Book TourEdinburgh Castle stands upon an old volcanic plug which is known as Castle Rock and there has been a stronghold on the site since the 12th century. The castle has become an emblem of Edinburgh and indeed Scotland as a whole. The castle appears on the town's coat of arms. Edinburgh is a UNESCO Creative City, well known for its literary heritage. It's the birthplace of world-famous authors, playwrights and poets such as Arthur Conan Doyle, Walter Scott and JK Rowling of Harry Potter fame.
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Scotland is a country occupying the northern third of the United Kingdom. It has its own distinctive character, culture and landscape and is popular amongst tourists for its rugged highland landscapes, lochs and towns of culture - not to mention its whiskey which is made in the many distilliaries throughout the country. There are numerous interesting islands off Scotland's coast, many of which have small communities and provide natural habits for diverse flora and fauna.
The capital of Scotland is Edinburgh, which has a medieval Old Town and a New Town comprising elegant Georgian buildings. Above the city stands Edinburgh Castle - home to Scotland's crown jewels.
Edinburgh forms part of a large southern region of Scotland known as the Lowlands. Other Lowland towns include Stirling, Aberdeen and the UNESCO Creative Cities of Dundee and Glasgow, both are which popular tourist destinations for those looking for a city break. The port city of Glasgow enjoyed a rich past due to trade and shipbuilding and as such there are wonderful examples of Victorian and art nouveau architecture in the city. Today the cathedral city has a thriving cultural scene and is home to the Scottish Opera, National Theatre of Scotland and Scottish Ballet.
North west of the Lowlands is a vast mountaneous terrain called the Highlands - which differs culturally and historically from the Lowlands. Here you will come across numerous lochs - the most famous of which is Loch Ness with its own mythical monster Nessie. Not far from the town of Fort William stands the highest point of the region - Ben Nevis at 4,413 feet above sea level. This is a popular location for walkers.
The capital of the Highlands is Inverness which is situated where the River Ness meets the Moray Firth and is where dolphins can be seen swimming. There are numerous historic castles to visit in the Highlands including Urquhart Castle, which offers views over Loch Ness, and stunning medieval castles on the Isle of Skye. The Cairngorms National Park offers mountains, picturesque walks and a miriad of wildlife. Plus the odd distillery or two. Cheers! Here's to Scotland!
