Editing Highland (council area)

{{Short description|Council area of Scotland}}
{{About-distinguish-text|the council area covering part of the Scottish Highlands|the larger geographic area of the [[Scottish Highlands]] themselves}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = Highland
| native_name             = {{Unbulleted list
 |{{native name|gd|A' Ghàidhealtachd}}
 |{{native name|sco|Hieland}}
 }}
| settlement_type         = [[Subdivisions of Scotland#Council areas|Council area]]
| image_skyline           = 
| imagesize               = 
| image_alt               = 
| image_caption           = 
| image_flag              = 
| flag_alt                = 
| image_shield            = Coat of Arms of the Highland Area Council.svg
| shield_alt              = 
| shield_link             = 
| image_blank_emblem      = 
| blank_emblem_size       = 
| blank_emblem_type       = 
| blank_emblem_link       = 
| etymology               = 
| nickname                = 
| motto                   = 
| image_map               = Highland UK location map.svg
| map_alt                 = 
| map_caption             = Highland shown within [[Scotland]]
| coordinates             = {{coord|57|30|N|5|00|W|region:GB_type:adm2nd|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type        = [[Sovereign state]]
| subdivision_name        = [[United Kingdom]]
| subdivision_type1       = [[Countries of the United Kingdom|Country]]
| subdivision_name1       = [[Scotland]]
| subdivision_type2       = 
| subdivision_name2       = 
| subdivision_type3       = [[Lieutenancy areas of Scotland|Lieutenancy areas]]
| subdivision_name3       = {{cslist |[[Inverness-shire|Inverness]] |[[County of Nairn|Nairn]] |[[Ross and Cromarty]] |[[Sutherland]] |[[Caithness]]}}
| subdivision_type4       = 
| subdivision_name4       = 
| established_title       = Unitary authority
| established_date        = [[Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994|1 April 1996]]
| established_title1      = 
| established_date1       = 
| established_title2      = 
| established_date2       = 
| named_for               = 
| seat_type               = Administrative{{nbsp}}HQ
| seat                    = [[Highland Council Headquarters|The Highland Council Headquarters]], [[Inverness]]
| parts_type              = 
| parts                   = 
<!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes    = <ref name="Council leadership">{{cite web |url=https://www.highland.gov.uk/info/591/council_and_government |title=Council and government |website=The Highland Council |access-date=15 September 2024}}</ref>
| government_type         = [[Local government in Scotland|Council]]
| governing_body          = [[The Highland Council]]
| leader_title            = [[Political make-up of local councils in the United Kingdom|Control]]
| leader_name             = {{UK council control|GSS=S12000017}}
| leader_title1           = 
| leader_name1            = 
| leader_title2           = 
| leader_name2            = 
| leader_title3           = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MPs]]
| leader_name3            = {{Collapsible list |title=3 MPs
 |[[Jamie Stone (politician)|Jamie Stone]] ([[Liberal Democrats (UK)|LD]])
 |[[Drew Hendry]] ([[Scottish National Party|SNP]])
 |[[Ian Blackford]] ([[Scottish National Party|SNP]])
 }}
| leader_title4           = [[Member of the Scottish Parliament|MSPs]]
| leader_name4            = {{Collapsible list |title=4 MSPs
 |[[Maree Todd]] ([[Scottish National Party|SNP]])
 |[[Fergus Ewing]] ([[Scottish National Party|SNP]])
 |[[Kate Forbes]] ([[Scottish National Party|SNP]])
 |[[Audrey Nicoll]] ([[Scottish National Party|SNP]])
 }}
 +7 [[Highlands and Islands (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|regional members]]
<!-- Area -->
<!-- ALL fields with measurements have automatic unit conversion -->
| area_footnotes          = <ref name="popstats">{{UK subdivision statistics citation}}</ref>
| area_total_km2          = {{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000017}}
| area_land_km2           = 
| area_water_km2          = 
| area_rank               = [[Subdivisions of Scotland#Council areas|{{Scottish council area rank|GSS=S12000017}}]]
<!-- Population -->
| population_footnotes    = <ref name="popstats" />
| population_as_of        = {{UK subdivision statistics year}}
| population_total        = {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000017}}
| population_rank         = [[Subdivisions of Scotland#Council areas|{{Scottish council population rank|GSS=S12000017}}]]
| population_density_km2  = {{UK subdivision density|GSS=S12000017}}
| population_demonym      = 
<!-- demographics (section 1) -->
| demographics_type1      = 
| demographics1_footnotes = 
| demographics1_title1    = 
| demographics1_info1     = 
<!-- demographics (section 2) -->
| demographics_type2      = 
| demographics2_footnotes = 
| demographics2_title1    = 
| demographics2_info1     = 
| timezone1               = [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]]
| utc_offset1             = +0
| timezone1_DST           = [[British Summer Time|BST]]
| utc_offset1_DST         = +1
<!-- Codes -->
| postal_code_type        = [[Postcodes in the United Kingdom|Postcode areas]]
| postal_code             = 
| area_code_type          = [[Telephone numbers in the United Kingdom|Dialling codes]]
| area_code               = 
| iso_code                = [[ISO 3166-2:GB|GB-HLD]]
| blank1_name             = [[GSS coding system|GSS code]]
| blank1_info             = S12000017
| website                 = {{URL|highland.gov.uk}}
}}

