The Top Ten Differences between Scottish Highlanders and Scottish Lowlanders

Geographical location: Highlanders lived in the rugged, mountainous regions of Scotland, while Lowlanders inhabited the flatter, more arable areas. This geographic difference contributed to distinct cultural and economic patterns, with Lowlanders engaging in agriculture and commerce, and Highlanders relying more on subsistence agriculture and cattle rearing.

Clan system: The clan system was much stronger in the Highlands, where communities were more isolated, and loyalty to one's clan was essential for survival. Lowland communities were more individualistic, and kinship ties were weaker.

Language: Highlanders spoke Gaelic, a Celtic language, while Lowlanders spoke Scots, a form of English influenced by Germanic and Scandinavian languages.

Dress and appearance: Highlanders wore distinctive tartan kilts and plaids, while Lowlanders dressed more like their English neighbors, with less colorful clothing.

Weaponry and combat: Highlanders were renowned for their use of the broadsword and targe shield, while Lowlanders used firearms and pikes. Highlanders also relied more on guerrilla tactics and surprise attacks in battle.

Religion: Highlanders tended to be Catholic or Episcopalian, while Lowlanders were mostly Presbyterian. The Church of Scotland had a much stronger presence in the Lowlands.

Music and dance: Highlanders developed their own musical traditions, such as bagpipes and ceilidh music, while Lowlanders had a more diverse range of musical styles, including ballads and country dances.

Cuisine: Highlanders relied on simple, hearty fare, such as porridge, meat, and fish, while Lowlanders had more access to spices, fruits, and vegetables and developed more elaborate recipes.

Relationship with the English: Highlanders were more resistant to English rule, and often viewed the Lowlanders who collaborated with the English with suspicion. Lowlanders, on the other hand, tended to be more open to English influence.

Architecture: Highlanders lived in small, stone huts known as crofts, while Lowlanders lived in larger, more sophisticated buildings, such as castles and manor houses.

[McConnachy]

Is this an Englishman's guess about Scotland's people? The statement about Scotland being divided between Irish and English is totally wrong and an uneducated guess. I'm of Highland descent living in the Lowlands. The lowlands has as much Gaelic names as the Highlands, the population are of mixed heritage, both primarily from the Celtic period, with the inclusion of Viking and Finn heritage. Saying that lowlanders live in large houses is total nonsense. The lowlands were full of crofts, until they were cleared, prior to the Highland clearances. Please research further

[faolanliath]

My lowlanders were reivers, cattle thieves/outlaws, they were VERY clannish, used backswords, lances and pistols from horseback. Until that sassenach John Knox were they were Catholic if religious at all. They were the Frontline of defense heroes when Scotland was threatened by England and considered the scum of the earth otherwise. Their lands saw more feuds and crime than anywhere in the isles and they suffered the worst episodes of the clearances. Then were removed to Ulster and used as cannon fodder to pacify the Irish. They and their exact counter parts south of the border considered themselves Forster's, Dodds, Fenicks, Halls, Ellots, Armstrongs, Thompsons, Grahams, or Hunters etc not Englishmen or Scots. One of us was the first person to ride as far as the moon.

[Lucien-iz]

Actually, it's wrong to suggest that tartan comes solely from the Highlands. It was Brythonic tribes that had the Tartan and the lowlanders often wore tartan trews, what stood out is that the highlanders wore a kilt that looked like skirt to many people and stood out! There really isn't a distinction between highland and lowlander culture in Scotland, most of these cultures have mixed for centuries, what is a big difference is the presence of gaelic and Catholicism. Lots of things you think are "highland" cone from the lowland like fiddle music and tam hats.
The Brythonic and Scotti culture mixed like 2000 years ago to create the Kingdom of Alba.
I am from Scotland, we don't talk like this "Highlanders vs lowlanders".

[OublietteTight]

What years does this break down reference?

[tireachan]

The Highlanders were more similar to the Irish and the Lowlanders more similar to the English. Scotland is a truly interesting country that as a single entity is a thing completely unto itself.

[sarahflynn]

My father was a Gaelic speaking highlander (Hebrides). I wasn't taught much gaelic outside the odd few words and phrases.

They moved down onto the river clyde before leaving Scotland entirely. I'm constantly asked if I'm Irish or Scottish lol. I'm almost 6 feet tall, freckled down to my toes, red hair, green eyes, and have the most stereotypical celtic face 😂. I'm also the shortest of my family, the only girl until lately and the newest in that side is the same stature as me lmao. Brothers are 6'2" and 6'4", and nephews are taller, not sure by how much. My son is on track to be the same lmao.

[abddulhaseeb]

David Balfour of shaws from the lowland and Alen Breck Stewart from the highland of Scotland the epic history

[andymullins]

The lowlands much have changed alot after my ancestors left. They were crofters who were evicted from their lands in the 1700s. They lived on potatoes and turnips and tightly knit families. Not sure who he's talking about. Maybe the people evicted my people.

[thomasblue]

So, a question ...

If the Highlanders were so overwhelmingly Catholic then why were basically ALL Scots from the Highlands arriving in NC from somewhat before the mid-1700s Protestant and nearly all Presbyterian? That doesn't seem to line (ifykyk) with nearly - if not every - family that settled from Argyll, Jura, Kintyre, Islay, and other. Where are the Catholic churches among the Highland immigrants to NC where most went? Where are the Catholic cemeteries of those families? Are there any? There are at least a hundred - almost certainly more than a thousand - of Presbyterian cemeteries full of Scots in SE NC where they settled from the Highlands.

Also, Episcopalian Highlanders? What? Are you referring to a displaced English feudal Lord?

[johnhutchison]

Thank you for posting. Very informative. I am a lowland Scot

[randomtanker]

Do lowlanders and highlanders belong to the same ethnicity?

[piratejack]

It’s miss leading to say scots is a “form of English influenced by Germanic and Scandinavian languages”. In fact scots is itself its own language, evident in the fact that a Englishman who speaks only English and a Scotsman who speaks only scots would not be able to understand each other(try reading a poem by Robert burns if you’ve never done it before). And to say that it’s “influenced by Germanic languages” is a miss characterization of the whole anglic language family, Scot and Yola were two languages separated from English that are derived from Middle English and their more Germanic features can largely be attributed to their isolation from changes being made to the Mercian dialects of English that were caused by the Normans. It is more accurate to say scots is a language derived from Middle English and diverged largely due to isolation from the Mercian speaking south of England, from which standard English is derived, and insolation from the Norman, a variety of French, speaking conquerers who ruled over England

[Schemez-vhiphopbeatz]

u could say low landers where on the front lines during the first war against independence

[sammhyde]

The highlanders were more related to Gaels.
The lowlanders were Nordic.

That sums it up roughly

[jonnyn]

Language is the primary difference.

Scotch speak Anglo Saxon, not English, but literal Anglo Saxon from before English 😂

Highlanders were Gaels.