Why is the Far North of Scotland So...Different? |

The Far North of the Scottish Highlands is a unique fusion of northwestern European cultures that must be preserved: an English-speaking and Gaelic-speaking region with Nordic, Gaelic, and Pictish roots. This is far more unique than people realize: it's very different even from other parts of Scotland.

The Romans never made it to the Far North. The Anglo-Saxons never made it to the Far North. The historic cultural heritage of the Far North is Pictish, Gaelic, and Nordic. The Far North, aside from being a climate oasis in a world increasingly feeling the effects of global warming, is a unique English-speaking geographic region that's a fusion of northwestern European cultures -- and there's nowhere else on the planet like it. It's unique. And delicate.

Which brings us to a rather difficult question: since the Far North is depopulating, and the shift in climate bands as well as the Great Wealth Transfer and the difference in real estate values are all going to drive more people to the Far North eventually (largely through inward migration), who are the "right" people to live in the Highlands?

Video Chapters:

00:00 -- Loch Merkland
01:24 -- Sightseeing on the A838: Lairg to Durness
05:00 -- Welcome to Durness Beach on the NC500
07:46 -- Brave Huntress Annabelle MAXIMUM KITTY ATTACK
08:09 -- On the Lookout for Wild Haggis
08:41 -- Local Business Shout-out: By Sea By Land Clothing
11:06 -- Exploring Glen Loth
15:04 -- The Midlife Urge to Leave the City and Escape to the Country
18:25 -- The Depopulation of the Far North of Scotland
23:46 -- Who are the "Right" People to Live in the Scottish Highlands?
25:31 -- Will the Great Wealth Transfer cause more people to move to Scotland?
28:24 -- Why is the Far North of Scotland Different From the Rest of Scotland?
30:27 -- Fantasyland is Real: Outro at Glen Loth

In this episode we also go sightseeing through Sutherland on the A838 from Lairg up to Durness on Scotland's north shore, and we take a look at one of the Far North's hidden gems: the hauntingly beautiful Glen Loth. Christine returns with a culinary review at Durness Beach. There's also a shout-out to another local business -- By Sea By Land, based out of Alness in Easter Ross -- and some fun odds and ends, including a cameo by Annabelle.

The American Highlander is an immigrant's love letter to the Scottish Highlands. I'm doing my best to integrate into the Far North, and I absolutely love it here. There's a beautiful, delicate magic to this place; it's a wonderful high-trust society, very low population, and it deserves to be preserved. I hope you'll visit it one day, or perhaps even choose to make it your home. There aren't too many channels based in the Far North of Scotland, and I think a lot of people descended from the British Isles fantasize about returning to their ancestral home; if I can provide a vicarious look at life in the Scottish Highlands, then I've done my job.

For the cinephiles: this video was filmed with two cameras -- a Canon R50 in 16mm with ND filter, and my wife's Android phone. With the Canon, I shoot 8-bit Rec. 709. No filming in log, no LUTs. Audio captured with wireless Rode lav mics. Background music courtesy of Artlist. Edited in Adobe Premiere. Maybe I'll start up a Patreon or something so I can afford better equipment, but hey, this is what I've got right now, so hopefully you enjoy it.

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