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Scotland -
Mountain
and loch, sheer rocks, and a sky create a drama that scarcely can be beaten.
Edinburgh born writer Robert Louis Stephen son could not understand why
this abundance of eccentrics was not a theatrical scene but an everyday
view of his city.
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Scotland has been a constituent
part of Great Britain since the Act of Union was passed by the legislatures
of England and Scotland in 1707. However, the union of these two ancient
lands has not always been an easy one, and even after 1707 wars and rebellions
by Scots determined to maintain their full independence were not uncommon.
Many of these conflicts have been celebrated in popular culture and some
have even been given the Hollywood treatment. One of the most notable examples
was “Braveheart”, a 1995 film produced, directed and starring Australian
actor Mel Gibson. While not completely accurate, the film told the story
of William Wallace and his struggle to keep Scotland fully independent
in the face of attacks and invasions from England’s King Edward I in the
early 14th century
Edinburgh, world cultural
heritage, and festival city masterfully sets the scene and surprises not
only the poet with its sense of the theatrical. The castle alone in its
imposing position on black basalt rocks with its St. Margaret's Chapel
built in 1090 seems shrouded in mystery and today houses the Scottish Crown
Jewels, that includes a crown made with gold mined in Scotland. In a tiny
room in the castle the Scottish Queen Mary Stuart bore her son James VI
who ruled Scotland and following the death of Queen Elizabeth also over
England. With his move to London he also sealed the fate of the Scottish
monarchy.
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The castle on its rock outcrop
was residence of the Scottish mon-archs from the end of the eleventh century
and hotly contested for centuries and remained as a symbol when Scotland
eventually fell under the English monarchy with the Treaty of Union in
1707. The dispute between the Catholic and Protestant churches particularly
dominated matters in Edinburgh and the reign of terror of Oliver Cromwell
from 1650 was very traumatic for the city
Scotland occupies the northern
third of the island of Great Britain. It is bounded by England in the south
and on the other three sides by water: by the Atlantic Ocean on the west
and north and by the North Sea on the east. Scotland is divided into three
physical regions—the Highlands; the Central Lowlands, containing two-thirds
of the population; and the Southern Uplands. The western Highland coast
is intersected throughout by long, narrow sea lochs, or fjords. Scotland
also includes the Outer and Inner Hebrides and other islands off the west
coast and the Orkney and Shetland Islands off the north coast.
The Corryvreckan Whirlpool
is precisely that - a natural whirlpool. Situated off the coast of Argyll
in the Corryvreckan Gulf, the whirlpool is created by the complex tidal
system in the area. On windy days, massive waves (up to 15 foot!) can also
be seen. The Corryvreckan Whirlpool carries a legend of love and loss due
to lack of chastity.
On the Isle of Staffa you'll
find Fingal's Cave - a striking natural rock cave right on the coast of
the island. What makes this cave so special is the many vertical basaltic
pillars which stretch up in and around the cave. It is surmised that the
cave was formed naturally by the sea's undermining the vertical rock formation,
causing a large section of it to fall away. Its peculiarity makes the cave
well worth a visit.
If you are travelling to the
North of Scotland, Shetland or Orkney, you have to make an effort to see
the Northern Lights. Aurora Borealis is basically ions - sun particles
- which after an incredible journey enter earths atmosphere and react with
the gasses found there, producing amazing lights. They are a splash of
vivid and bright colors, most often green, which moves constantly in the
night sky. The Northern Lights do not appear every day but can be predicted
with a reasonable amount of accuracy. Most of the Scottish folklore involving
this natural wonder revolves around battling titans or bloodied battlefields,
however it ranges from region to region.
Another two natural wonders
worth seeing are Loch Lomond and the Great Glen. Both are well preserved
natural areas which provide pleasurable sight seeing and many outdoor opportunities.
Why not include some of these natural wonders in your trip to Scotland?
You'll find that they are well worth it.
| A great many of the attractions
in Scotland are nature-orientated and will either get you acquainted with
the local flora and fauna or will give you insight into some of the creatures
found around the world. The Five Sisters Zoo Park, the Beecraigs Country
Park, the Macduff Marine Aquarium, the Edinburgh Zoo, the St Andrew’s Aquarium
and the Cairngorm Reindeer Center are all nature-based attractions with
very different appeal. Other attractions may have a more historical interest
such as the Royal Yacht Britannia and the Jarlshof Prehistoric and Norse
Settlement or historical and educational value of which the Edinburgh University
is probably the best example. Many visitors enjoy visiting attractions
based on local legend, such as the Wallace Monument and the Official Loch
Ness Exhibition Center, while others prefer to stick to the cold hard facts
and tour scientific attractions such as the Stratosphere Science Center
and the Glasgow Science Center. Whatever your preference is, you can be
sure that you will find something in Scotland that appeals to you. |
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Of course some attractions are
better suited to people with small children than are others and some cater
almost exclusively for children. One example of this is the Pitlochry Children’s
Amusement Park. However, most of the facilities are well developed and
offer not only wheelchair access and handy information but also baby changing
facilities and other necessary amenities. All this makes for a great day
out, regardless of your circumstances, and a most memorable trip to Scotland. |
