Loch Lomond Loch Lomond is the largest expanse
of fresh water in Britain but at 22.6 miles long it is only the third longest loch in Scotland (Lochs Awe and Ness are longer). It is 5 miles wide at its broadest point. There are 30 islands, three of them inhabited.
The song "The Bonnie Banks o' Loch Lomond" was written in 1746 by a homesick Jacobite incarcerated in Carlisle jail. Ben Lomond is 3192 feet (973 metres) high. Tea Trade Many of the tea plantations in India were developed by Scots and by the late 1800s
Thomas Lipton controlled 10% of the world tea trade. Lipton was born in a Gorbals tenement and emigrated to America when he was 15. He returned to Glasgow and opened his first grocers shop. Soon he had expanded into a
chain of shops and he was a millionaire by the time he was 30. Much of his fortune was spent unsuccessfully competing for the Americas Cup, the premier sailing trophy Scotland's Only Lake The only lake in Scotland is the Lake of Menteith in Stirlingshire. It is
not called a loch because a cartographer, copying a map, mistook the Scots word "Liaich" meaning low-lying land, for "lake". Longest River The longest river in Scotland is the Tay (117 miles long) followed by the Spey
("only" 110 miles of water supplying all those whisky stills!). The River Clyde which flows through Glasgow is 106 miles from its source until it goes "Doon the watter" in the Firth of Clyde.
Canada in Edinburgh The Esplanade of Edinburgh Castle, where the
International Military Tattoo is held each August, legally belongs to Nova Scotia in Canada. Charles I declared it to be Nova Scotia territory so that Nova Scotia baronets might receive their lands there. The decree has
never been revoked. Tallest Man in Scotland The Guinness Book
of Records shows that the tallest Scotsman and the tallest "true" giant was Angus Macaskill. Born on the island of Berneray off the island of Harris in 1825, Macaskill was 7ft 9in (2.36m) tall. He was also
strong, reputedly able to lift a hundredweight (50kg) with two fingers and hold it at arms length for ten minutes. He died on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, in 1863. A cairn on Berneray commemorates him.
The Forth Rail Bridge Instantly recognisable because of its unique design,
the Forth Rail Bridge was one of the greatest achievements of 19th century engineers. The original designer was Thomas Bouch - but his rail bridge over the River Tay collapsed on 28 December 1879 and Sir John Fowler and
Benjamin Baker were appointed instead. The main contractor was William Arrol and construction of the three diamond-shaped steel towers began in 1883. The bridge stretches 1.5 miles across the River Forth estuary from
Fife to Lothian, nine miles west of Edinburgh. At its highest point it is 361 feet above the water and 55,000 tons of steel, 640,000 cubic feet of Aberdeen granite, 8 million rivets and 145 acres of paint went into its
construction. It was built between December 1882 and January 1890. The number of people employed on construction reached 4,600 at one point. The last rivet was ceremoniously driven home by the Prince of Wales on 4 March
1890. From mid winter to mid summer it expands almost by a metre. Facts About Orkney Orkney was first written about by the Greek explorer Pytheas who circumnavigated the islands in 224BC and claimed to have seen the edge of the world, "Ultima Thule"
(which was probably Foula in Shetland). Once part of Norway, the islands became part of Scotland in 1469 when Christian I who was at that time King of Norway (and Denmark and Sweden) pledged them (and Shetland) against
the payment of his daughter's dowry when she married King James III of Scotland. King Christian failed to pay up the agreed sum - and the islands were formally annexed to Scotland on 20 February, 1472. Orkney has 70
islands (of which 20 are currently inhabited - by only 21,000 people) and the total coastline is about 500 miles long. In midsummer, the sun does not set until 22.30 and the sun is above the horizon for 18 hours a day.
