20 Facts About Scotland You Need To Know

When you join us on one of our Scottish Day Tours, not only will you see our beautiful country and hear about our history but our guides will tell you some amazing and noteworthy fact about Scotland.

As a taster, here are a few to whet your appetite: 

  1. The official animal of Scotland is the unicorn.
  2. The national dish of Scotland is haggis.
  3. Scotland has over 790 islands, 130 of which are inhabited.
  4. The oldest tree in Europe is a yew tree in Fortingall, Scotland, estimated to be over 5,000 years old.
  5. The national instrument of Scotland is the bagpipe.
  6. Scotland is home to the world’s first written constitution, the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320.
  7. Edinburgh Castle is built on an extinct volcano.
  8. The Loch Ness monster, also known as Nessie, is a famous mythical creature said to live in Loch Ness in Scotland.
  9. The first recorded game of golf was played in Scotland in the 15th century.
  10. The Scottish flag, the Saltire, is the oldest national flag still in use.
  11. Scotland is home to the largest red deer population in the UK.
  12. The whisky industry is a major contributor to Scotland’s economy.
  13. The Kelpies, a sculpture of two giant horse heads, is a popular tourist attraction in Falkirk, Scotland.
  14. Scotland has 3 official languages: English, Scots, and Scottish Gaelic.
  15. The Thistle is the national flower of Scotland.
  16. The first steam engine to be built in Scotland was the “Steam Engine for Raising Water by Fire” in 1765.
  17. The famous monster of Loch Ness is said to be a plesiosaur, a type of marine dinosaur.
  18. Scotland has the most castles per square mile than any other country in the world.
  19. The highest point in Scotland is Ben Nevis, standing at 1,345 meters (4,411 feet) tall.
  20. Scotland has more than 6,000 lochs (lakes) and is home to the largest freshwater lake in the UK, Loch Lomond.

Have your say - Leave a comment below:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *