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Wild goats

The summit of Beinn Ghoblach with Scoraig peninsula beyond

On the coast there are otters and grey and common seals to spot. Porpoise and bottlenose dolphins are often found in coastal waters too and if you are really lucky you may be able to spot minke whale, basking shark, or even the distinctive black and white form of an orca. Ferry journeys from the mainland to the islands or specialised boat trips offer the best opportunities to spot marine wildlife.

The History of Scotland

Scotland is also rich in both natural and human history. From some of the world’s oldest rocks to some of the most famous battles, the landscape and culture of Scotland has been shaped over the years by both climate and human activities.

The geographical entity that is now Scotland came into being 40 million years ago, when the continents of North America, of which Scotland was a part, and Europe collided. Many of the rocks and landforms that shape Scotland were formed much earlier, however, through the collision of tectonic plates, glaciation and weather. The Lewisian Gneiss rock of the Northwest Highlands that Scotland shares with North America is 3000 million years old.