Highland Park Distillery is the most northerly in Scotland. The shortest scheduled air route in the world is between Westray and Papa Westray, two Orkney islands. The flight time 1.5 minutes! Biggest and Smallest Theatres The biggest theatre (as distinct from a concert hall) in Britain
is Edinburgh's Playhouse which has over 3,000 seats. The smallest theatre in Britain is also in Scotland - at Dervaig in Mull, with a seating capacity of 43 people. Geography Scotland is 275 miles (440km) from north to south and 154 miles (248km) at its widest
point. But the furthest you can get away from the sea is 40/50 miles. Scotland makes up over 30% of the area of the United Kingdom. The highest mountain in the UK is Ben Nevis (4,418 feet). Freemasonry The home of Freemasonry in Scotland is in Kilwinning, Ayrshire. Mother
Lodge Kilwinning (Number 0) was founded in 1107. Famous masons included Robert Burns. Flora MacDonald The Jacobite heroine who smuggled the fugitive Bonnie Prince Charlie from the Outer Hebrides to Skye, was born in 1722. She completed her schooling in Edinburgh and was
visiting her brother in South Uist when she was asked to accompany the Prince, disguised in a frock as an Irish maidservant. They sailed from Benbecula on 27 June 1746 to Skye. When he left to travel to Raasay, the
Prince gave Flora a locket with his portrait. Flora was arrested and spent some time in the Tower of London but was released in 1747. She married in 1750 and went with her husband to America where he served in the army
during the American War of Independence. She returned to Skye with her husband and died there in 1790. Scottish Banknotes Scottish banks have issued banknotes continuously since 1695. Unlike the banks over the Border, where the Bank of England has had a monopoly, the three largest banks in
Scotland still design and print their own notes. These circulate freely and about 95% of the banknotes in circulation in the country come from these banks. Sometimes they are taken to England and Wales and, although
they are not required to, they are now usually accepted by shopkeepers there. Scottish banknotes are not "legal tender" ie someone owed an amount can legally refuse to accept them. In Scotland, earlier
legislation restricted legal tender status to Bank of England one pound notes. When these were withdrawn, in 1983, the legislation was not amended. So since then, Scotland has had no "legal tender" banknotes.
Since all sterling notes are readily accepted, this technicality has not caused any problems! Stewart/Stuart The name "Stewart" is an "occupational" name derived from the office of steward to the King. It is based on the Old English words "stig" (house)
and "weard" (keeper) and the position was one of great importance in medieval times. Walter FitzAlain, a Norman knight, was made hereditary Great Steward of Scotland by King David I in the 12th century. His
descendants, now with the surname Stewart, acquired land in Argyllshire. A descendant of the Great Steward married Marjorie, daughter of King Robert I (The Bruce) and as a result started the Stewart dynasty which lasted
until 1714. And "Stuart"? That spelling occurs because there was no letter "w" in the early French language and, for example, Mary Queen of Scots changed her name to Mary Stuart as a result.
London's Tower Bridge One of London's best known landmarks, Tower
Bridge over the river Thames near the Tower of London, was built by the Scottish firm Wm Arrol. The drawbridge construction allows it to be raised to allow ships to pass through the bridge which is 880 feet long from
shore to shore. Hydraulic power is used to raise the two leaves of the middle spans. It was built in 1894. Wm Arrol also constructed the famous railway bridge over the river Forth and many years later built the road
bridge over the same river. Christmas Celebrations Banned in Scotland! After the Church Reformation in the 16th century the celebration of Christmas was frowned on by the Kirk which regarded it as a popish festival. Bear in mind that
"Christmas" is "Christ's Mass" and mass was banned in Scotland at that time! There are records of charges being brought against people for keeping "Yule" as it was called in Scotland.
Amazingly, this dour, joy-crushing attitude lasted for 400 years. Until the 1960s, Christmas Day was a normal working day for most people in Scotland. So if there is a specifically "Scottish" aspect to
Christmas it is that it was not celebrated. Now you know why Hogmanay became so popular. Heather Heather (calluna vulgaris) can be found right across northern Europe but the acid, peat soils of eastern and central Highlands of Scotland make it particularly abundant
there. The heather shoots are a favourite food of the red grouse - hence the game birds which are reared on the heather moors. The abundant purple flowers can color an entire hillside and is an important source of
nectar for bees. Heather was introduced by Scottish settlers into North America in the 18th century and now grows wild in some areas there.
St Andrew - Patron Saint of Scotland Although 30 November is St Andrew's Day and he is the patron saint of Scotland (and Greece, Russia and
Rumania), there is no public holiday in Scotland - but the day is much celebrated by expatriates. St Andrew was the fisherman brother of St Peter. He was reputedly crucified at Patras on a cross of X shape. Relics of
the saint were brought to Fife, possibly by St Regulus, for the church at Kinrymont or Cendrigmoniad which eventually became the cathedral of St Andrews. Another version credits a Pictish King Angus or Oengus with
bringing the relics from Northumberland in the mid-8th century while another credits a 4th century St Rule (Regulus) with obtaining them from Patras and being charged to deliver them in 'a region towards the west,
situated in the utmost part of the world'. This turned out to be Scotland where Regulus came ashore after being shipwrecked at Kinrymont. Some accounts also add a visionary element in which St Andrew (or his cross)
makes a personal appearance to ensure a Scots or Pictish victory by the Pictish King Angus in the 8th or 9th century. Legends say the cross appeared in the sky (white clouds in a blue sky - hence the Scottish saltire
flag) during a decisive battle. Possession of such VIP relics produced a dramatic upgrading of the location. Culdee monks started their own establishment where the foundations of the Church of the Blessed Mary on the
Rock are still visible. Kinrymont was rededicated and became St Andrews; the saint became Scotland's patron, and the site a royally patronised place of pilgrimage which in 908 also became the see of the only Scottish
bishopric. The Monymusk Reliquary This is a small 8th century
wooden box shaped like an oratory and covered in bronze and silver plates. It is decorated with semi-precious stones and enamel. It was believed to contain a bone relic of St Columba. King William the Lion entrusted it
to the abbot of Arbroath in 1211 and it was kept at the Monymusk Priory, Aberdeenshire for many years. It was to be kept available to bless the royal army before battle - and was used to good effect in this way before
the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. In recent years it has been kept in the National Museum of Antiquities in Edinburgh but it is now on display at the Museum of Scotland Scotland - Europe's Biggest Persecutor of Witches In the 17th and 18th centuries Scotland put
to death over 4,000 alleged witches. But by the 17th century burning had gone out of fashion so most of them were hanged instead. The last hanging took place in 1728. A small well (pictured left) on the eastern corner
of the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle marks the spot where, over 250 years, 300 women were burned, accused of witchcraft.
