Scotland is home to some of the most rugged and beautiful landscapes on the British Isles. Remote areas offer a chance to get away form it all, but nature can also be found an arm’s length from whatever Scottish region of choose to visit.

One of the tag lines frequently used by Scotland’s tourist industry is “Scotland. Created for walking.” While residents might argue that Scotland was created for Scots, the sheer number of trails in the country seems to support the “created for walking” idea. One could even argue that walking is the unofficial national sport. Though rugby fans might take issue with that.

Despite its small size, Scotland offers unique and varied landscapes.

Southern Scotland has a quaint, stereotypically “countryside” feel. The rolling hills and villages with buildings made from stone and brick make for pleasant strolls. This region of Scotland has more in common with southern England than with its own country’s rugged north. (Scotland is technically a “constituent country,” meaning it is considered its own country but is part of the larger United Kingdom with England, Wale, and Northern Ireland).

In Central Scotland, the Cairngorm National Park offers a wide variety of treks. Serious mountaineers come to conquer the peaks of the Cairngorm Mountains while the forests, foothills, and rivers at the mountains’ base teem with wildlife, scenery, and plenty of opportunities for daylong or multi-day treks.

Britain’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis, is found to the west, as is the birthplace of the uniquely Scottish sport of hill walking. Sport? Yes. There are even competitions; though viewing the postcard like scenery of western Scotland from a height is probably reward enough for a strenuous hike.

Scotland’s trails offer visitors a chance to get up close with the rugged and beautiful landscapes.