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The Scottish Lowlands (a' Ghalldachd, meaning roughly 'the non-Gaelic region', in Gaelic, and called Lawlands or Lallans in Scots
Scots language

Scots or Lowland Scots refers to the Germanic Variety derived from Middle English spoken in parts of Lowland Scotland, Northern Ireland and the border areas of the Republic of Ireland....
), although not officially a geographical area of the country, in normal usage is generally meant to include those parts of Scotland
Scotland

conventional_long_name = ScotlandAlba|common_name= Scotland|image_flag = Flag of Scotland.svg|flag_width = 130px...
 not referred to as the Highlands
Scottish Highlands

The Scottish Highlands include the rugged and mountainous regions of Scotland north and west of the Highland Boundary Fault, although the exact boundaries are not clearly defined, particularly to the east....
 (or Gàidhealtachd
Gàidhealtachd

The G?idhealtachd , sometimes known as A' Gh?idhealtachd , usually refers to the Scotland highlands and islands, and especially the Scottish Gaelic language culture of the area....
), that is, everywhere due south and east of a line (the Highland Boundary Fault
Highland Boundary Fault

The Highland Boundary Fault is a geologic fault that traverses Scotland from Isle of Arran and Helensburgh on the west coast to Stonehaven in the east....
) between Stonehaven
Stonehaven

Stonehaven is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It lies on Scotland's northeast coast and had a population of 9,577 in 2001 census.Stonehave, county town of Kincardineshire, grew around an Iron Age fishing village, now the "Auld Toon" , and expanded inland from the Seaside....
 and Helensburgh
Helensburgh

Helensburgh is a town and former burgh in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It lies on the north shore of the Firth of Clyde and the eastern shore of the entrance to the Gare Loch....
 (on the Firth of Clyde
Firth of Clyde

The Firth of Clyde forms a large area of coastal water, sheltered from the Atlantic ocean by the Kintyre peninsula which encloses the outer firth in Argyll and Ayrshire, Scotland....
).






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The Scottish Lowlands (a' Ghalldachd, meaning roughly 'the non-Gaelic region', in Gaelic, and called Lawlands or Lallans in Scots
Scots language

Scots or Lowland Scots refers to the Germanic Variety derived from Middle English spoken in parts of Lowland Scotland, Northern Ireland and the border areas of the Republic of Ireland....
), although not officially a geographical area of the country, in normal usage is generally meant to include those parts of Scotland
Scotland

conventional_long_name = ScotlandAlba|common_name= Scotland|image_flag = Flag of Scotland.svg|flag_width = 130px...
 not referred to as the Highlands
Scottish Highlands

The Scottish Highlands include the rugged and mountainous regions of Scotland north and west of the Highland Boundary Fault, although the exact boundaries are not clearly defined, particularly to the east....
 (or Gàidhealtachd
Gàidhealtachd

The G?idhealtachd , sometimes known as A' Gh?idhealtachd , usually refers to the Scotland highlands and islands, and especially the Scottish Gaelic language culture of the area....
), that is, everywhere due south and east of a line (the Highland Boundary Fault
Highland Boundary Fault

The Highland Boundary Fault is a geologic fault that traverses Scotland from Isle of Arran and Helensburgh on the west coast to Stonehaven in the east....
) between Stonehaven
Stonehaven

Stonehaven is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It lies on Scotland's northeast coast and had a population of 9,577 in 2001 census.Stonehave, county town of Kincardineshire, grew around an Iron Age fishing village, now the "Auld Toon" , and expanded inland from the Seaside....
 and Helensburgh
Helensburgh

Helensburgh is a town and former burgh in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It lies on the north shore of the Firth of Clyde and the eastern shore of the entrance to the Gare Loch....
 (on the Firth of Clyde
Firth of Clyde

The Firth of Clyde forms a large area of coastal water, sheltered from the Atlantic ocean by the Kintyre peninsula which encloses the outer firth in Argyll and Ayrshire, Scotland....
). Confusingly, some parts of the Lowlands, such as the Southern Uplands
Southern Uplands

The Southern Uplands is the southernmost of Scotland's three major geographic areas . They lie South of the Southern Uplands fault line that runs from Girvan on the Ayrshire coast in the West to Dunbar in East Lothian on the North Sea coast....
 are not physically 'low', and some sections of the Highlands, such as Islay
Islay

Islay , a Scotland island, known as "The Queen of the Hebrides" , is the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides. It lies in Argyll just to the west of Jura, Scotland and around north of the Irish coast, which can be seen on a clear day....
 are low-lying.

