Community and Culture

Hopeman, Moray (Credit: Airborne Lens)

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Tradition rings true here, whether in language, music, or song, and it continues to play a big part in the vibrant contemporary culture that can be enjoyed right across the Highlands and Islands today.

Communities thrive on embracing their heritage whether that is Gaelic culture, Norse traditions, or learning skills from past generations. It’s about much more than clans and tartan, it is woven into traditional festivals, sports and ways of life, like crofting and fishing, and celebrated at local ceilidhs and Highland games from Arran to Nairn. It is an enduring cultural influence, one found all over the world from Canada to Australia, but best experienced here in its homeland.

EXPLORE THE SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY IN THE HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS

Orkney Folklore and Storytelling Centre, Orkney Isles (Credit: Airborne Lens)

Highland Folk Museum, Newtonmore (Credit: Airborne Lens)

Glenurquhart Highland Games is a real community effort! (Credit: Airborne Lens)

Shetland Parish Cup Final, Shetland (Credit: Airborne Lens)

Uist Fish Farm (Credit: Airborne Lens)

Beinn Eighe Nature Reserve (Credit: Northport)

Itineraries

A Day Full of Magic: Ghosts, Witchcraft and Legends of Fort William & Glencoe

Discover the marvellous myths and legends of Fort William and Glencoe in this illustrated trail from the COAST project.

A Skye Full of Stories

Discover the sensational stories of North West Skye.

The Cawdor Labyrinth is located at Cawdor Castle which features a sculpture of a Minotaur which stands proudly in the centre of the maze

On the Trail of Highlands Literature

Explore places in Inverness, Moray and Nairn that have been a pool of inspiration for writers.

A jagged coastline runs up the right hand side of the image. The green-blue waters of the sea can be seen on the left hand side of the image.

Stories of Sutherland

Discover the Sutherland coast through the stories of the people who live, work and visit here.

Supernatural Wester Ross

Discover folklore from Applecross to Torridon in this illustrated trail from the COAST project.

The Aird and Loch Ness Shinty Trail

Discover the spirit of shinty, Scotland's community sport, in Aird and Loch Ness in this itinerary kindly created by the Camanachd Association.

The Spirit of Shetland Knitwear

Explore the spirit of Shetland knitwear from croft to craft.

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Locations

River Lochy, Ben Nevis

Ben Nevis Visitor Centre Scale the heights of a national icon.

Bettyhill Discover incredible history, natural and cultural heritage all in one North Coast village.

Bhatasgeir Take time to explore and support the creative outputs of local artists.

Bruthaich a’ Bhodaich Bhig Taking its name from a local legend, experience the natural beauty of Wester Ross.

Crocodile Rock Admire the beloved Crocodile Rock - an icon of the Isle of Cumbrae.

Croft and Cuan Savour incredible local produce with a Scottish twist.

Highland Archive Centre Be inspired by 700 years of Highland history.

Inverness Castle

Inverness Castle The historic heart of the city of Inverness.

Ionad Chaluim Chille Ìle Discover a centre for Gaelic learning, culture and heritage on the southern shores of Loch Indaal.

stone caves are set into the side of a mountain with a rocky beach below

King's Caves Explore the caves which have inspired famed legends.

A monument consisting of three large stones atop a bed of beige coloured gravel and green shrubs. The Holy Isle can be seen across a thin body of water in the top right quarter of the image

Lamlash Clearances Monument Learn the impact of the Arran Clearances on communities across the island.

Lochaber Archive Centre The Lochaber Archive Centre at Fort William is responsible for locating, preserving and making accessible documents relating to all aspects of Highland history.

Inscription on Login's Well which reads 'There watered here/the Hudson Bay Coy's ships/1670-1891/Capt. Cook's vessels/ Resolution and Discovery/1780/Sir John Franklin's ships/ Erebus and Terror/on Arctic exploration/1845/Also the merchant vessels/of former days/well sealed up 1931

Login's Well A Stromness well which has borne witness to thousands of years of stories.

Macbeth's Hillock Discover the spot of a mythical meeting which has gone down in British literary history.

Mary Ann's Cottage Discover a fascinating window into the lives of three generations of one crofting family.

Newtonmore Explore a village with outstanding natural and cultural heritage in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park.

Nucleus: The Nuclear and Caithness Archives Based at Wick Airport, Nucleus is home to the archives of the UK civil nuclear industry which date back over seventy years as well as the historical archives of the county of Caithness from 1469 to the present day.

Orkney Folklore & Storytelling Centre Discover the power of storytelling and seek the truth behind the legends.

A large grey stone cairn is stacked on top of a mountain, looking out towards the sea on a cloudy day.

Scalpay Explore an isle of outstanding natural and cultural heritage.

Skye and Lochalsh Archive Centre With records dating from the 17th Century on local and family history as well as changing exhibitions, there is something to appeal to everyone at the Skye and Lochalsh archives.

Sleat Sleat: The Garden of Skye.

Statue of Dr John Rae Discover the legacy of one of Orkney's most unsung heroes.

Stornoway Explore the vibrant capital of Lewis and Harris.

Talmine Visit an area of outstanding natural and cultural heritage in the Mealanais township.

Tomich Discover an area of inspiring natural and cultural significance.

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Be inspired

Exciting Journeys

View of the Isle of Skye from the Bealach na Bà viewpoint. Low lying, long white clouds sit over the landscape.

Far am Faicear Dà ‘Chailleach’ (A View of Two ‘Cailleachs’)

Auchindrain Historic Township is the most complete and well-preserved example of a Scottish Highland farm township.

Clearance Communities Have Global Stories to Tell

Shinty - The Bright Future of Scotland's Community Sport

In the foreground of the image gravestones, including two Celtic crosses, are visible. A large white building with a grey roof can be seen in the background, on the right hand side of the image. A low stone wall runs parallel to a line of trees on the left hand side of the image.