Everyone knows Scotland, whether for its whisky, its famous haunted castles, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews (a golfing Mecca), the spectacular landscapes of the Highlands, its Loch Ness Monster, its folklore, its bagpipes, its kilts, its rivers teeming with fish, Harry Potter or for some other reason.
We know that even just reading this list has made you really want to go there, or even to go back!
One of the best ways of exploring Scotland from the inside, at your leisure and taking your time to appreciate its many assets, is undoubtedly by boat.
You can travel to Scotland by car via England or by air (flying into Inverness airport), but the more original way would be to take the ferry via Belgium.
Not to be missed
- Crossing Loch Ness, you might even be lucky enough to spot Nessie, its famous monster, and if you can't get a satisfactory view from your boat, head for Drumnadrochit, where you'll find a specially constructed observation centre.
- It is also possible to take a horseback ride from Drumnadrochit.
- Golfers should be sure to bring their clubs! Even if you don't get the chance to visit St. Andrews, you will undoubtedly come across a number of courses to suit your needs from among the 550 to which the country is home.
- If you enjoy a whisky, take the opportunity whilst you're in the area to follow the whisky trail, with over 100 distilleries to check out!
- At an altitude of 1344m, avid hikers will find the challenge of scaling Scotland's highest mountain, Ben Nevis, hard to resist.
- Fishermen will be delighted with the richness of Scotland's river and lakes. Don't worry if you've forgotten your tackle - you'll be able to hire it when you get there.
A few stops along the way
The Queen granted Inverness the rare distinction of city status in 2000. Inverness is located at the far north-eastern point of your journey, with many holiday-makers choosing to fly into the city's airport. Whilst visiting the city, you might like to stop off at its castle, hit the shops or take to the sea for a spot of dolphin-watching.
Banavie lies at the foot of Ben Nevis and is home to Neptune's Staircase, a flight of eight locks linking the ocean to the Caledonian Canal.
If you weren't lucky enough to spot Nessie whilst at Loch Ness, stop off at Fort Augustus, where you'll find plenty of representations of her, and be sure to visit the Clansman Centre while you're there.
Mont Ben Nevis is the highest mountain both in Scotland and in the British Isles, reaching an altitude of 1344m. It is accessible to virtually everyone and offers panoramic views right across the Highlands. If this all sounds a little too strenuous for you, why not take the cable car to climb Ben Nevis's neighbour, Mont Anoch Mor.
Photos: P.TOMKINS / VisitScotland / SCOTTISH VIEWPOINT; Le Boat