Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen also date from medieval times, and until the 19 th century Scotland had more universities than England. Universities - Scotland has had university education since St Andrews started up in 1411.The A1 is the main motorway on the east coast which links England to Scotland. Motorways - The M74 is a de facto continuation of the M6 on the other side of Carlisle, bringing traffic from England to Glasgow, which in turn is linked by the M8.Ferries - Regular services help transport people to and from Scotland's main inhabited islands, and some of the smaller ones, as well as to and from Ireland.Inverness airport also provides good links to adjoining islands. A newly launched airport in Oban supplies flights to the island communities of Coll, Colonsay and Tiree. Airports - Glasgow and Aberdeen are the main international airports although Edinburgh and Prestwick offer more Trans-Atlantic flights.Small, localised services serve many remote areas Bus - all major cities have extensive bus services, while Citylink performs a similar role to National Express, providing good links between many urban and rural locations, particularly when the latter is on the beaten tourist path.Nicknamed the Clockwork Orange, it has never been extended since first opening in 1896, but plans are on the drawing board Subway - Glasgow also has a small underground rail system, serving the city centre, southside and the West End in a circular loop with 15 stations.

Suburban rail services are limited except in and around Glasgow

By Rail - the major cities are all linked to the National Rail Network, with Glasgow having two main stations: Central, serving the south, and Queen Street, which only serves Scottish destinations, mainly to the north.

Tobermory - a village with a colourful harbourside street on the Isle of Mull that children will instantly recognise as the fictional Balamory.

St Andrews - play a round at the home of golf in the town that also hosts Scotland's oldest university.

Stirling Castle - One of the UK's largest and most important castles, both historically and architecturally.

Gretna Green - A fine place to run away to and get married, though we do wonder where people from Gretna Green go to elope?.Culloden battlefield - walk the site where in 1746 the last battle on mainland Britain took place, ending the Jacobite rebellion.John O' Groats - visit the furthest point in Britain from Land's End, though walking between the two is optional.Royal Deeside - enjoy the grandeur of Balmoral and check out the other popular haunts of the royals around this mountainous stretch of the Cairngorms National Park.The Munros - 284 mountains over 3,000 ft offer a lifetime of challenge at 4,406 ft Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in Britain and can offer a fine and cloudless view of the surrounding areas.Loch Ness - visit Europe's third deepest lake and keep a camera handy in case something resembling a plesiosaur shows up.Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile - enjoy the historic heart of the capital with its wonderful views, rich history and very expensive parliament building at Holyrood.just a pity about the midges.Ī centre of the oil industry and blessed with outstanding mountain scenery, the country also has a blossoming renewable energy industry, seeking to make the most of the ample wind, wave and hydro-electric resources it possesses. Its cities are vibrant, its countryside varied and beautiful and its summer nights long and light. As large a place as Scotland is bound to be diverse it is both urban and rural, remote from England and right next to it, Highland and Lowland, but, above all, a place with a strong sense of its own identity.

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