'''Highland''' ({{langx|gd|Gàidhealtachd}}, {{IPA|gd|ˈkɛːəl̪ˠt̪əxk|pron}};{{efn|{{lang|gd|[[Gàidhealtachd]]}} is used to translate ''Highland''; in other contexts it is used to translate ''[[Scottish Highlands]]'' and ''[[Gàidhealtachd|Gaeldom]]''.}} {{langx|sco|Hieland}}) is a [[council areas of Scotland|council area]] in the [[Scottish Highlands]] and is the largest local government area in both Scotland and the United Kingdom. It was the 7th most populous council area in Scotland at the [[United Kingdom Census 2011|2011 census]]. It has land borders with the council areas of [[Aberdeenshire]], [[Argyll and Bute]], [[Moray]] and [[Perth and Kinross]]. The wider upland area of the Scottish Highlands after which the council area is named extends beyond the Highland council area into all the neighbouring council areas plus [[Angus, Scotland|Angus]] and [[Stirling (council area)|Stirling]].

The [[Highland Council]] is based in [[Inverness]], the area's largest settlement. The area is generally sparsely populated, with much of the inland area being mountainous with numerous [[loch]]s. The area includes [[Ben Nevis]], the highest mountain in the [[British Isles]]. Most of the area's towns lie close to the eastern coasts. Off the west coast of the mainland the council area includes some of the [[Inner Hebrides]], notably the [[Isle of Skye]].

==Name==
Unlike the other council areas of Scotland, the name ''Highland'' is often not used as a [[proper noun]]. The council's website only sometimes refers to the area as being ''Highland'', and other times as being ''the Highland Council Area'' or ''the Highlands''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.highland.gov.uk/info/695/council_information_performance_and_statistics/504/council_wards|title=Council Wards|publisher=The Highland Council}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.highland.gov.uk/news/article/10317/our_vision_for_housing_in_the_highlands|title=Our vision for housing in the Highlands|publisher=The Highland Council}}</ref> Road signs on the boundary of the council area say "Welcome to the Highlands" rather than "Welcome to Highland".

