Scotland,
like its sisters, is is administratively divided into counties.
In Scotland there are 31 counties. For the purposes of this
guide, we have divided Scotland into eight areas:
Aberdeenshire (including Moray),
Edinburgh
(including the three Lothians),
Greater
Glasgow (including Clyde Valley, Glasgow, East
Dunbartonshire, East Refrewshire, Inverclyde & Refrewshire,
North and South Lanarkshire)
Highlands and
Skye,
Perthshire
(with Angus, Dundee & Fife),
Southern
Scotland (including the Ayrshires, Dumfries &
Galloway and the Borders),
Western
Scotland (with Argyl, Bute,Stirling and
Falkirk)
Outer
Islands (with Western Isles, the Orkneys and
the Shetlands).
Hover over any of the areas and its title will be
revealed, click the area and you will be taken to the relevant
destination guide.
Untamed and beautiful, Scotland is located in northern Europe and
is bounded by the North Sea, the Atlantic Ocean and England. It
is around half the size of England, but most of its landmass is
comprised of moorlands, mountains and about 800 islands.
Scotland was inhabited by hunter-gatherers around 6,000 ago but
by the 7th century, the region was a warring mix of Norse
invaders, Scots, Picts, Beakers, Britons and Anglo-Saxons.
Several wars were fought as the movement for Scottish
independence from British supremacy gained momentum. The
Industrial Revolution brought prosperity to the towns and cities,
especially in the south, but the global depression of the 1930s
struck a mortal blow to the country’s economy.
The capital city of Scotland is
Edinburgh, with its romantic castle and is one of the best cities in
Europe. The Calton Hills, with various important monuments,
provide a scenic backdrop to the city. Nearby is Glasgow, which was considered a hotbed of unemployment and poverty
but now has much to offer a discerning tourist. You can visit the
Glasgow Cathedral, Burrell Collection, St Mungo’s Museum of
Religious Life and Art and the 15th-century Provand’s
Lordship or take a walk through the majestic structures of the
18th-century Merchant City.
The medieval town of St. Andrews was once
the ecclesiastical capital of the country. However, golfing is
its only religion today, with golfers from all over the world
thronging the world’s most famous golf course in the town.
Another destination worth exploring is Aberdeen, a veritable symphony in granite. The bewitching Inner
Hebrides, located on the country’s western coast, is the
perfect locale to round up your trip to Scotland.
The highlands of Scotland are perfect for cycling
while Aviemore, Glencoe, Nevis, Glenshee, The Lecht, and the
Nevis Range are ideal for skiing. You may also undertake a trip
to the world famous Loch Ness for an encounter with Nessie, the
monster.