"Uncle Sam" was a Scot The nickname "Uncle Sam" belonged to Samuel Wilson, a patriotic meat packer of the 1800s who was
born in America to parents from Greenock. Stone of Destiny - The Coronation Stone Reputed to have been used as a pillow by Jacob in biblical times, it was believed to have been brought to Scotland in the 9th century. (Other theorists suggest it was
quarried in the Oban area). It was used as part of the crowning ceremonies of the kings of Dalriada. When Kenneth I, the 36th King of Dalriada moved his capital to Scone from western Scotland around 840AD, the Stone of
Destiny was moved there too. John Balliol was the last Scottish king to be crowned on the stone in 1292. It was taken from Scone by Edward I in 1296 and remained under the Coronation Throne at Westminster until December
25 1950 when a group of Scottish Nationalists removed the Stone and brought it back to Scotland where it remained for four months before it was returned. It finally came back to Scotland on 30 November 1996 and is
housed beside the other Honours of Scotland in Edinburgh Castle. Lewis Chess Men The Norse chessmen which were found in a sand dune on lewis in 1831 are made of walrus ivory. They date from the 12th century and are apparently the remains of at least 4
complete chess sets. 67 of the chess pieces were acquired by the British Museum in London and 11 pieces were acquired by the National Museum of Scotland (now in the Museum of Scotland). The chessmen illustrate
contemporary Norse characters and the excellent craftsmanship is contrary to the usual view of the Vikings only as raiders and destroyers. While the Hebrides began to be invaded by Vikings in the 9th century they were
also settled extensively by colonists from Norway. The Western Isles passed to the Scottish king in 1266. The Windiest Place in Scotland
The Island of Tiree, west of Mull in the Hebrides, is the windiest place in Scotland, recording the largest number of gusts over
100mph. Due west from Tiree the first landfall is Labrador in Canada. Needless to say, wind surfing is a popular sport on the island.
Banking Innovation A Scottish bank was the first in the world to offer an overdraft facility on a cheque/check account in 1728
and was the first to print multi-colour banknotes - in 1777. The world's first mutual savings bank was founded in 1810 in Ruthwell, Dumfriesshire. St Valentine's Day 1565 Lord Darnley, who had already set about wooing Mary Queen of Scots, met
her for the first time on 14 February, 1565. He had sent a miniature portrait of himself to Mary eighteen months before-hand, in order to arouse her interest. He clearly succeeded because after the meeting on 14
February, St Valentine's Day, the couple were married five months later, on 29 July 1565. And the miniature? Mary kept it with her till she was executed by Queen Elizabeth, on 8 February, 1587. Argyle Street - Glasgow's Main Thoroughfare In Glasgow's early days, the road running east from
Glasgow Cross was named St Enoch's Gate and led to a chapel dedicated to St Enoch, the mother of St Mungo, the patron saint of the city. The chapel was demolished during the reformation but stood where St Enoch Square
is now located. The underground station which now stands in the centre of the square, with its red stonework and turrets, could pass for a chapel or a miniature castle! In the 12th century the road was renamed Dumbarton
Road as it led to Dumbarton Castle, further down the River Clyde. In 1662, despite efforts to turn the road into a proper thoroughfare it was described as being "full of potholes". Some things never change...
