The 78th left its assignment in Ireland two years later and then made for home at Fort George in the Highlands. Here they were linked with the First Highland Light Infantry. In 1879, they returned to India and were sent to Afghanistan to spend a miserable winter for which, presumably, only those who had served at Halifax were conditioned. The immensely long, hard marches in wretched climatic conditions at unaccustomed altitudes and over inhospitable terrain must have been an ordeal greater than the actual fighting and their sacrifices were later duly recognized.

In 1881, as part of the new Army Reforms, the Ross-shire Buffs were merged with the 72nd Duke of Albany’s own Highlanders to become the 2nd Battalion of the Seaforth Highlanders. In 1961, the Seaforth Highlanders were amalgamated with the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders. Their new title being the Queen's Own Highlanders (Seaforth and Camerons). In 1994, the regiment was amalgamated with the Gordon Highlanders and became "The Highlanders" (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons). Most recently, the Highlanders were made the 4th Battalion of the new Royal Royal Regiment of Scotland.