Back when Farming Simulator 25 was revealed, an image for the new map as part of the Year One Season Pass featured in that reveal. Back then, I said it looked very familiar. I felt for sure it meant an official UK map was coming. When the name of that expansion was announced, along with some details, it was revealed as true. Highlands Fishing would bring the first official UK map to the series.

Now that it’s out, I’ve been enjoying my time with it. Pretty much the first hour at Kinlaig I was just exploring. Checking out the coast and castle. Swimming over to the lighthouse. Walking along the suspension bridge. Following the paths of the rivers. Admiring the urban areas that really capture the quaintness of villages across the UK. Every detail I was seeing, such and road signs, bus stations, and even the red telephone boxes, felt like seeing familiar faces in unexpected places.

I couldn’t just keep exploring all day, however. This is Farming Simulator, and so there’s work to be done. Buying a field and a harvester, I could feel straight away the challenge of a UK map. Every field is ringed by either hedges or a fence, with gates to enter them. It takes a bit of work to use tools effectively in such confined spaces. Or it would, were it not for the fact hedges can easily be ignored, driving through them as if they weren’t there.

This being the UK, there are plenty of tight country roads, too. This is where it pays to have smaller tools. I tried running my usual Case harvester and header, but trouble found me. Not only at the fields themselves whenever indestructible fences were involved, but also on the roads. Where, in having to avoid a vehicle coming the other way, I’d be right against the fence or building with both header and rear of the harvester to let that vehicle pass.

Swapping to a smaller header worked out. And got me a little extra cash (the starting million having also been used on a terraforming my land, buying a house and greenhouse, along with a tractor and trailer) so that I could buy a speed boat and start my journey with fishing. Now, I start with a fishing rod, and could use it on land if I so wanted. Jetting out on a boat feels a lot nicer to do, however.

The boat does control fine. It might be a little slow, but it works. The area I can use it is larger than I was expecting, too. I could almost reach the land on the other side before the invisible walls grabbed me. The third-person camera when on foot is very fun to use when stood on the boat, as it doesn’t seem to understand I’m on a surface. So most of the time, my character is in the crouched position.

The fishing rod fares a bit worse, as the minigame to capture the fish, while simple, is lumbering. Much like other games, there’s a fish indicator and a reel indicator. Keep the reel at the same level as the fish to fill up a bar. With the one introduced in Farming Simulator, it doesn’t react fast enough when holding the button down. Fortunately, the fish indicator spends a good deal of time either at the top or bottom of the bar, and grows larger the closer I am to capturing it.

Fish caught with the rod can be sold or released straight away. With enough money, a true fishing boat can be bought, where the real fishing operation begins. I’m interested in seeing more of that operation. But first, I feel I need to be properly set up with my ground operations, so that won’t be for some time. Ground operations which, at this point in time, do not include the new crop of onions introduced with the Highlands Fishing expansion.

Or animals. Which include the newly introduced highlands cattle. Same as regular cattle, aside from their fluffy look. I do eventually want to get some of these gentle giants, but that depends entirely on how fast I can build up my ground operations. I’m fortunate that many of the AI farmers started with crops I can handle myself when accepting their jobs. And I hope that continues. Unlike with my base game save, where they quickly went for crops that require specialised equipment.

The Highlands Fishing expansion of Farming Simulator 25 likely won’t convince anyone not already invested in the series to give it a try. For those who are, it’s another great map with plenty to get stuck into. Along with the fishing stuff. The map of Kinlaig is easily where I’m spending the rest of my time with this game. And yes, the bias of my home country likely does play a part in that. Even without that, it’s an easy recommendation from me.

Images Taken From:
Farming Simulator 25 | Xbox Series S