months at the cutting-edge Edinburgh festival or at one of the many, more low-key, highland games. Whether visiting for fishing, stalking, sailing or hiking, Scotland is a paradise for the outdoor enthusiast.