Scotland History and Culture

About Edinburgh

Edinburgh, although not the largest, actually the second largest city in Scotland, is the capital city. It is on the eastern side of the country not far from the Firth of Forth (the forth being a river and firth is an estuary). It meets the North Sea with Fife on the north coast and Lothian on the south. A moniker for Edinburgh is “The Auld Reekie” which means “Old Smokey“ (from the days when black smoke draped the city in a gray fog).

Edinburgh, although not the largest, actually the second largest city in Scotland, is the capital city. It is on the eastern side of the country not far from the Firth of Forth (the forth being a river and firth is an estuary). It meets the North Sea with Fife on the north coast and Lothian on the south. A moniker for Edinburgh is “The Auld Reekie” which means “Old Smokey“ (from the days when black smoke draped the city in a gray fog).

Edinburgh, known also as "Athens of the North" is the city of festivals, with various themed- festivals year long.  The old town and the “new” town divide Edinburgh. The main feature of the Old Town is Edinburgh Castle, built on Castle Rock. From there, Royal Mile Street runs down a crest of a ridge to Holyrood Royal Palace. Along the route of The Royal Mile, you will see unique architecture with small and narrow alleys winding between both sides of the main street and as you would expect, there are museums, souvenir shops and crowded coffee shops and pubs.  As you stroll down the hill to the New Town (from the 18th century) and marvel at the Georgian homes you can also find many shopping options along Princess Street and the adjacent streets.  You have to see it to believe it! The road bridge between High and Chambers Streets which was built in the late 1700’s, is called the South Bridge. It has nineteen arches with rooms or vaults as they are called, that were originally intended to be used as shops, spaces for craftspeople and artisans as well as homes or even pubs. About three decades later, as the original tenants “bailed out”, the homeless and petty criminals took over. Today it has become an abandoned hot tourist site! Probably the most important urban park in Edinburgh is The Princess Gardens, which is about 150.000 sq. meters and divides Edinburgh’s new and old town. There is a mound (which is actually an artificial hill which connects the two!) The Scottish National Gallery is located right there, so if you plan to relax in the beautiful gardens, you can also soak in some culture!  Edinburgh is a great starting point to day trips around the Borders and Central regions of Scotland. 

About Pitlochry

Pitlochryis largely a Victorian town, which developed into a tourist resort because of Queen Victoria visiting the area in 1842 and the arrival of the railway in 1863. It remains a popular tourist resort today and is particularly known as a centre for hillwalking, surrounded by mountains such as Ben Vrackie and Schiehallion. It is popular as a base for coach holidays. The town has retained many stone Victorian buildings, and the main street has an unusual period cast iron canopy over one side. The town has two whisky distilleries, whose visitor centres are popular attractions: Edradour, which is the smallest legal distillery in Scotland, and Blair Athol Distillery, which dates back to 1798.

Pitlochryis largely a Victorian town, which developed into a tourist resort because of Queen Victoria visiting the area in 1842 and the arrival of the railway in 1863. It remains a popular tourist resort today and is particularly known as a centre for hillwalking, surrounded by mountains such as Ben Vrackie and Schiehallion. It is popular as a base for coach holidays. The town has retained many stone Victorian buildings, and the main street has an unusual period cast iron canopy over one side. The town has two whisky distilleries, whose visitor centres are popular attractions: Edradour, which is the smallest legal distillery in Scotland, and Blair Athol Distillery, which dates back to 1798.

About Inverness

Inverness, meaning "Mouth of the River Ness" is the capital of the Scottish Highlands. The river Ness which flows from Loch Ness into the Beauly Firth divides this city. The city is the largest in the area and is dominated by the 19th century red-stone Inverness Castle (listed as a Category A building) which was built on the site of an older castle. Immortalized by Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Inverness was a fortress but served as a government building in the last few decades. However, the castle is closed due to renovations and hopefully the castle will reopen to the public sometime in 2025.

