Scotland, which is situated to the north of England, makes up the
second-largest country in the United Kingdom with a population of just over five
million. While it may be part of the UK, Scotland is very much its own country
with famous cities such as the capital of Edinburgh and the largest of Glasgow.
The country also offers an array of lakes, rivers, mountains, and coastal
fishing villages to add to its charming scenery.
The North Sea lies to the to the east and the Atlantic Ocean to west and
north, so there’s no wonder there are many smaller islands that make up the
nation. However, there are almost 800 of them, with the largest and most famous
being the Hebrides, the Isle of Skye, and Northern Isles. In total, only about
90 of the islands are inhabited.
The history of the land goes back thousands of years to prehistoric times
with the first towns being settled about 6,000 years ago. The country was ruled
by the Roman Empire, which built the famous Hadrian's Wall to keep enemies out.
Scotland offers an ideal combination of historic cities,
beautiful countryside, and fascinating wildlife. The best way to
visit the country is to try and see some of each if possible.
While English is the main language, Scots and Scottish Gaelic
are also recognized as official ones.
Edinburgh is one of the places you won’t want to miss as it’s
the second largest city and capital. While it’s known as one of
the largest financial centres in Europe, it has a rich history
which can be seen in many of its landmarks such as Edinburgh
Castle. And while Glasgow has been known throughout the years as
a leading industrial and shipbuilding centre, it also has an
abundance of history and culture on display. Other popular
cities are Oban, Perth, Dundee, Inverness, Stirling, and
Aberdeen, which is known as the oil capital of Europe.
The land is sprinkled with museums, castles, cathedrals,
abbeys, churches, pubs, and historic monuments and universities.
There are five international airports to land it with several
regional ones. It’s easy getting around Scotland to explore all
areas of it as the roadways are in excellent condition, as are
the bus, ferry, and rail services. Glasgow also has a small
underground rail system in place. This will allow you to explore
the Scottish Highlands and famous sites such as Ben Nevis, which
is the country’s highest peak, as well as Loch Ness, and Loch
Lomond. While out in the countryside you should be able to see
some interesting wildlife, especially seabirds.
When visiting, make sure you know the climate is temperate
and oceanic, which means the weather can change pretty quickly.
It enjoys pretty mild winters with average temperatures of about
45 degrees Fahrenheit , but the summers are somewhat wet and
cool with average temperatures of about 65 degrees.
When it comes to culture, music is quite significant with the
bagpipes being one of the country’s most famous traditional
instruments. Others include the fiddle, harp, and accordion and
they’re all featured in many of the country’s fesitvals.
Literature is also important, especially poetry, as is the
theatre.
Sports are just as popular as the arts, and the Scots love
their soccer, rugby, golf, motorsports, curling, and boxing. The
town of St. Andrews is well known around the world as home of
golf and the Highland Games are just as famous. The 2014
Commonwealth Games will be held in Glasgow.
Being surrounded by so much water, it’s only natural that
seafood makes up a large part of the diet. You can also get some
excellent lamb and if you’d like to be adventurous can try out
the haggis, which is a variety of foods made inside a casing of
sheep intestines.
Scotland is a superb country to visit if you’d like to enjoy
historical sites along with natural beauty, friendly people and
a unique culture.
