R.S. Galloway Arts watercolours

River Yarrow, river located in Scotland, the headstreams of which rise on the eastern slopes of White Coomb at about 1,500 feet (460 metres) above sea level near the western boundary of Selkirk. They flow northeast as Yarrow Water through a small glaciated ribbon loch (lake) to a confluence with the Tweed near Abbotsford, a few miles west of Galashiels. The vale of Yarrow has strong literary associations—with border ballads, poets James Hogg and William Wordsworth, and Sir Walter Scott. The parish of Yarrow takes in one-third of Selkirk.

Ben Cruachan, which stands 2765 feet above sea level, is our familiar sentinel 27 kilometres to the north west. It is named after the 3689 feet high Scottish mountain in the Southwest Highlands east of Oban, in the Clan MacIntyre lands. It is properly pronounced “kroo a hn” and the word is the battle cry of the Clan Campbell, and the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. Translated, it means stack, so Ben Cruachan means “mountain stack”, or “stacky mountain”Ben Cruachan and the surrounding hills and ridges are composed of conglomerate, or puddingstone, and the agates that rockhounds seek in the Avon River below Ben have weathered out of this conglomerate. The whole area is very rich botanically.

The Torridon area of the Western Highlands (consisting of Loch Torridon and the smaller Loch Shieldaig) is situated on the west coast of Scotland, in Wester Ross. The area is well known to climbers, photographers, wildlife enthusiasts, hikers, and countless visitors from around the world, for what is considered to be some of the finest scenery in Europe.The mountains (Liathach, Beinn Alligin, Sgorr Ruadh, Maol Chean-deargare) are very nearly the highest in Britain, rising in places almost vertically to 3500 feet from the deep sea lochs.Many visitors to the area remark upon the unusual atmosphere - it is truly one of the world's rarest and special places.

Uig Bay is a National Scenic Area, one of only 40 in Scotland. The designation reflects the bay's status as an ... area of unsurpassed attractiveness which must be conserved as part of our national heritage and gives the beach international recognition as a Category V Protected Landscape in the IUCN's World List of Protected Areas. At one time Uig Bay formed one of the most important centres of population on the Isle of Lewis. At least five townships were cleared in the early part of the 19th century to form the farm of Eadar Dha Fhadhail (Ardroil).

The isles of Arran and Bute and the peninsula of Kintyre have long been playgrounds for the Scots, particularly the Glaswegians. The topography of each island resembles that of a miniature Scotland -- a mountainous north and rolling, pastoral south. Outdoor pursuits include walking, fishing and sailing, while indoor entertainment can be found in Brodick, Campbeltown and Rothesay.

Arran
Favourite island retreat of Glaswegians ( residents of Glasgow ), once popular with Scottish monarchs. Fine mountain scenery in north contrasts with lowlands of south. Robert Bruce landed at Lochranza from Ireland in 1306.

Bute
Rolling hills in north descend to quiet sandy beaches. Island separated from mainland by narrow waterway called Kyles of Bute. Popular with Clydesiders.

Glen Coe (Scottish Gaelic: Gleann Comhann, pronounced [klan̪ˠˈkʰo.ən̪ˠ]) is a glen in the Highlands of Scotland. It lies in the southern part of the Lochaber committee area of Highland Council, and was formerly part of the county of Argyll. It is often considered one of the most spectacular and beautiful places in Scotland, and is a part of the designated National Scenic Area of Ben Nevis and Glen Coe. The narrow glen shows a grim grandeur. The glen, approaching from the east on the main A82 road, is surrounded by wild and precipitous mountains. Further west at Invercoe, the landscape has a softer beauty before the main entrance to the glen. The main settlement is the village of Glencoe.

The name Glen Coe is often said to mean "Glen of Weeping", perhaps with some reference to the infamous Massacre of Glencoe which took place there in 1692. However, "Gleann Comhann" does not translate as "Glen of Weeping". In fact the Glen is named after the River Coe which runs through it, and bore this name long prior to the 1692 incident. The name of the river is believed to predate the Gaelic language and its meaning is not known. One possibility is that it was named after a tribe once living in the area; however this remains speculation. It is also possible that the name stems from an individual personal name, Comhan (gen. Chomhain)

The origins of Eilean Donan stretch way back in time. The remains of a Pictish fort were found in vitrified rock when excavations once took place on the island. Opposite the castle is the sculptured impression of a human foot in a stone. These have been found in other parts of Scotland at the entrance to Iron Age settlements.

The name Eilean Donan is Gaelic for Island of Donan, a 7th century saint who is thought to have lived here as a religious hermit.

There is another interesting story about the origins of the castle's name. A local legend speaks of the King of Otters who made his home on this islet and was distinguished by his coat of pure silver and white. When the creature died, he was buried on the spot where the castle now stands. Since the Gaelic for otter is 'Cu-Donn' (brown dog) some believe that this is how Eilean Donan got its name. A good story, but unlikely to be true!