There is no doubt that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie arrived in Japan on Sunday with their children.

Hello! magagazine had a series photographs showing they were "all smiles" as they passed through the Tokyo airport.

There doesn't seem to be quite the same pictorial evidence that, before heading east, the couple had been in Caithness. Scrabster to be precise, where they were reported to have been "spotted" having come off the luxury cruise ship the Hebridean Princess last Thursday.

There have been reports that the vessel is being hired by the golden couple so that they can be married at sea.

But the operators have not confirmed this, only that it has been chartered for seven days at the end of next summer.

The former CalMac ferry Columba, which was tarted up provide luxury cruising in the waters of the Highlands and islands, was famously chosen by the Queen to celebrate her 80th birthday.

Her Majesty spent £125,000 to hire the Hebridean Princess for the celebratory jaunt with the Duke of Edinburgh and other senior Royals, including Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, in August 2006.

So it may very well be that Brad and Angelina have decided that the Minch, Scapa Flow, Loch Nevis, or some other watery venue is where they will get spliced.

But there is a long history of speculation about the famous about to come to Highlands and Islands. They don't always make it.

Ever since her wedding at Skibo Castle in December 2000, Madonna's name has been linked with numerous Highland estates including the £4.5m Amhuinnsuidhe Castle and Estate on Harris. Michael Jackson and golfer Nick Faldo were also supposed to be interested. In the end it was the community of North Harris in partnership with millionaire businessman Ian Scarr Hall who bought it.

Sir Paul McCartney was supposed to marry Heather Mills at Skibo, but didn't.

In 2007 Bob Dylan and his brother bought the £2.2m Aultmore House in Nethy Bridge, but so far the singer hasn't been recognised around the byways of Badenoch and Strathpsey. Three years later a pink Range Rover similar to the one driven by Katie Price/Jordan, was seen in Newtonmore, and somebody fitting her description was reported at a hotel in the village, a Chinese takeaway in Kingussie and Tesco in Aviemore. However it turned out to be "a girl from Glasgow."

But it is worth recalling the owner of Dippin Lodge on Arran. When he put it up for sale a few years back, he was concerned what certain celebrities would bring to the island .

So he advertised in Private Eye saying: "Would suit privacy- seeking celebrity with impeccable taste – that's Halliwell, Posh, Cilla, Rod, Hucknell & Cowell out for starters."

In case there was any doubt a second advert in the same issue read "Heather Mills McCartney can ****** off too."