[[File:Welcome to the Highlands - geograph.org.uk - 4924204.jpg|thumb|Road sign on the [[A9 road (Scotland)|A9]] where it enters the Highland council area south of [[Kingussie]]]]
Although named after it, the Highland council area does not cover the whole of the uplands and cultural region known as the [[Scottish Highlands]]. There is no official definition for the wider area, but it is often described to also include parts of the council areas of [[Aberdeenshire]], [[Angus, Scotland|Angus]], [[Argyll and Bute]], [[Moray]], [[North Ayrshire]], [[Perth and Kinross]], [[Stirling (council area)|Stirling]] or [[West Dunbartonshire]].{{cn|date=May 2025}}

==History==
The Highland Region was created in 1975 under the [[Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973]], which reformed local government across Scotland, replacing the counties, [[burgh]]s and [[landward district]]s with a two-tier structure of upper-tier regions and lower-tier districts. Highland was one of the [[local government areas of Scotland 1973 to 1996|region]]s, and it was divided into eight districts: [[Badenoch and Strathspey]], [[Caithness]], [[Inverness (district)|Inverness]], [[Lochaber]], [[Nairn (district)|Nairn]], [[Ross and Cromarty]], [[Skye and Lochalsh]] and [[Sutherland]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/landscapes/highland/ |title=Highland |publisher=BBC |access-date=11 October 2015}}</ref><ref name=1973act>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973|year=1973|chapter=65|accessdate=17 April 2023}}</ref>

Further local government reforms in 1996 under the [[Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994]] saw the regions and districts created in 1975 abolished and replaced with single-tier [[council area]]s. The former Highland region became one of the new council areas, run by the [[Highland Council]].<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994|year=1994|chapter=39|accessdate=17 April 2023}}</ref> The Highland Council has run various [[area committee]]s since its creation. These were initially based on the abolished districts, but have been reviewed a number of times since.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.highland.gov.uk/info/695/council_information_performance_and_statistics/526/meetings_and_minutes |title=Meetings and minutes |publisher=Highland Council |access-date=11 August 2023}}</ref>

The '''Highland Region''' <!-- redirects here--> was created covering the area in 1975 as part of a two-tier local government structure of upper-tier regions and lower-tier districts. The Highland Region had eight districts. Local government was reorganised again in 1996 into single-tier council areas, with the former region becoming one of the new council areas.

==Geography==

The Highland area covers the [[Shires of Scotland|historic counties]] of [[Caithness]], [[Inverness-shire]], [[Nairnshire]], [[Ross and Cromarty]] and [[Sutherland]], with the exception of the parts of Inverness-shire and Ross and Cromarty in the [[Outer Hebrides]]. The area also includes an area around [[Ardnamurchan]] from the historic county of [[Argyll]] and the [[Grantown-on-Spey]] area from [[County of Moray|Moray]], which were both transferred to the Highland region as part of the 1975 reforms.

[[File:Highland topo SRTM.png|thumb|left|Topographic map of the Highland council area.]]

The council area covers a land area of {{convert|{{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000017}}|km2}}<ref name="popstats" /> – which is 11.4% of the land area of Great Britain, 32.9% of the land area of Scotland and an area 20% larger than Wales.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-32734313 |title=Breaking up Highland Council into smaller areas debated |work=BBC News |date=14 May 2015}}</ref> The Highland and Islands division of [[Police Scotland]] also includes the Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland (the former area of the [[Northern Constabulary]]) and therefore covers an area of {{convert|30659|km2}}, which is larger than that of the state of [[Belgium]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/8226100.stm |title=Record police numbers on streets |work=BBC News|date=28 August 2009}}</ref>

Though relatively populous for a Scottish council area, it is also sparsely populated. At {{UK subdivision density|GSS=S12000017}} per km<sup>2</sup> in {{UK subdivision statistics year}},<ref name="popstats" /> the population density is less than one seventh of Scotland's as a whole,<ref name="density">{{cite web|url=http://www.highland.gov.uk/info/695/council_information_performance_and_statistics/165/highland_profile_-_key_facts_and_figures/2 |title=Highland profile – key facts and figures |publisher=The Highland Council |access-date=2 June 2014}}</ref> and comparable with that of [[Bolivia]], [[Chad]] and Russia.<ref>[[List of sovereign states and dependent territories by population density]]</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://kff.org/global-indicator/population-density/ |title=Global Health Facts : Demography & Population : Population Density (Population Per Square Kilometer) |publisher=The Henry J Kaiser Family Foundation |access-date=2 June 2014}}</ref> Historically, the area was home to a much higher percentage of Scotland's population. The rural population of the Highlands (both within and outwith the council area) declined in the late 19th century even as Scotland's grew substantially. For example, the population of [[Skye]] declined from 23,082 in 1841 to 15,705 in 1891 and a low point of 7,183 in 1971, before growing in more recent decades.