It therefore includes the traditional Scottish counties of Ayrshire
Ayrshire

Ayrshire is a registration county, and former counties of Scotland in south-west Scotland, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine, North Ayrshire....
, Berwickshire
Berwickshire

Berwickshire or the County of Berwick is a registration county, a committee area of the Scottish Borders Council, and a Lieutenancy areas of Scotland of Scotland, on the border with England....
, Clackmannanshire
Clackmannanshire

Clackmannanshire and sometimes called Clacks is one of the 32 Local government in Scotland Council areas of Scotland of Scotland, and a Lieutenancy areas of Scotland, bordering Perth and Kinross, Stirling and Fife....
, Dumfriesshire
Dumfriesshire

Dumfriesshire or the County of Dumfries is a registration county of Scotland. The Lieutenancy areas of Scotland of Dumfries has similar boundaries....
, East Lothian
East Lothian

East Lothian is one of 32 unitary council areas in Scotland, UK, and a Lieutenancy areas of Scotland. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Midlothian....
[1], Fife
Fife

Fife is a council area of Scotland, situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire....
, Kinross-shire
Kinross-shire

Kinross-shire, officially the County of Kinross, was a Counties of Scotland of Scotland. Its county town was Kinross. To the north it bordered Perthshire, to the east and south Fife, and to the west Clackmannanshire....
, Kirkcudbrightshire
Kirkcudbrightshire

The Stewartry of Kirkcudbright or Kirkcudbrightshire , was formerly a Counties of Scotland of south-western Scotland. It was also known as East Galloway, forming the larger Galloway region with Wigtownshire....
, Lanarkshire
Lanarkshire

Lanarkshire , officially the County of Lanark, was formerly a Counties of Scotland of Scotland.It was bounded to the north by Stirlingshire and a detached portion of Dunbartonshire, to the northeast by Stirlingshire, West Lothian, to the east by Peeblesshire, to the southeast and south by Dumfriesshire, to the southwest by Dumfriesshi...
, Mid-Lothian[2], Peeblesshire
Peeblesshire

Peeblesshire , the County of Peebles or Tweeddale was a Counties of Scotland of Scotland. Its main town was Peebles, and it bordered Midlothian to the north, Selkirkshire to the east, Dumfriesshire to the south, and Lanarkshire to the west....
, Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire (historic)

Renfrewshire or the County of Renfrew is a registration county, Lieutenancy areas of Scotland, and one of the counties of Scotland used for local government in Scotland until 1975....
, Roxburghshire
Roxburghshire

Roxburghshire or the County of Roxburgh is a registration county of Scotland. It borders Dumfriesshire to the west, Selkirkshire to the north-west, and Berwickshire to the north....
, Selkirkshire
Selkirkshire

Selkirkshire or the County of Selkirk is a registration county of Scotland. It borders Peeblesshire to the west, Midlothian to the north, Berwickshire to the north-east, Roxburghshire to the east, and Dumfriesshire to the south....
, West Lothian
West Lothian

West Lothian is one of the 32 Unitary authority council areas in Scotland, and a Lieutenancy areas of Scotland. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Scottish Borders, South Lanarkshire, North Lanarkshire and Falkirk ....
[3] and Wigtownshire
Wigtownshire

The County of Wigtown, or Wigtownshire is a registration county in the south west of Scotland. It borders Ayrshire to the north, and the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright to the east....
.

Traditional Scottish counties which include both Highland and Lowland sections include Angus
Angus

Angus is one of the 32 Local government in Scotland council areas of Scotland, and a Lieutenancy areas of Scotland. The council area borders onto Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross and the Dundee City....
[4], Dunbartonshire
Dunbartonshire

Dunbartonshire or the County of Dumbarton, is a Lieutenancy areas of Scotland and a registration county of Scotland. Until 1975 it was a Counties of Scotland....
, Stirlingshire
Stirlingshire

Stirlingshire or the County of Stirling is a registration county of Scotland, based around Stirling, the former county town. It borders Perthshire to the north, Clackmannanshire and West Lothian to the east, Lanarkshire to the south, and Dunbartonshire to the south-west....
, Perthshire
Perthshire

Perthshire , officially the County of Perth, is a registration county in central Scotland. It extends from Strathmore, Angus and Perth & Kinross in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west, and Aberfoyle, Scotland in the south....
, Kincardineshire
Kincardineshire

The County of Kincardine, also known as Kincardineshire or The Mearns was a Local government of Scotland Counties of Scotland on the coast of northeast Scotland....
, Aberdeenshire, Banffshire
Banffshire

The County of Banff is a registration county for property, and Banffshire is a Lieutenancy areas of Scotland of Scotland.The County of Banff, also known as Banffshire, was a Counties of Scotland of Scotland with its own county council between 1890 and 1975....
 and Moray
Moray

Moray is one of the 32 Council areas of Scotland of Scotland. It lies in the north-east of the country, with coastline on the Moray Firth, and borders the council areas of Aberdeenshire and Highland ....
.

