Scotland is a former kingdom that is now part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is famous for its characteristic Scottish costume (plaid), whisky, rainy weather, wonderful landscapes and a huge number of castles. It’s worth seeing what Scotland has to offer and experiencing the gracious Scottish hospitality.
Scotland is located in the northern part of Great Britain. Scotland also includes the Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland Islands. Scotland is part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It has its own parliament and government. The official languages in Scotland are English, Scots and Scottish Gaelic (in the Hebrides). The capital of Scotland is Edinburgh and the largest city is Glasgow.
TRADITIONAL SCOTTISH COSTUME
The traditional Scottish costume is primarily a kilt, which is a plaid skirt with pleats. It is often combined with a sporran, i.e. a leather or fur bag attached to a belt on the hips. For the Scots it is part of tradition, history and heritage. Although the Scottish kilt is most often worn on formal occasions or at traditional events such as the Highland Games or Burns Night, it has recently been adopted as part of casual men’s attire. There have been many legends about the kilt for years, mainly due to the belief that a native Scot does not wear underwear under his skirt… it’s quite a mystery!
Perhaps the second most famous Scottish symbol is the bagpipe – a woodwind musical instrument. They consist of numerous tubes and pipes and a special air tank made of goat or sheep skin.
SCOTCH WHISKEY
Scotch whiskey is, of course, produced only in Scotland and is made from barley malt (single malt) or a mixture of various grains (blended). It must mature in oak barrels and is distilled twice.
There are 6 primary whiskey producing regions in Scotland:
-Lowland – a lowland, southernmost area that is rich in cereals. Thanks to the mild climatic conditions in Scotland’s whiskey regions, the distillates produced there mature faster. Whiskeys from this region are characterized by a mild and very light taste, light straw color, floral, often grassy and cereal aroma, and a slightly dry finish.
– Speyside – a cluster of distilleries on the River Spey between Elgin and Dufftown. Whiskeys from this region are the sweetest of all, they contain a large amount of esters, so you can smell apples, pears, cloves, violets, lemonade and bananas. Among the distillates from this region you can find some of the noblest whiskeys.
– Islay – this is the region most fertile in peat, and whiskey from this region is characterized by the most complex aroma (sea, smoke, peat, iodine). This region is treated exceptionally by every true whiskey lover – the local whiskey has a very strong taste that you either like or even hate.
– Highland – the largest region, divided into 4 subregions {northern, southern, eastern and western :)}, also includes the islands of Jura (Jura), Lewis (Abhainn Dearg), Skye (Talisker), Arran (Arran), Orkney (Highland Park). The whiskeys here are quite mild in taste; with a finish ranging from dry to sweet with various flavors and aromas (lilac, heather, honey, roots).
– Campbeltown – a very small region on the Kintyre Peninsula. Its name comes from the city. There are only two distilleries operating there. The whiskey is quite complex in nature, with flavors of peat, iodine and sea salt. Islands – with a strong maritime climate influence (windy and humid). Whiskey from this region is characterized by noticeable peat (although not as clearly as in the case of Islay), there are also accents of pepper.
MOUNTAINS
The country also offers beautiful nature that takes your breath away, picturesque mountains, moors, lakes and a huge space where you can feel the power of nature. Scotland is home to the highest mountain in Great Britain – Ben Nevis and the deepest lake – Loch Morar. Natural wealth means that enthusiasts of natural landscape photography eagerly come here from all over the world to capture some of the most wonderful views on Earth.
CASTLES
Scotland is truly a kingdom of castles. There are really a lot of them and it doesn’t matter whether they are ruins or a complete building. Here, each castle has its own rich history that is worth knowing. So I invite you on a journey following the footsteps of the most beautiful castles in Scotland, which should not be missed when visiting this beautiful country.
LOCH NESS
From the depths of the Scottish lake Loch Ness emerges a legend that has intrigued and entertained both residents and travelers from all over the world for centuries. Mysterious accounts and ancient evidence suggest the presence of an elusive monster whose existence remains a mystery despite modern attempts to discover it. This extraordinary story has attracted the interest of researchers and tourists from all over the world.