The city of Inverness is by far the largest settlement, with its urban area having a population of 59,910 in 2012.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/files//statistics/population-estimates/special-area/mid-2012-settlements/2012-pop-est-sett-local-main-all%20-tabs.xls |title=Mid-2012 Population Estimates for Settlements and Localities in Scotland |publisher=National Records Scotland (NRS) |access-date=29 October 2015}}</ref>

The highest point in the Highland council area is [[Ben Nevis]], the tallest mountain in both Scotland and the United Kingdom as a whole. Its northernmost point is the [[Island of Stroma]], in the [[Pentland Firth]]. Its southernmost point is on the [[Morvern]] peninsula. Highland contains the northernmost and westernmost points of the island of Great Britain, respectively at [[Dunnet Head]] and {{lang|gd|[[Corrachadh Mòr]]}}. Despite the name, not all of Highland is mountainous. The areas east of Inverness, as well as the [[Black Isle]], eastern Sutherland, and all of Caithness are, in fact, low-lying.

==Gaelic language==
According to the 2011 UK census, there are nearly 12,000 [[Scottish Gaelic]] speakers in the Highland area.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.highland.gov.uk/download/meetings/id/65574/item_7_gig_2113_gig_report_141113_gaelic_data_from_census_2011 |title=Gaelic data from Census 2011 |publisher=The Highland Council |date=14 November 2013 |access-date=11 October 2015}}</ref>

==Politics==
{{Main|Politics of the Highland council area|Highland Council}}
[[File:Inverness - Highland Council Headquarters (geograph 5000272).jpg|thumb|[[Highland Council Headquarters]] in [[Inverness]]]]
The local authority is the [[Highland Council]], based at the [[Highland Council Headquarters]] in Inverness (formerly the main offices of Inverness-shire County Council).<ref>{{cite web |title=Location of our headquarters |url=https://www.highland.gov.uk/info/591/council_and_government/727/location_of_our_hq |website=Highland Council |access-date=31 July 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ambaile.org.uk/asset/37982/  |title=Older County Buildings, Inverness, 1964|publisher=Ambaile| access-date=22 December 2022}}</ref> The council also has numerous local offices across the area.<ref>{{cite web |title=Visit an office |url=https://www.highland.gov.uk/directory/16/visit_an_office |website=The Highland Council |access-date=2 October 2024}}</ref>

For elections to the [[Scottish Parliament]] the Highland area is within the [[Highlands and Islands (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Highlands and Islands]] [[Scottish Parliament constituencies and regions|electoral area]], which elects eight [[first past the post]] [[Scottish Parliament constituencies and regions|constituency]] [[Member of the Scottish Parliament|Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)]] and seven [[Additional member system (Scottish Parliament)|additional member]] MSPs. Three of the region's constituencies, each electing one MSP, are within the Highland area: [[Caithness, Sutherland and Ross (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Caithness, Sutherland and Ross]], [[Inverness and Nairn (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Inverness and Nairn]] and [[Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch]].

In the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] of the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]] the Highland area is represented by [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Members of Parliament]] (MPs) elected from four [[List of United Kingdom Parliament constituencies|constituencies]]: [[Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross (UK Parliament constituency)|Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross]]; [[Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire (UK Parliament constituency)|Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire]]; [[Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey (UK Parliament constituency)|Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey]]; and [[Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber (UK Parliament constituency)|Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber]]. The latter two straddle the borders with neighbouring council areas.<ref>{{cite web |title=Election Maps |url=https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/election-maps/gb/ |publisher=Ordnance Survey |access-date=2 October 2024}}</ref> Each constituency elects one MP by the [[first past the post]] system of election.