Inverness, meaning "Mouth of the River Ness" is the capital of the Scottish Highlands. The river Ness which flows from Loch Ness into the Beauly Firth divides this city. The city is the largest in the area and is dominated by the 19th century red-stone Inverness Castle (listed as a Category A building) which was built on the site of an older castle. Immortalized by Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Inverness was a fortress but served as a government building in the last few decades. However, the castle is closed due to renovations and hopefully the castle will reopen to the public sometime in 2025.

Riddle:  What is real or a figment of one’s imagination and has been described as having a long, long neck,one or two humps and can swims below water and comes up to breathe above water – which would make him/her/they an amphibian or a  vertebrate animal! Since we are touring Scotland, you might have guessed it to be the Loch Ness “Monster”! The first 20th century sighting (ignoring the legend from the 6th century AD or the story of 1871) was in 1933. With time, not knowing “what is it/they” the Loch Ness creature was eventually given a nickname and is now affectionately called Nessie. So if you do walk, drive or fly by, keep your camera ready for the “Kodak Moment”!  Who knows, you just might be the one who proves the existence of one called Nessie. Also make sure to visit the ruins of Urquhart Castle and the Culloden Battlefield and Visitor Center to learn about that last battle on British soil between the Government army and the Jacobite army of Charles Edward Stuart. About two and a half km from Inverness is the mysterious site of Clava Cairns which is basically a collection of standing stones in circles believe to have been one (perhaps two) burial grounds in the Bronze Age.   Have a great time in the city itself, shopping during the day on the high street then joining the locals for an evening drink in one of the cozy and lively pubs with live music!  Starting and ending at the Inverness Castle, Inverness is the perfect spot to begin a road trip along the North Coast 500, a 516-mile scenic route around the north coast of Scotland.  Fort George, or as it is known in Gaelic “An Gearaston” (The Garrison) is a 'registered historic monument'. A fortress built in the 18th century, named after King George II, it was built to house the army which was fighting the Battle of Culloden in 1746. The Seaforth Highlanders made use of the fort until 1964 and now it is the base for the Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland. However, by the end of this decade the fort will be closed.

About Oban

Oban is a resort town within the Argyll and Bute council area of Scotland, occupying a beautiful setting in the Firth of Lorn. The area around Oban is rich with attractions for tourists, from the dramatic scenery of the coast and mountains to the fascinating histories of the local castles and ancient religious sites. There are also many activities available for families and those interested in more active pursuits. The Oban Visitor Information Centre, operated by VisitScotland, is located in the Columba Buildings on the North Pier. An annual Highland Games, known as the Argyllshire Gathering, is also held in the town.

Oban is a resort town within the Argyll and Bute council area of Scotland, occupying a beautiful setting in the Firth of Lorn. The area around Oban is rich with attractions for tourists, from the dramatic scenery of the coast and mountains to the fascinating histories of the local castles and ancient religious sites. There are also many activities available for families and those interested in more active pursuits. The Oban Visitor Information Centre, operated by VisitScotland, is located in the Columba Buildings on the North Pier. An annual Highland Games, known as the Argyllshire Gathering, is also held in the town.

About Glasgow

The founder and patron saint of the city of Glasgow was Kentigern (better known as Mungo,) who was a missionary in the in the late sixth century. He was made a patron saint because he performed four miracles. The symbols of the four miracles were included in Glasgow’s coat of arms. 

The founder and patron saint of the city of Glasgow was Kentigern (better known as Mungo,) who was a missionary in the in the late sixth century. He was made a patron saint because he performed four miracles. The symbols of the four miracles were included in Glasgow’s coat of arms. 

