Somehow, it took me seventy days of living in Scotland to even begin to grasp the nation’s splendor. Who knew that the most magnificent landscape imaginable could be so easily overlooked?

       

Northern Scotland is known as the Highlands, in contrast to the Lowlands of southern Scotland, due to the dramatic difference in landscape between the regions. These northerly rural mountains hide centuries of rich, dark, complex and intriguing history seeming other-worldly to an outsider such as myself. The ancient tribes that once resided there lived lives influenced by their beliefs of fairies and magic kingdoms below their feet, a superstition passed on to the Scottish inhabitants thousands of years later. This may elicit a little scoff from the average American reader. I agree, it is a bit strange to think of modern educated people who tip-toe around objects and subjects because of fantastical forces; however, with a quick reflection on other current religious beliefs, the concept is quickly normalized. Viewing the same lands that the highlanders have for thousands of years makes it easy to believe in a magical influence shaping the formations. If anywhere in the world has been touched by magic, coastal northern Scotland is it.

       

The mystifying formations, such as the aptly named Fairy Glen pictured here, are the result of tectonic collision, volcanic eruption, glacial movement, and oceanic activity. This combination of geologic events created an aggressive and captivating mix of landscapes. Mossy boulders dropped in the middle of rolling fields backed by snow-capped mountains are around every bend. Rivers, lakes, cliffs and valleys take precedence in the Gaelic folk songs sung nationwide, further proving their permanent intrigue.

       

The American perception of Scotland is generally limited to the stereotypical image of castles, kilts, and bagpipes. As with most stereotypes, this is not false but rather an over-exaggeration of one aspect with complete ignorance to others. To begin, Scotland’s sand beaches are rated among the cleanest and most beautiful in the world. The Highlands contain the mountains used as the stunning backdrop in a number of high-profile movies such as Harry Potter, Skyfall and Star Wars. Travel agencies in Thailand were recently caught using pictures of Scottish coastline to advertise Thai beaches. For a nation only roughly the size of South Carolina, Scotland offers a variety of terrains I have yet to see matched.

       

Scots are quiet believers of their fairies. They are not going to argue with you about the existence of magical creatures and other such things. They will passionately and effectively relay the age-old folktales, mystical and entrancing, ending with a sly smirk and look in their eyes as if daring you to doubt the reality of it. Regardless of whether you believe the Highlands were the work of fairies, a god, or just a happenstance of the sheer power of matter, there is no denying the soul-moving beauty contained in the coastline.