==Settlements==
{{Location map+|Scotland Highland
 |caption={{left|The largest settlements in the Highland council area.}}
 |float=right
 |width=500
 |places =
  {{Location map~|Scotland Highland|coordinates = {{coord|57.4778|-4.2247}}|position=left|label='''[[Inverness]]'''|label_size=}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland Highland|coordinates = {{coord|57.586|-3.869}}|position=top|label='''[[Nairn]]'''|label_size=}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland Highland|coordinates = {{coord|58.596|-3.521}}|position=top|label='''[[Thurso]]'''|label_size=}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland Highland|coordinates = {{coord|58.454|-3.089}}|position=top|label='''[[Wick, Caithness|Wick]]'''|label_size=}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland Highland|coordinates = {{coord|57.695|-4.258}}|position=left|label='''[[Alness]]'''|label_size=}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland Highland|coordinates = {{coord|56.8198|-5.1052}}|position=bottom|label='''[[Fort William, Highland|Fort William]]'''|label_size=}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland Highland|coordinates = {{coord|57.46929|-4.15893}}|position=bottom|label='''{{pad|0.05em}}[[Westhill, Highland|Westhill]]'''|label_size=}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland Highland|coordinates = {{coord|57.597|-4.428}}|position=left|label='''[[Dingwall]]'''|label_size=}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland Highland|coordinates = {{coord|57.68792|-4.15704}}|position=right|label='''[[Invergordon]]'''|label_size=}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland Highland|coordinates = {{coord|57.489|-4.135}}|position=right|label='''[[Culloden, Highland|Culloden]]'''|label_size=}}

<!-- Bordering council areas -->
  {{Location map~|Scotland Highland|coordinates = {{coord|58.752|-2.93}}|position=left|label=''[[Orkney#Settlements|Orkney]]''|marksize=0|label_size=120}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland Highland|coordinates = {{coord|57.50|-3.2}}|position=left|label=''[[Moray#Settlements|Moray]]''|marksize=0|label_size=120}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland Highland|coordinates = {{coord|57.01|-2.9}}|position=left|label=''[[Aberdeenshire#Settlements|Aberdeenshire]]''|marksize=0|label_size=120}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland Highland|coordinates = {{coord|56.73|-3.7}}|position=left|label=''[[Perth and Kinross#Settlements|Perth and Kinross]]''|marksize=0|label_size=120}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland Highland|coordinates = {{coord|56.45|-5.0|}}|position=left|label=''[[Argyll and Bute#Settlements|{{nowrap|Argyll and Bute}}]]''|marksize=0|label_size=120}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland Highland|coordinates = 
{{coord|57.90|-6.81}}|position=right|label=''[[Outer Hebrides#Settlements|Outer Hebrides]]''|marksize=0|label_size=120}}
}}
The largest settlements by population are:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+
!Settlement
!Population ({{Scottish settlement population citation|year}})<ref>{{Scottish settlement population citation}}</ref>
|-
|[[Inverness]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Inverness}}
|-
|[[Nairn]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Nairn}}
|-
|[[Thurso]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Thurso}}
|-
|[[Wick, Caithness|Wick]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Wick}}
|-
|[[Alness]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Alness}}
|-
|[[Fort William, Highland|Fort William]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Fort William}}
|-
|[[Westhill, Highland|Westhill]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Westhill (Highland)}}
|-
|[[Dingwall]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Dingwall}}
|-
|[[Invergordon]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Invergordon}}
|-
|[[Culloden, Highland|Culloden]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Culloden}}
|-
|}

