Scotland occupies the northern third of Great Britain, with coasts on the North Sea and the Atlantic and hundreds of islands including the Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland. The Highland Boundary Fault runs from the Isle of Arran to Stonehaven and marks the shift from lowland plains to higher ground. Rivers such as the Clyde, Tay and Spey flow to the sea and form wide estuaries along the central belt.
Mountain ranges are concentrated in the Highlands, where Ben Nevis reaches 1,345 metres. Freshwater lochs include Loch Ness, over 36 kilometres long and among the deepest in Britain. Cities such as Edinburgh and Glasgow sit on the lowland corridor, while crofting townships and island communities remain along the outer coasts. Ferries, coastal roads and rail links connect remote areas to the main urban centres.
