Travel Guides - Poland

Scotland

Scotland lies in the northern part of Great Britain in northern Europe.  It is part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and bordered by England to the south.  To the east lies the North Sea and to the north and west lies the Atlantic Ocean.  Scotland is mainly made up of moors, mountains and islands and has three main geographic areas: the Highlands, the Southern Uplands and the Central Lowlands.  The Southern Uplands comprises rolling hills, moors and valleys in the areas of Dumfries, Galloway and the Scottish Borders. The Central Lowlands area is the most populated and includes Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.  The Lowlands are separated from the Highlands by the Grampian Mountains.  The Highlands area is very mountainous and this is where you will find the highest peak in Great Britain, Ben Nevis, at 4,407 ft/1,344m.  (‘Ben’ is Scottish for ‘mountain’). If you plan to visit the beautiful Cairngorm Mountains for some skiing in winter you can find information on the following website:  www.visitaviemore.com

Scotland also encompasses the Inner and Outer Hebrides islands located off the western coast, and the Shetland and Orkney Isles off the north coast.  Scotland is separated from England by the River Tweed, the Solway Firth, Liddell River and Cheviot Hills. The capital city is Edinburgh but the largest city is Glasgow.   Languages spoken are English and Scots Gaelic, although Gaelic is mostly only spoken in the far north. Scotland, England and Wales have shared a union since 1707 known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain Although Scotland and England share a monarch, in 1999 Scotland began electing its own parliament to oversee its domestic affairs. 

Many visitors go to Scotland to trace their ancestry through genealogy and there are plenty of websites and places to go for information on tracing your family history or clan.  Others go there for the golf as the medieval town of St. Andrews on the east coast is home to the famous and world-class golf course, website: www.standrews.org.uk.

Scotland’s coastline is very jagged and the indentations form what are known as ‘lochs’ and ‘firths’. Loch Lomond is the largest freshwater loch, and Loch Ness is famously known for ‘Nessie’ the fabled Loch Ness monster (www.nessie.co.uk).  The main rivers of Scotland are the Forth, Dee, Tay, Tweed and Clyde. 

Scotland is where you will find Balmoral Castle which has been the British Royal Family’s Scottish residence since it was purchased by Queen Victoria in 1848.  Website:  www.balmoralcastle.com

There is far too much to see and do in Scotland to include here, so have a look for yourself on the following useful websites:  Scottish Tourist Board: www.visitscotland.com and Highlands of Scotland Tourist Board: www.visithighlands.com.

Aberdeen

Also known as The Granite City, Aberdeen is a cosmopolitan city lying on the east coast of Scotland, approx.125 miles north-east by road from Edinburgh and 145 miles from Glasgow. The flavour and atmosphere of the city is very much influenced by its proximity to the sea and sand, but it is also known for its beautiful parks, gardens and flowers.  Aberdeen has plenty of history, cobbled streets, yet is also modern with plenty of cultural activities. The Winter Gardens are a popular attraction and open year-round.  Aberdeen serves as a good base if you want to tour the Grampian Highlands area and take in attractions such as the signposted Coastal Trail, Victorian Heritage Trail, Castle Trail and Malt Whisky Trail.   

Almost half of Scotland’s malt whisky distilleries are located in Speyside. This area was found to be perfect for the establishment of the distilleries because of the availability of pure spring water and plentiful supply of barley. If you follow the trail you can visit distilleries where famous brands such as Glenlivet, Glenfiddich and Chivas Regal are made. If you don’t know the difference between whisky and whiskey you can find out on www.whisky-distilleries.info.

If you are interested in history and wish to visit some castles, then from Aberdeen you have easy access to the Castle Trail and thirteen magical castles to stir your imagination. The coastline to the north and south of Aberdeen contains some of the most unspoilt beaches you will find anywhere. If you tour the coastline you will find delightful and picturesque fishing villages and ports and many other interesting attractions.  If you follow the Victorian Heritage Trail you will come across many of the places Queen Victoria visited and many towns in this area are still suppliers of ‘by appointment’ goods and services to the Royal Family. 

From June through September there are many events taking place in the Aberdeen area, including Highland Games, so check on the calendar of events and see if you can take in some live caber tossing!

Informative websites:  www.aberdeen-grampian.com and www.agtb.org.

Edinburgh

Edinburgh, the capital city, located on the Firth of Forth on the south-eastern side of Scotland is one of the most popular destinations for visitors.  Its look and personality is unmistakable with the magnificent castle sitting prominently above the city.  Close by is Leith which is part of the city and the port of Edinburgh.  Allow plenty of time to take in the sights as there is so much to see and do.  The UNESCO World Heritage Site designation includes the Old Medieval Town which dates from the eleventh century and is home to most of the famous historic sites like the castle and Royal Mile, and the newer Georgian town area which is located to the north of the city.  Enter the worlds you have read about of Robert the Bruce, Mary Queen of Scots, Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and many other famous Scots.

Edinburgh is famous for its ‘Festival’ or Edinburgh International Festival of Music and Drama, which has been held for three weeks every summer since 1947 and includes many live music, events, performances and activities. Website:  www.eif.co.uk.  If you enjoy military bands and pipes and drums, don’t miss the fantastic display of the annual Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

Among its many attractions are Edinburgh’s National War Memorial, Scottish Parliament Building and Royal Botanic Gardens.  There are many galleries and museums including the Royal Scottish Academy, National Gallery of Scotland, Royal Scottish Museum and Museum of Scotland.   Princes Street is the heart of the city where you can shop and find a café or restaurant to people-watch or take in a nice meal.   

You can see the city by foot or bicycle, or take a hop-on/hop-off bus tour, maybe an open-top bus if weather permits. 

Edinburgh and Lothians Tourist Board website:  www.edinburgh.org

Glasgow

Located not far from Edinburgh on the western side of the central part of Scotland is Glasgow. Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and a very popular destination for visitors after London and Edinburgh. Glasgow’s Victorian red-sandstone architecture is well preserved in many fine buildings and provides some of the best examples you will find anywhere.    

Football is important in Glasgow as it is home to two major teams, the Celtics and the Rangers.  Glasgow has the Scottish Football Museum which is a must for all soccer enthusiasts.  The city also has plenty of culture and an impressive selection of galleries and museums. The city centre houses one of the largest retail shopping areas you’ll find outside London.   With its universities and colleges, Glasgow has a large percentage of student population which makes for a very cosmopolitan and lively atmosphere. 

Glasgow’s shipyards are still a major industry for the area, and the river Clyde location gave birth to some famous and huge ocean liners such as the Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Elizabeth 2. 

You can get around the city easily on the Subway system. The Science Centre houses an IMAX theatre, planetarium and other science-related attractions.  Glasgow is home to the Scottish Opera and Scottish Ballet and there are plenty of opportunities to take advantage of all the culture and performing arts in this lively city.  Glasgow also has an annual Jazz Festival.  Greater Glasgow and Clyde Valley Tourist Board website:  www.seeglasgow.com.