When booking a vacation to Europe, most people include the United Kingdom to their list, but only end up visiting London. While it is a beautiful capital that is well worth your time, the country of Scotland should definitely be added to your “to visit” list as well. In case you’re not too familiar with the secrets that this nation holds, here are some cool and surprising facts about Scotland that are sure to spark your interest.
Scotland is one of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom, also being the second largest one.
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and every year it holds Edinburgh Festival Fringe l, the largest arts festival in the whole world. It is also the place where the Harry Potter movies were filmed, which makes it a must-visit for Potterheads.
Back in 2013, in order to attract more tourists, Scotland created a campaign and named two ponies, Fivla and Vitamin, their ambassadors. Not only that, but the silly animals were also dressed in cardigans made of local wool, which inevitably led to cardigans becoming one of the most popular souvenirs that travelers bring back home.
While on the topic of souvenirs, this country has plenty of Scottish gifts to offer to the tourists. Some of the most common and useful tokens include whisky, jewelry, and tartan items. Scottish gifts can be found not only in local shops, but also in authentic online stores such as https://www.gaelsong.com/prod_detail_list/scottish-gifts where you can find garments, accessories, and even home decor that feature iconic Scottish symbols.
The national animal of Scotland is… the unicorn! In fact, this animal has been a symbol of Scotland for almost 9 centuries and it is meant to represent power, purity, as well as beauty and grace.
Speaking of animals, the Edinburgh Zoo is also home to Sir Nils Olav, the only knighted penguin in the world! He has proudly been knighted in 2008 and is now a colonel-in-chief of the Norwegian King’s Guard.
Scotland is renowned for its Scotch whisky, The Famous Grouse being the most popular brand that every tourist should try. If you’re a whisky connoisseur, you will definitely like the brewery’s guided tours where you can savor different types of this beverage.
If you live to discover lesser-known destinations, Scotland is the right place for you! It is home to over 790 islands, each with its own unique landscapes. While some of them are easily accessible, others may require you to go on a real journey, which can be so exciting even for an experienced traveler.
There are more than 1500 castles in Scotland, some of the most popular ones being the Edinburgh, Stirling, and Eilean Donan Castles. Moreover, some of the castles can be rented for a night, making your trip to Scotland tenfold more interesting!
For those who have always been passionate about mystery and legends, the Loch Ness is the right place to go. This place is considered to be the home of the Loch Ness Monster, often called Nessie, a giant creature with a long neck that attracts millions of tourists every year.