{{Historical populations
|title=Historical Highland population
|type=Scotland
|1801|164,294
|1811|173,235
|1821|196,364
|1831|211,947
|1841|213,969
|1851|220,004
|1911|226,144
|1921|176,396
|1931|167,604
|1941|166,602
|1951|165,600
|1961|169,133
|1971|172,666
|1981|186,916
|1991|203,790
|2001|208,914
|2011|232,132
|source      =<br /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10080678/cube/TOT_POP|title=Highland District through time – Population Statistics – Total Population|website=www.visionofbritain.org.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/census/table_page.jsp?tab_id=S1911COU_M1&u_id=10107260&show=DB&min_c=6&max_c=10|title=Vision of Britain – 1911 Census: County Report – Table 1|website=www.visionofbritain.org.uk}}</ref>
|2022|235,710}}

Other settlements include:
* [[Alness]] (''{{lang|gd|Alanais}}''), [[Altnaharra]] (''{{lang|gd|Allt na h-Aire}}''), [[Applecross]] (''{{lang|gd|A' Chomraich}}''), [[Ardersier]] (''{{lang|gd|Àird nan Saor}}''), [[Ardgour]] (''{{lang|gd|Àirde Gobhar}}''), [[Ardnamurchan]] (''{{lang|gd|Àird nam murchan}}''), [[Aviemore]] (''{{lang|gd|An Aghaidh Mhòr}}''), [[Avoch]] (''{{lang|gd|Abhach}}''), [[Auldearn]]
* [[Back of Keppoch]] (''{{lang|gd|A' Cheapaich}}''), [[Ballachulish]] (''{{lang|gd|Baile a' Chaolais}}''), [[Beauly]] (''{{lang|gd|A' Mhanachainn}}''), [[Bettyhill]] (''{{lang|gd|Am Blàran Odhar}}''), [[Black Isle|(the) Black Isle]] (''{{lang|gd|An t-Eilean Dubh}}''), [[Boat of Garten]] (''{{lang|gd|Coit a' Ghartain}}''), [[Bonar Bridge]] (''{{lang|gd|Drochaid a' Bhanna}}''), [[Broadford, Skye|Broadford]] (''{{lang|gd|An t-Àth Leathann}}''), [[Brora]] (''{{lang|gd|Brùra}}'')
* [[Carrbridge]] (''{{lang|gd|Drochaid Chàrr}}''), [[Conon Bridge]] (''{{lang|gd|Drochaid Sguideil}}''), [[Cromarty]] (''{{lang|gd|Cromba}}''), [[Culloden, Highland|Culloden]] (''{{lang|gd|Cul Lodan / Cùil-lodair}}''), [[Cawdor]], [[Croy, Highland|Croy]]
* [[Dalwhinnie]] (''{{lang|gd|Dail Chuinnidh}}''), [[Dingwall]] (''{{lang|gd|Inbhir Pheofharain}}''), [[Dornie]] (''{{lang|gd|An Dòrnaidh}}''), [[Dornoch]] (''{{lang|gd|Dòrnach}}''), [[Drumnadrochit]] (''{{lang|gd|Druim na Droichaid}}''), [[Dulnain Bridge]] (''{{lang|gd|Drochaid Thulnain}}''), [[Dunvegan]] (''{{lang|gd|Dùn Bheagain}}''), [[Durness]] (''{{lang|gd|Diuranais}}''), [[Duror|Duror (of Appin)]] (''{{lang|gd|Aphainn Duror}}'')
* [[Fearn, Highland|Fearn]] (''{{lang|gd|Manachainn Rois}}''), [[Fort Augustus]] (''{{lang|gd|Cill Chuimein}}''), [[Fortrose]] (''{{lang|gd|A' Chananaich}}''), [[Fort William, Highland|Fort William]] (''{{lang|gd|An Gearasdan}}'')
* [[Gairloch]] (''{{lang|gd|Geàrrloch}}''), [[Glencoe, Scotland|Glencoe]] (''{{lang|gd|Gleann Comhann}}''), [[Glenfinnan]] (''{{lang|gd|Gleann Fionnan}}''), [[Golspie]] (''{{lang|gd|Goillspidh}}''), [[Grantown-on-Spey]] (''{{lang|gd|Baile nan Granndach}}'')
