Considering a Vacation in Scotland
Great Britain is a most popular tourist destination. The “United Kingdoms” are England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales and each country has it’s own distinctive identity making each considerably different. The population of each country are, in the main, fiercely proud of their roots and happily declare their relevant nationalities while also calling themselves to be British. While most people in the UK are happy to remain part of the Union there are a large number, especially in Scotland, who would wish to become independent.
When most folk think of Scotland pictures of a tartan clad piper, or something similar, spring to mind. Much of what we see as wholly Scottish was, in fact, a Victorian creation with influential characters such as the famous novelist and poet, Sir Walter Scott, did much to promote Scotland and all things Scottish. While the majority of Scottish Highlanders did indeed wear tartan it was not until the marketing exploits of a Lowland company, William Wilson, that specific tartans were assigned to the different clans or regions. Unfortunately a great many patterns for historical tartans that were in existence before 1746 are now lost forever having been replaced with newer patterns. So what is truly Scottish, well to discover this we need to study the history of the nation and understand a little more about the different regions and cities of Scotland which can differ considerably within only short distances.
Much of what Sir Walter Scott recreated as traditional Scottish was taken from the region of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. The traditional dress of the region was, and still is, the tartan plaid/kilt and the bagpipes were played extensively since first promoted by the MacLeods. When visiting the Highlands one can not fail to be in awe of the most amazing scenery of mountain and glen and, as you travel from one place to another, you will be enthralled by the lovely little villages found dotted around. If you prefer larger towns and cities then you could always base a vacation in Fort William or in Inverness. If you enjoy the remote then a visit to the Isle of Skye in the Inner Hebrides or the islands of the Outer Hebrides should not be missed, especially if you wish to experience the culture of the Gaelic Heartland.
The capital city of Scotland is Edinburgh and it’s roots can go back thousands of years. Surprisingly there are still some fine examples of old buildings to be found in this thoroughly modern city of culture. Of course the city is dominated by Edinburgh Castle but there is much, much more to entice the tourist not least the incredible number of festivals spread throughout the year from the Edinburgh Festival in the summer to the New Year’s Hogmanay celebrations in the winter.
Strangely Edinburgh is not the largest city in Scotland, that honor goes to the nearby city of Glasgow. Glasgow could not be more different to Edinburgh if it really tried and there is strong competition between the two cities. While Edinburgh is quiet and laid back Glasgow is fast and furious at times, especially in the evenings when the town’s nightlife explodes into life with a multitude of restaurants, bars and nightclubs. Of course during the day there are plenty of architectural delights, numerous museums and galleries and absolutely amazing shopping to keep you fully entertained.
Besides the two cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow there are plenty of other towns and cities, such as Sterling, Perth, Dundee and Aberdeen, that are worth visiting as each are very different from one another. Each has it’s own tourist attractions such as St Andrews and it’s famous golf courses. One of the most popular tourist attractions is actually a modern work of engineering, the Falkirk Wheel but, in the main, most tourist attractions in Scotland are historical buildings or sites such as Stirling Castle.
Scotland is such a diverse country that a small article such as this can not do it justice and can only introduce you to the most basic. The country as a whole is incredibly geared towards tourism with a multitude of interesting tours available. There are typical historical tours, including ghost tours of Edinburgh, and the ever popular whisky tours. In fact Scotland is capable of providing the perfect vacation for almost anybody.
