Scotland

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Entry posted by korver · July 22, 2020

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Scotland is the second-largest of the constituent nations of the United Kingdom. It has a 60 mile land border with England to the south, and is separated from Northern Ireland by the North Channel of the Irish Sea. The capital city of Edinburgh is well known for its ancient hilltop castle and the largest city, Glasgow, is known for its rich history and industrial past. Scotland is a country renown for its dramatic scenery of mountains and valleys, rolling hills, green fields and forests, and rugged coastline. Today, we'll be taking a trip to this beautiful country and exploring some of Scotland's most impressive landscapes and landmarks.

Our trek across Scotland starts off in the bustling and thriving port of Mallaig, situated on Scotland's northwest coast along the famous Road to the Isles. This port city is the ideal base from which to explore plenty of Scotland's magnificent scenery - so we catch a ferry and set out to further tour the area.

We've arrived at Castle Stalker - one of the country's most impressive landmarks. This four-story tower house is picturesquely set on a tidal islet on Loch Laich, an inlet off Loch Linnhe - and sunsets here are especially beautiful.

The rugged Scottish Highlands carve up the northern interior of Scotland - by far the largest region in Scotland, they cover nearly 10,000 sq miles and are home to all sorts of stunning scenery, including the UK's highest point Ben Nevis and famed Loch Ness.

Perhaps Scotland's most famous tourist attraction is none other than the legendary Loch Ness. This large, deep freshwater loch (or lake) extends nearly 25 miles long across the heart of the Scottish Highlands and reaches a max depth of over 750 feet. Loch Ness is best known however for its famous alleged resident - the cryptozoological Loch Ness Monster, affectionately known as "Nessie" - which has had reported sightings for centuries. Is it a floating branch or something more.. you be the judge.

After our trek through the highlands, we head further north to explore a few more of Scotland's most notable man made landmarks. Carn Liath is a broch, a sophisticated type of Iron Age settlement accompanied by the rare survival of an associated village and earthworks. Even in its ruined state, Carn Liath shows the ingenuity of Scotland’s Iron Age farmers and the sophistication of their architecture in designing an impressive and well-defended settlement.

Further north past the mainland is where you'll find one of Scotland's most beautiful landscapes - Orkney. This archipelago off the northeastern coast of Scotland encompasses neolithic sites, tall sandstone cliffs and seal colonies. The island's most notable landform is the 449 foot tall Old Man of Hoy - formed from Old Red Sandstone, it is one of the tallest stacks in the United Kingdom. The Old Man is also popular with climbers, and was first climbed in 1966 - but be warned, even the easiest routes require years of experience and the weather here can make things even more difficult.

We travel back towards the mainland and take the A9 south along the country's northeastern waterfront, taking in the beautiful sights of the North Sea. After a full day of driving, we've arrived at one of the UK's most famous castles - legendary Dunnottar Castle. A romantic, evocative and historically significant ruined Castle, Dunnottar is perched dramatically on a giant rocky ledge on the edge of the North Sea. This impregnable fortress holds many rich secrets of Scotland’s colourful past - and any trip here is one you'll remember for a lifetime.

After exploring Scotland's most impressive natural wonders and man made landmarks, we head south for the final leg of our journey - where we'll visit the country's two largest cities. Glasgow is a port city on the River Clyde in Scotland's western Lowlands - and with a population of nearly 600,000, it's also the country's largest city. It's famed for its Victorian and art nouveau architecture, a rich legacy of the city's 18th–20th-century prosperity due to trade and shipbuilding. Today it's a national cultural hub, home to institutions including the Scottish Opera, Scottish Ballet and National Theatre of Scotland, as well as acclaimed museums and a thriving music scene.

Our trip to Scotland wraps up in the nation's capital city of Edinburgh. Edinburgh is Scotland's compact, hilly capital - known for its medieval Old Town and elegant Georgian New Town with gardens and neoclassical buildings. Looming over the city is the impressive Edinburgh Castle, home to Scotland’s crown jewels and the Stone of Destiny, used in the coronation of Scottish rulers.