Scotland's natural landscapes
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Bow Fiddle Rock, Portknockie, Moray Coast
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Huisinis beach, North Harris
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Canoeing at Loch Lomond Shores
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Loch Morlich and the Queen's Forest, Glenmore Forest Park
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The John Muir Way, near Dunbar, East Lothian
Experience Scotland's great outdoors and enjoy its stunning and diverse natural landscapes, including mountainous peaks, national parks, nature reserves and thousands of miles of coastline.
National Nature Reserves
There are no fewer than 47 National Nature Reserves across Scotland, each teeming with an abundance of wildlife and natural beauty
National Nature Reserves
Scotland's National Nature Reserves (NNR) stretch from Caerlaverock in Dumfries & Galloway to Hermaness on the northern tip of Shetland. There are also over 1,400 Sites of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSI), which include the NNRs. Together these conservation areas and diverse habitats are ideal for spotting a range of endangered wildlife and plant life.
For more information about the SSSIs, visit the Scottish Natural Heritage website.
Celebrating John Muir at NNRs
On Scotland’s very first John Muir Day (April 21) there will be a range of celebrations of the 175th anniversary of his birth, including a chance to see 2 of Scotland’s ‘Big 5’ at the Meander through Morton Lochs at Tentsmuir NNR in the Kingdom of Fife and an outdoor performance of Mad About Muir along the Ice Age 'Vat' Trail at Muir of Dinnet NNR, Aberdeenshire. Keep an eye out for more John Muir events taking place throughout April.
Natural environments
Explore the fascinating routes through Scotland's hills and mountains and acres of forests and woodlands to uncover an unrivalled picturesque landscape, bursting with flora and wildlife.The country is home to two National Parks, Loch Lomond & The Trossachs and the largest of its kind in Britain, Cairngorms, which provide great opportunities to experience Scotland's unspoilt wilderness throughout the year.
By the waters' edge
Scotland has thousands of miles of coastline, which is home to a fantastic marine environment, including dolphins and whales, and some of the most the largest collections of seabirds anywhere in Europe. This landscape is incredibly diverse, from the white sands of Kiloran Bay on the Isle of Colonsay, to the iconic Old Man of Hoy seacliff on Orkney.
The Moray Firth coastline was recently voted one of the world's top coastlines by National Geographic
Inland, there are many rivers, lochs and waterways to explore, including the UK's largest freshwater stretch of water.
Discover more in Scotland's two National Parks.