Every Glaswegian child knows the rhyme about Mungo and his miracles. Here is the bird that never flewHere is the tree that never grewHere is the bell that never rangHere is the fish that never swamThe first miracle was bringing a robin to life after it had been killed; A fire was squelched by his classmates and Mungo used a branch of a tree to rekindle the fire; the bell was one he fetched from Rome which people were frighten to ring for superstitious reasons.The fourth miracle is a long story, but in the end, Mungo found the ring in a fish’s mouth (evidence) and saved the Queen of Strathclyde from execution. The impressive Gothic medieval Glasgow Cathedral was built somewhere between 1136-1484 AD.  The Cathedral is seen as a symbol of Salvation and in ancient times was seen as a pilgrimage destination to visit the tomb of St. Kentigern (St. Mungo).Established in 1833, not far from the Glasgow Cathedral is the Glasgow Necropolis (Victorian) cemetery. There are more than 3000 monuments, many with no names, tombs and interesting architecture in a park-like atmosphere.  Glasgow, once the home of the "Tobacco Lords" that built the city and its port, became an important university city and in recent years, the city "reinvented" itself and is known today as a center of arts and culture. Glasgow has numerous museums, few of which commemorate the industrial heritage of the city and has stage art venues that host music concerts and theater and sport events. The city center, known as the Merchant City, popular from 1750 offers plenty of fine shopping and dining.  Don’t miss the buildings and Tea Rooms built by the city's famous architect, Charles Rennie Mackintosh such as The Willow Tearooms, The Lighthouse and Queen's Cross Church.  Secret: The original Tea Room is on 217 Sauchiehall Street and was opened in 1903. From its earliest days when it opened its doors in 1901, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum has been on the most popular and appreciated museum for adults and children.   There are twenty-two galleries which include collections internationally acclaimed, such as; paintings, sculptures & photography, ceramics, arms & armor, natural history, animals, and so much more. Due to urgent repairs the museum was closed for a few years and when it re-opened its doors it was a real hit with the locals and tourists alike.Secret: It’s free! Glasgow can be a base for day trips to the region of Loch Lomond and central Scotland.

About Edinburgh

Edinburgh, although not the largest, actually the second largest city in Scotland, is the capital city. It is on the eastern side of the country not far from the Firth of Forth (the forth being a river and firth is an estuary). It meets the North Sea with Fife on the north coast and Lothian on the south. A moniker for Edinburgh is “The Auld Reekie” which means “Old Smokey“ (from the days when black smoke draped the city in a gray fog).

Edinburgh, although not the largest, actually the second largest city in Scotland, is the capital city. It is on the eastern side of the country not far from the Firth of Forth (the forth being a river and firth is an estuary). It meets the North Sea with Fife on the north coast and Lothian on the south. A moniker for Edinburgh is “The Auld Reekie” which means “Old Smokey“ (from the days when black smoke draped the city in a gray fog).

Edinburgh, known also as "Athens of the North" is the city of festivals, with various themed- festivals year long.  The old town and the “new” town divide Edinburgh. The main feature of the Old Town is Edinburgh Castle, built on Castle Rock. From there, Royal Mile Street runs down a crest of a ridge to Holyrood Royal Palace. Along the route of The Royal Mile, you will see unique architecture with small and narrow alleys winding between both sides of the main street and as you would expect, there are museums, souvenir shops and crowded coffee shops and pubs.  As you stroll down the hill to the New Town (from the 18th century) and marvel at the Georgian homes you can also find many shopping options along Princess Street and the adjacent streets.  You have to see it to believe it! The road bridge between High and Chambers Streets which was built in the late 1700’s, is called the South Bridge. It has nineteen arches with rooms or vaults as they are called, that were originally intended to be used as shops, spaces for craftspeople and artisans as well as homes or even pubs. About three decades later, as the original tenants “bailed out”, the homeless and petty criminals took over. Today it has become an abandoned hot tourist site! Probably the most important urban park in Edinburgh is The Princess Gardens, which is about 150.000 sq. meters and divides Edinburgh’s new and old town. There is a mound (which is actually an artificial hill which connects the two!) The Scottish National Gallery is located right there, so if you plan to relax in the beautiful gardens, you can also soak in some culture!  Edinburgh is a great starting point to day trips around the Borders and Central regions of Scotland.