Stretching from coast to coast, Ross-shire can provide all the variety a visitor needs for a thoroughly enjoyable stay in the north.

The market town of Dingwall, the county's administrative centre, is a handy starting point for journeys to all parts of Ross-shire.

To the east is the Black Isle - a colourful area fully joined to the mainland, despite its name - where historic Cromarty and the former Pictish strongholds of Rosemarkie and Fortrose offer tantalising glimpses of the past.

To the northeast of Dingwall lies Easter Ross with its main towns of Alness, Invergordon and Tain - home to a fair percentage of the county's population and also venue for many traditional Highland games, gatherings, galas and entertainment during the year.

Travelling through mid-ross gives a sense of impending adventure, as the scenery becomes more dramatic and the hills steeper and higher.

Just beyond Garve on the main cross-county route, the A832, travellers are faced with a choice of heading northwest or due west. Our advice is to make time for trying both routes, in order to sample the delights of largely unspoiled landscape that they offer.

Above, Calnaha, Nigg during the 1914 - 18

The Coigach area to the north is well worth investigating, with spectacular mountain scenery particularly on the way to Achiltibuie and almost hidden gems of beaches such as Achnahaird, which make the journey along the winding roads well worthwhile.

Those who head due west after Garve are then offered another choice at Achnasheen - whether to turn north or south. Again we would say the only choice is to decide in which order, for both ways are rewarding. Perhaps the answer is to head down first to Lochcarron, then tackle the imposing Bealach Na Ba' which you may think is taking you over the top of the world but is, in fact, leading you on to the Applecross peninsula.

You can complete a round trip of sorts by continuing on along the coast road to emerge at Shieldaig, then through Torridon with more soaring, majestic scenery before arriving at Kinlochewe which meets the road from

Achnasheen. Heading northwest again from here presents another semi-circle of treasures and all that's best about the West Coast. Gairloch, Poolewe, Aultbea and Dundonnell are just some of the staging posts on this section of a journey which eventually re-emerges on the Ullapool road.