Whatever your interest, the chances are there will be the terrain, the habitat, the activity provider - or just the space - for it. Walkers and climbers can choose anything from low-level forest walks to extreme rock. The attraction of the Highlands lies in the sheer breadth of opportunities - that's why birdwatchers head for the Flow Country of Caithness or the seabird cliffs of Handa. (In fact, the Highlands can provide just about any habitat from sea-loch to tundra) Some golfers will relish the challenges of the 'big name' courses at, say, Dornoch or Nairn, though these are just two from many golfing highlights, including exceptionally fine courses at Gairloch and Boat of Garten. And if you intend to take to the water, then everything from water sports tuition to canal-exploring on a fully-equipped cruiser or even a Dutch barge is on the menu.

You can also see the Highlands as representing an opportunity to try something new. If you have a hankering to learn to paddle a kayak or paint a wild flower in water-colour, then the Highlands can deliver this as well. Or you can match your interests to the local conditions - angling on the remoter hill-lochs of the north-west, biking off-road through the forests along the Great Glen, for example.

But remember, too, that the Highlands are the place for total relaxation, with a superb choice of country house hotels and other hideaways, with peace and seclusion as the main themes, plus a surprising choice of, for example, leisure and beauty treatments. In short, whatever your style of holiday, nowhere does it better than the Highlands.