Scotland

Scotland is often cold, grey and rainy. And yet many visitors love Scotland very much; they love the beautiful empty hills of the north, the sea, and the islands. They love the major cities like Edinburgh and Glasgow. Scottish people are well-known for being friendly, warm, and funny.

Scotland was a poor country for many years, but today the economy is getting better. Scotch whisky is popular around the world so this brings lots of money to Scotland. Between Scotland and Norway there is lots of oil and gas in the sea. Tourism brings money into the country as well.

There were many battles between England and Scotland between 1066 and 1328. Robert the Bruce, a Scottish king, beat the English at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. In this battle 10,000 Englishmen died and soon after Scotland was free. Mary, “Queen of Scots” became queen when she was still a girl, in 1542. The inventor of the telephone, Alexander Graham Bell, was also born in Scotland. The inventor of the first television, John Logie Baird, was Scottish, too.

The capital city of Scotland is Edinburgh. There are many old, interesting buildings in Edinburgh, such as Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile and Holyrood House, which is three hundred years old. Edinburgh also has the national Gallery of Scotland, with pictures from Scotland and from other countries. The biggest city in Scotland is Glasgow, which used to be a shipbuilding city. There are some beautiful buildings from that time in George Square.

Golf has been popular in Scotland since it started in the 15th century. Mary, Queen of Scots, played it. The golfing capital of Scotland is St. Andrews, a small city near Edinburgh. Golf is very important for many Scots. It is quite cheap, and there are over 400 beautiful golf courses! You can play from seven in the morning until ten at night in the summer months.

There are lots of outdoor activities in the Highlands; walking, climbing, and fishing. Hiking in the Highlands can be difficult and dangerous in the winter, and sometimes in the summer, too.