Contested Visions: Nature, Culture and the Morality of Landscape in the Scottish Highlands

Abstract

Perhaps more than any other region, the Highlands have a key role in the `imaginative geography' (Said 1993) of Scotland and in the making of Scottish national identity. The Highlands are both real---an upland area culturally distinct from the rest of ScotLand---and they are a myth, an assemblage of ideologically-laden signs and images: `We know that the Highlands of Scotland are romantic. Bens and glens, the lone sheiling on the misty island, purple heather, kilted clansmen, battles long ago, an ancient and beautiful language, claymores and bagpipes and Bonny Prince Charlie---we know all that, and we also know that it's not real.' (Womack 1989, 1). In short, the Highlands have been created (Withers 1992).