While many people are familiar with big Scottish cities such as Edinburgh and Glasgow, the more remote areas of Scotland remain a mystery to many people. Islands so remote that children have to take a boat to go to school; towns that are home to more highland cows than people; tiny fishing villages where everybody seems to be related to everybody else - these are some of the images that are conjured up when we talk of rural, remote, Scotland, but are they really based in reality?

Taking a trip to the Scottish Highlands can be an eye-opening experience for anyone that imagines this part of the country to be full of yokel farmers in wellington boots, plodding through muddy fields to take their cows to auction. Some areas of the Scottish Highlands are as chic as could be, with the Victorian town of Ballater being an excellent case in point.

Ballater is located in Royal Deeside, an area of the Scottish Highlands that earned its name through the fact that the British Royal Family have held a residence here, at Balmoral, for centuries. The region, which takes in the towering Cairngorms Mountains, is so breathtakingly beautiful that it is clear to see why the Royals chose to make a home and here, and Ballater itself is awash with well to do types strolling around in designer clothes, and generally looking absolutely fabulous and adding a splash of glamour to the Scottish countryside.

Hotels in Ballater can be extremely sophisticated affairs, with guests able to indulge in luxury spa treatments, as well as fine food and fine wine.

A glorious place to spend active summer holidays or golg breaks, Balleter is a major Destination for skiers during the winter, with the Cairngorms mountains generally considered to offer the best ski conditions anywhere in the United Kingdom.

Another region of Rural Scotland that has become hugely popular as a holiday destination is Perthshire, which sits on the border where the Highlands meet the Lowlands.

Hotels in Perthshire are packed with groups of adventurous young people keen to make the most of a destination that has come to be known as ‘Scotland’s Adventure Capital’, due to the huge potential for adventure sports on this rugged landscape. Canyoning, climbing, abseiling and even cliff jumping can all be practiced here, making Perthshire a top destination for an energy-burning break.