Scottish Lowlands

The Scottish Lowlands, although not officially a geographical area of the country, in normal usage is generally meant to include those parts of Scotland not referred to as the Highlands (or Gàidhealtachd), that is, everywhere due south and east of a line (the Highland Boundary Fault) between Stonehaven and Bowling (Firth of Clyde). Confusingly, some parts of the Lowlands, such as the Southern Uplands are not physically "low", and some sections of the Highlands, such as Islay are low-lying.

Related Topics:
Scotland - Highlands - Gàidhealtachd - Highland Boundary Fault - Stonehaven - Bowling - Firth of Clyde - Southern Uplands - Islay

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It therefore includes the traditional Scottish counties of Renfrewshire, Lanarkshire, Peeblesshire, the Lothians, Berwickshire, Wigtownshire, Kirkcudbrightshire, Dumfriesshire, Selkirkshire, Roxburghshire and Ayrshire.

Related Topics:
Renfrewshire - Lanarkshire - Peeblesshire - Lothians - Berwickshire - Wigtownshire - Kirkcudbrightshire - Dumfriesshire - Selkirkshire - Roxburghshire - Ayrshire

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Traditional Scottish counties which include both Highland and Lowland sections include Dunbartonshire, Stirlingshire, Perthshire, Angus, Kincardineshire, Aberdeenshire, Banffshire and Moray.

Related Topics:
Dunbartonshire - Stirlingshire - Perthshire - Angus - Kincardineshire - Aberdeenshire - Banffshire - Moray

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Although Caithness, is sometimes classified under Highlands and Islands, it is also often considered "Lowland" and are differentiated from the Gàidhealtachd when, for example, discussing Lowland Scots (although sections of Caithness spoke Gaelic into the 20th century). Orkney and Shetland are sometimes called "lowland", mainly because of their current language, but have a separate identity, to the point of some islanders not considering themselves Scottish.

Related Topics:
Caithness - Highlands and Islands - Gàidhealtachd - Lowland Scots - Orkney - Shetland

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Geographically, Scotland is divided into three distinct areas: the Highlands, the Central plain (Central Belt), and the Southern Uplands. The Lowlands cover roughly the latter two. Strictly speaking, the northeast plain (the areas around Aberdeen and Elgin) is also low-land, both geographically and culturally, but in some contexts may be grouped together with the Highlands.

Related Topics:
Highlands - Central Belt - Southern Uplands

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The southernmost counties of Scotland, nearest the border with England, are also known as the Borders. They are sometimes considered separately to the rest of the Lowlands.

Related Topics:
England - Borders - Lowlands

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The term Scottish Lowlands is generally used mostly with reference to the Lowland Scots, Scottish history and the Scottish clan system, as well as in family history and genealogy.

Related Topics:
Lowland Scots - Scottish history - Scottish clan - Genealogy

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