Central Scotland
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Central Scotland, the strip of mainland north of the densely populated Glasgow-Edinburgh axis and south of the main swathe of Highlands, is an accessible, popular and richly varied region. The Highland Boundary Fault, running southwest-to-northeast across the region, has rendered central Scotland the main stage for some of the most important events in Scottish history. Today the landscape is not only littered with remnants of the past - well-preserved medieval towns and castles, royal residences and battle sites - but also coloured by the many romantic myths and legends that have grown up around it.
Stirling, its imposing castle perched high above the town, was historically the most important bridging point across the River Forth, and from the castle battlements you can see the site of two of Scotland's most famous battlefield victories. Beyond Stirling are the fabled mountains, glens, lochs and forests of the Trossachs, often conveniently described as the Highlands-in-miniature for its taste of archetypal Scottish scenery. Popular for walking and, in particular, cycling, much of the Trossachs, together with the attractive islands and "bonnie banks" of Loch Lomond, form part of Scotland's first National Park, established in 2001.
In the eastern part of this central region, between the firths of Forth and Tay, lies the county of Fife, a Pictish kingdom which boasts a fascinating coastline sprinkled with historic fishing villages and sandy beaches, while on the North Sea fringe lies the historic university town of St Andrews, famous worldwide for its venerable golf courses and as the home of the game's governing body.
Occupying the same strategic position at the mouth of the River Tay as Stirling holds on the Forth, the ancient town of Perth has as much claim as anywhere to be the gateway to the Highlands. At nearby Scone, Kenneth Mcalpine established the capital of the kingdom of the Scots and the Picts in 846. When this settlement was washed away by floods in 1210, William the Lion founded Perth as a royal burgh and it stood as Scotland's capital until 1452. North and west of Perth, Highland Perthshire begins to weave its charms: mighty woodlands blend with gorgeously rich scenery, particularly along the banks of the River Tay, leading to Loch Tay, overlooked by Ben Lawers, the area's tallest peak. Further north, the countryside becomes more sparsely populated and more spectacular, with some wonderful walking country, especially around Pitlochry, Blair Atholl and the wild expanses of Rannoch Moor to the west.
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