Although Caithness
Caithness

Caithness is a registration county, Lieutenancy areas of Scotland and historic Local government in Scotland of Scotland. The name was used also for the Earl of Caithness and the Caithness of the Parliament of the United Kingdom ....
, is sometimes classified under Highlands and Islands
Highlands and Islands

The Highlands and Islands of Scotland are broadly the Scottish Highlands plus Orkney, Shetland and the Hebrides.The Highlands and Islands are sometimes defined as the area to which the Crofters' Holdings Act, 1886 of 1886 applied....
, it is also often considered 'Lowland' and are differentiated from the Gàidhealtachd
Gàidhealtachd

The G?idhealtachd , sometimes known as A' Gh?idhealtachd , usually refers to the Scotland highlands and islands, and especially the Scottish Gaelic language culture of the area....
 when, for example, discussing Lowland Scots
Scots language

Scots or Lowland Scots refers to the Germanic Variety derived from Middle English spoken in parts of Lowland Scotland, Northern Ireland and the border areas of the Republic of Ireland....
 (although sections of Caithness spoke Gaelic into the 20th century). Orkney and Shetland are sometimes called 'lowland', mainly because of their current language, but have a separate identity derived from the Norse
Scandinavia

Scandinavia is a historical and geographical subregion in northern Europe that includes the Scandinavian Peninsula. It consists of the kingdoms of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark; some authorities also include Finland and some might even include Iceland....
 to the point of some islanders not considering themselves Scottish.

Geographically, Scotland is divided into three distinct areas: the Highlands
Scottish Highlands

The Scottish Highlands include the rugged and mountainous regions of Scotland north and west of the Highland Boundary Fault, although the exact boundaries are not clearly defined, particularly to the east....
, the Central plain (Central Belt
Central Belt

The Central Belt of Scotland is a common term used to describe the area of highest population density within Scotland. Despite the name, it is not geographically "central", but in fact in the south of the country....
), and the Southern Uplands
Southern Uplands

The Southern Uplands is the southernmost of Scotland's three major geographic areas . They lie South of the Southern Uplands fault line that runs from Girvan on the Ayrshire coast in the West to Dunbar in East Lothian on the North Sea coast....
. The Lowlands cover roughly the latter two. Strictly speaking, the northeast plain is also low-land, both geographically and culturally, but in some contexts may be grouped together with the Highlands.

The southernmost counties of Scotland, nearest the border with England
England

native_name =|conventional_long_name = England|common_name = England|image_flag = Flag of England.svg|image_coat = England COA.svg|symbol_type = Royal Coat of Arms...
, are also known as the Borders
Scottish Borders

The Scottish Borders , often referred to simply as the Borders, is one of 32 local government Council areas of Scotland of Scotland. It is bordered by Dumfries and Galloway in the west, South Lanarkshire and West Lothian in the north west, City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian to the north; and the Metropolitan and non-metropolit...
. They are sometimes considered separately to the rest of the Lowlands. Many descendants of the Scots-Irish, as they are known in the United States, or Ulster-Scots
Ulster-Scots

Ulster-Scots are an ethnic group in Ireland, descended from mainly Scottish Lowlands Scottish people who settled in the province of Ulster in the north of Ireland....
, originated from the lowlands and borders region before having migrated to the Ulster Plantation in the 17th century and later the American frontier, many prior to the American Revolution
American Revolution

The American Revolution refers to the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which the Thirteen Colonies of North America overthrew the governance of the British Empire and then rejected the British monarchy to become the sovereign United States of America....
.

The term Scottish Lowlands is generally used mostly with reference to the Lowland Scots
Scots language

Scots or Lowland Scots refers to the Germanic Variety derived from Middle English spoken in parts of Lowland Scotland, Northern Ireland and the border areas of the Republic of Ireland....
, Scottish history
History of Scotland

The history of Scotland begins around 10,000 years ago, when humans first began to inhabit what is now Scotland after the end of the Wisconsin glaciation, the last ice age....
 and the Scottish clan
Scottish clan

Scottish clans , give a sense of identity and shared descent to people in Scotland and to their relations throughout the world, with a formal structure of Scottish clan chiefs officially registered with the court of the Lord Lyon, King of Arms which controls the heraldry and Coat of Arms....
 system, as well as in family history and genealogy
Genealogy

Genealogy is the study of families and the tracing of their lineages and history. Genealogists use oral traditions, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kinship and pedigree of its members....
.