Saint Andrew's Cross

The Scottish flag is also known as the Saltire. It is said to be one of the oldest national flags in the world. Tradition suggests that St. Andrew was put to death by the Romans in Greece by being pinned to a cross of this shape.

Flag with a red lion standing on its hind legs on a yellow background is the flag of the kings of Scotland, called the Royal Standard of Scotland.

Lion Rampant

Although there is no official National anthem of Scotland, Flower of Scotland is played on special occasions and sporting events such as football and rugby matches, after it was voted the overwhelming favourite by participating Scottish athletes.

Other less popular candidates for the National Anthem of Scotland include:o Scotland the Braveo Highland Cathedralo Scots Wha Haeo A Man's A Man for A' That

The name Scotland is derived from that of the Celtic people (Scotii) who came across from Ireland during the 6th century. The Romans called these northern lands Caledonia.

Scotland confirmed her independence at the Battle of Bannockburn in Stirling in 1314, where a visitor centre tells the story today of how the Scottish nation, under their leader King Robert the Bruce, overcame their English oppressors. However, in 1603 the Scottish King James VI inherited the English crown and thus Scotland lost her own royal court and later, her parliament and independence in 1707.

Scotland is now governed from London, but in some ways it is still a separate nation. It has its own capital – Edinburgh, its own law and its own stamps. It even has a language of its own, spoken now by only a few people in the islands.

Scotsmen are very proud of their nationality, culture and traditions. One of the most characteristic elements of their tradition is the national dress. The kilt is made of woolen cloth of chequered pattern, one for each family, called tartan. As a symbol of independence and pride it was banned by the English in 1746, the ban was lifted 35 years later. It is still worn for social occasions in Scotland, with white shirt and tweed jacket, stockings and laced shoes.

Bagpipe

The instrument consists of: an airtight bag and pipes of three kinds a blow-pipe a “chanter” for melodydrones producing the continuous note.

A lot of Scottish family names start with ‘Mac’ or ‘Mc’, which means ‘son of’ in Gaerlic. Both forms are found, but there are slightly more names beginning with ‘Mac’ in Scotland.

Important Scottish word is the clan. In Gaerlic, ‘clan’ means family. The clan system started in Scotland in the 6th century, when the Scots began to divide their kinds between their leaders. The clan system had a recognized hierarchy starting with the chief and down through lesser chieftains to simple clansmen who were sworn to absolute loyalty.

CLAN

NAMES

The thistle, Scotland's Floral emblem.

Scotland is divided into three geographical areas: the Highlands the Islands the Lowlands

Scotland’s capital is regarded as one of Europe’s most elegant cities. Begin at the castle, dominant on the city’s skylines. Highlight of Edinburgh’s year is in August when the city is filled to capacity during the International Festival and Festival Fringe, while the nightly spectacle of the Military Tattoo lights up the Castle Esplanade.

In contrast to the elegance of Edinburgh is the vibrancy of Scotland’s largest city, Glasgow. Over the last decade Glasgow has undergone a cultural revolution and it is today packed with cultural attractions: theatre, opera, ballet and outstanding museums including the Burrell Collection.

He spent ten years fighting for the freedom of Scotland's people from English rule against Edward I. He began as an outlaw and came to lead armies, with a famous victory over the English at Stirling Bridge in 1297. He was executed as a traitor in London in 1305.

A number of monuments still stand to his memory in Scotland today including the Wallace National Monument just outside Stirling.

William Wallace

Mary Queen of Scots

Bonnie Prince Charlie

Flora MacDonald

King James I

Robert the Bruce

Rob Roy

Black Agnes

Football

GolfThe game of Golf was invented in Scotland and enjoyed by the nobility as early as the 15th Century. Most Scottish towns and cities have at least one golf course (Edinburgh has at least twenty-one courses!).

And:

•Climbing •Hill-Walking •Fishing on the River Tweed •American Football •Athletics and Running •Ornithology •Mountain Biking

Rugby

There are a number of other traditional sports, often played at Highland Games:

• Tossing the Caber • Competitive Highland Dancing

Whisky is Scotland's most famous drink and today there are over a hundred distilleries in Scotland. From Speyside to the Highlands and Islands of the west coast, the range and variety of whiskies on offer is astonishing. The tiny island of Islay, for example, has eight distilleries alone, including Bruichaddich, which still makes its malt using the same Victorian process it did over a century ago.

View from Innerleithen, Scottish Borders

Ben Nevis, Highlands

The Five Sisters of Kintail, Wester Ross, Highlands.

Talla Reservoir, Borders, Scotland.

Glenfinnan Viaduct is a railway viaduct on the West Highland Line in Glenfinnan, Lochaber, Highland,

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