In spite of it all, Gaelic still survives in the Highlands, both in its poetic and oral traditions, and in the everyday speech of some of the native Highland folk, though everyone speaks English as well. In these enlightened times, official policy is to encourage the use of Gaelic in business and education. The most obvious sign of this are bi-lingual road signs. In any case, the language is embedded in the landscape - with place names and natural features usually having a Gaelic origin (as a glance at any Ordnance Survey map of the Highlands will confirm).

For visitors seeking to hear Gaelic, there are opportunities to access its literary and poetic aspects by way of concerts and ceilidhs. Alternatively, on Skye, the famed Gaelic College, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, runs a variety of courses suitable for visitors wishing to acquaint themselves with the language of the Gaidhealtachd . In short, Gaelic continues to be an important vehicle for the authentic culture of the Highlands - and interest in it continues to grow.