The Scottish Lowlands, although not officially a geographical area of the country, in normal usage is generally meant to include those parts of Scotland not referred to as the Highlands, that is, everywhere due south and east of a line roughly drawn between the Moray Firth and the Firth of Clyde.
It therefore includes the traditional Scottish counties of Renfrewshire, Lanarkshire, Peeblesshire, the Lothians, Berwickshire, Wigtownshire, Kirkcudbrightshire, Dumfriesshire, Selkirkshire, Roxburghshire and Kincardineshire.
Traditional Scottish counties which include both Highland and Lowland sections include Perthshire, Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Morayshire and Ayrshire (the isle of Arran).
Geographically, Scotland is divided into three distinct areas: the Highlands, the Central plain and the Southern Uplands. The Lowlands cover roughly the latter two. Strictly speaking, the Northeast plain is also lowland, both geographically and culturally, but in normal usage is usually referred to together with the Highlands.
The southernmost counties of Scotland, nearest the border with England, are also known as the Borders.
The term Scottish Lowlands is generally used mostly with reference to Scottish history and the Scottish clan system, as well as in family history and genealogy.
See also