* [[Helmsdale]] (''{{lang|gd|Bun Ilidh}}'')
* [[Invergarry]] (''{{lang|gd|Inbhir Garadh}}''), [[Invergordon]] (''{{lang|gd|Inbhir Ghòrdain}}''), [[Inverie]] (''{{lang|gd|Inbhir Iodh}}''), [[Invermoriston]] (''{{lang|gd|Inbhir Mhoireastain}}''), [[Inverness]] (''{{lang|gd|Inbhir Nis}}'')
* [[John o' Groats]] (''{{lang|gd|Taigh Iain Ghròt}}'')
* [[Kiltarlity]] (''Bràigh na h-Àirde),'' [[Kingussie]] (''{{lang|gd|Ceann a' Ghiùbhsaich}}''), [[Kinlochbervie]] (''{{lang|gd|Ceann Loch Biorbhaidh}}''), [[Kinlochleven]] (''{{lang|gd|Ceann Loch Lìobhann}}''), [[Knoydart]] (''{{lang|gd|Cnòideart}}''), [[Kyle of Lochalsh]] (''{{lang|gd|Caol Loch Aillse}}'')
* [[Lochcarron]] (Loch Carrann), [[Lochinver]] (''{{lang|gd|Loch an Inbhir}}'') 
* [[Mallaig]] (''{{lang|gd|Malaig}}''), [[Maryburgh]] (''{{lang|gd|Baile Màiri}}''), [[Muir of Ord]] (''{{lang|gd|Am Blàr dubh}}'')
* [[Nairn]] (''{{lang|gd|Inbhir Narann}}''), [[Newtonmore]] (''{{lang|gd|Baile Ùr an t-Slèibh}}'')
* [[North Ballachulish]] (''{{lang|gd|Baile a' Chaolais air Tuath}}'')
* [[Onich]] (''{{lang|gd|Omhanaich}}'')
* [[Plockton]] (''{{lang|gd|Am Ploc}}''), [[Portmahomack]] (''{{lang|gd|Port Mo-Chalmaig}}''), [[Portree]] (''{{lang|gd|Port Rìgh}}'')
* [[Rosemarkie]] (''{{lang|gd|Ros Maircnidh}}''), [[Roybridge|Roy Bridge]] (''{{lang|gd|An Drochaid Ruaraidh}}'')
* [[Spean Bridge]] (''{{lang|gd|An Droichaid Spean}}''), [[Strathpeffer]] (''{{lang|gd|Srath Pheofhair}}''), [[Strontian]] (''{{lang|gd|Sròn an t-Sìthein}}'')
* [[Tain, Scotland|Tain]] (''{{lang|gd|Baile Dhubhthaich}}''), [[Thurso]] (''{{lang|gd|Inbhir Theòrsa}}''), [[Tongue, Highland|Tongue]] (''{{lang|gd|Tunga}}''), [[Torridon]] (''{{lang|gd|Toirbheartan}}'')
* [[Ullapool]] (''{{lang|gd|Ullapul}}'')
* [[Wick, Caithness|Wick]] (''{{lang|gd|Inbhir Ùige}}'')

==See also==
* [[Scottish Highlands]]
* [[List of places in Highland]]
* [[List of places in Argyll and Bute]]
* [[List of places in Perth and Kinross]]
* [[List of places in Moray]]
* [[List of places in the Western Isles]]
* [[High Life Highland]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.scottish-places.info/councils/councilfirst17.html The Highland council area in the Gazetteer for Scotland website]
* [http://www.scotfilm.org Scottish Highlands and Islands Film Commission]

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[[Category:Highland (council area)| ]]
[[Category:Council areas of Scotland]]
[[Category:Highlands and Islands of Scotland]]
[[Category:Politics of Highland (council area)]]
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[[Category:1975 establishments in Scotland]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1975]]