Located in the northern part of the United Kingdom, Scotland is a country with a rich and ancient history. Needless to say, There are many reasons why you should visit this amazing place.
Aside from the normal tourist attractions, there are many things that are unique to Scotland. From the traditional Scottish dish, haggis, to the legendary Loch Ness monster, check out these 25 amazing things unique about Scotland.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1Z0uSnD1vk
You Know What They Say About Redheads
It will come as no surprise that Scotland has the highest number of redheads in the world. Around 13 percent of the population sports red locks, with 40 percent carrying the recessive gene.
Great Minds
Scotland is not lacking in the famous literature category, claiming such creative minds as Sir Walter Scott, considered the father of historical novel, Lord Byron, the famous poet, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the author of the Sherlock Holmes books.
Hope You Came Hungry
The national dish of Scotland is haggis, a savory pudding made of sheep heart, liver, and lungs with some vegetables and spices, traditionally cooked inside the animal’s stomach. We wouldn’t know, but it is apparently delicious with a nutty, savory flavor.
Halò?
Be Grateful for Scottish Inventors
We have several famous Scottish inventors to thank for some of our favorite modern-day luxuries. John Logie Baird developed the television in 1925. Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876. And Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928.
Check, please
Founded in 1695, The Bank of Scotland is the oldest surviving bank in the UK. It was also the first bank in Europe to print its very own notes.
Family Ties
According to the United States and Canadian censuses, there are as many Scottish people living in North America as in Scotland. Statistics estimated around five million people claiming Scottish ancestry in America and Canada.
Rain, Rain, Go Away
It will come as no surprise that the raincoat was invented in Scotland in 1824, as per its reliably wet climate. Created by Charles Macintosh, a chemist born in Glasgow, the garment is still referred to as a “Mac” in Great Britain.
Roots
I'll Drink to That
Edradour distillery is Scotland’s smallest traditional distillery, found in Perthshire. Dating back to 1825, Edradour is the last farm distillery of handmade single malt whiskey still in production today. It receives 100,000 visitors a year but produces just 90,000 liters of malt whiskey.
Down to the Depths
Scotland’s deepest loch is Loch Morar and is also the deepest freshwater body in the British Isles. Measuring at 1,017 feet deep, the loch was created by glacial action some 10,000 years ago.
The famous Loch Ness is the second deepest loch in Scotland, so you can only imagine what wonders (or terrors) Loch Morar is hiding.
Your Friendly Neighborhood Water Monster
You’d be hard pressed to find someone in this day and age who hasn’t heard of the Loch Ness Monster. The earliest recorded sighting of the legendary beast occurred in 565 AD when a “water beast” attacked one of St. Columba’s followers in the River Ness.
Lads and Lassies
The Heights of the Highlands
The Scottish Highlands is also home to Ben Nevis, the highest mountains of the British Isles. Standing 4,411 feet above sea level, the summit of this mountain is made of the collapsed dome of an ancient volcano. The ruins of an observatory rest atop it, which was continuously staffed between 1883 and 1904.
The Swarm
One of Scotland’s less appealing features is the Highland Midge, which plagues the Scottish Highlands each summer. Queen Victoria is reputed to have actually smoked cigarettes during her stay there to keep the midges at bay.
Fore!
The Crown
The Loch Ness, but without the monster
Scotland has quite a diverse landscape and holds more than 600 miles of freshwater lakes. Yes, and the one you’re thinking of. The famous Loch Ness!
Is there an echo in here?
The Hamilton Mausoleum can be found in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire. It was the final resting place of the family of the Dukes of Hamilton, but that isn’t its only feature. The Mausoleum boasts the longest echo of any man-made structure in the world at a total of 15 seconds.
Skara Brae
On the Scottish isle of Orkney lays a Neolithic structure called Skara Brae, a collection of eight stone houses that was occupied from roughly 3180 BC to about 2500 BC.
It is Europe’s most complete Neolithic village and gained status as an UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is dated to be older than Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids and has been called “The Scottish Pompeii” due to its excellent preservation.
Goal!
In the year 1872, Scotland and England played against each other in the very first international game of football (soccer). The end score was a 0-0 draw.
Rules of the Road
Isles for Miles
Scotland includes over 700 islands. We’re not going to name them all, as that could probably be its own entire list (or several lists).
However, a few famous ones you may have heard of include the Isle of Skye, Shetland (home to do those adorable ponies), and Orkney.
Neighbors
Scotland shares a border with England. The Atlantic Ocean borders the west coast, while the North Sea hems the eastern side.
Edinburgh
The capital of Scotland is Edinburgh. Don’t worry, we can’t pronounce it, either. Edinburgh has been the country’s capital since the 15th century and is the official place of residence of Scotland’s monarch.