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In Scotland, tourism and business alike are built upon the country's spectacular scenery and wealth of natural resources. The Scots are a proudly independent race, giving holidays in Scotland a very different feel to neighbouring England. Leisure travellers flock to Scotland's remote highlands to indulge in walking and whisky tasting, while business visitors are attracted to the established oil industry and burgeoning IT and financial services industries.

With modern regional airports in Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Inverness and Glasgow, Scottish city breaks are an appealing option. Edinburgh is home to the Scottish Parliament, and the famous 12th century Edinburgh Castle, which overlooks the Royal Mile and warren of medieval streets. The annual Edinburgh Festival in August is a cultural institution. Glasgow is a vibrant city with countless museums, art galleries and diverse architectural styles. Inverness, perched on the banks of the River Ness, is the place for dolphin-watching in the Moray Firth or Loch Ness monster spotting at the nearby Loch. It is also the gateway to Scotland's Highlands and Islands where heather-clad hills, sparkling lochs, and jagged coastlines sprinkled with ancient castles, and fishing lodges beg to be explored.