Then in 1760 it was finally renamed Argyle Street in honour of the 3rd Duke of Argyll. Which neatly illustrates the two spellings of Argyle/Argyll. "Yes" and "No" Do Not Exist in Gaelic There is no single Gaelic word
equivalent to either "yes" or "no" in Gaelic. To answer a question, you reply in the affirmative or negative of the verb with which the question was asked. For example, the Gaelic for
"Is it cold?" is "A bheil e fuar?" The reply is either "Thà" (it is) or "Chan éil" (it is not). But replying to "An robh e fluich?" (Was
it wet?) is either "Bhà" (It was) or "Cha robh" (it was not). So it's no use requesting a Gaelic speaker to "answer yes or no" in Perry Mason style! Midges! In the summer time, visitors and residents in the country areas in the west of Scotland
are often deived by the clouds of midges which fly around in their thousands, attacking humans and animals alike and leaving behind an itchy bite. More than one tourist has remarked that you can "kill one of the
blighters and several hundred turn up for the funeral. It is unfortunate that the ten weeks of their breeding season coincides with the main tourist season!
"Culicodes impucantus" to give the midge insect
its proper title, prefers areas where there is a good annual rainfall - so the West of Scotland is its favourite haunt as many places there have over 50 inches of rain a year (Lochaber had 220 inches in 1990!). It is
only the female midge which bites, having first detected its prey from the carbon dioxide which they produce. The insect scrapes the skin then inserts a hollow hypodermic-style needle under the skin to draw blood - a
nourishing meal for the midge prior to laying its eggs! Over the centuries, many remedies have been formulated to deter the little blighters and the consumer magazine "Which" has even run tests on brands of
insect repellents. But smoke is also a good deterrent - Queen Victoria is reputed to have smoked cigarettes on her Highland jaunts for that reason! Scotland's Monorail of 1930 George Bennie, born in 1892, was an inventor who was too far ahead
of his time. His passion for trains led him to create the "George Bennie Railplane System of Transport" which consisted of an elevated track and a propeller driven carriage suspended from a monorail. The
engine was electric and it was expected that the cost of construction would be far less than conventional railways. He built a test track and carriage over a stretch of railway on the outskirts of Glasgow and on 8 July
1930 invited guests boarded the new luxury form of transport. Although capable of travelling at 120mph, the limited length of track only allowed speeds of 50mph. Bennie travelled the world trying to gain support for his
invention but it was too revolutionary and existing rail companies were opposed to it. Bennie died a bankrupt but his prototype structure and carriage remained in place until it was scrapped in 1956. First Fire Service Edinburgh claims to have been the first city in the world to have had a
municipal fire service. It started in 1824. Scotland's Highest Mountains Ben Nevis - 4,406 feet
Ben Macdhui - 4,300 feet
Braeriach - 4,248 feet
Cairn Toul - 4,241 feet
Cairngorm - 4,084 feet
Aonach Beag - 4,060 feet
Carn Mor Dearg - 4,012 feet
Aonach Mor - 3,999 feet
Ben Lawers - 3,984 feet King of All Ireland Edward Bruce, brother of King Robert the Bruce, was crowned High King of All Ireland on 2 May, 1316. Edward had been invited to Ireland by the King of Tyrone (whom he had
known in childhood) and after a year-long campaign he was recognised as the King of Ireland. His hold on the country was never secure, however, and despite being reinforced by troops led by King Robert himself, Edward
was killed at a skirmish at Dundalk in 1318. Golf The game of
golf was first recorded in the 15th century - when it was banned by act of parliament (so that archery practice and other more relevant pursuits did not suffer). Parliament relented in 1502 when both football and golf
were permitted. The word "golf" may have derived from the Scots verb "to gowff" or strike hard. King James VI at the end of the 16th century was a keen golfer. It is Scotland's most popular
participant sport with nearly 200,000 players are affiliated to the Scottish Golf Union. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club in St Andrews, which is responsible for the rules of golf, was founded in 1754 as the Society of
St Andrews Golfers. Gaelic According to the last census there
are 66,000 people in Scotland who speak Gaelic (out of a total population of 5,136,000). Over 36,000 of these Gaelic speakers live in the Western Idles and the Highlands. Green Traditionally in the Highlands the color green was considered to be unlucky - because it
was the favorite color of the goblins and fairies. Viscount Dundee was wearing green when he was killed at the Battle of Killiecrankie in 1689. Despite this aversion to green, that is the color which now appears most
often in tartan. Driest Area of Scotland The area of
Scotland with the lowest rainfall is around the Moray Firth - the record is held by Tarbat Ness on the Dornoch Firth with under 25 inches in the year. Fort William on the west coast, on the other hand, has 76 inches of
rain each year. Mickey Mouse For more than 40 years the voice
of the cartoon character Mickey Mouse was James McDonald who was born in Dundee in 1906. Two Letter Place Names Three place names in Scotland consist of only two letters - Oa on Islay, Ae which is north of Dumfries and Bu in the Orkney Islands. Lincoln Monument in Edinburgh The first statue of the President of the USA to be built outside of America is in Edinburgh's Old Calton Cemetery. It was erected in 1893 in memory of Scottish soldiers
who fought in the American Civil War. Prestwick International Airport
Prestwick airport in west central Scotland is the only airport in the world that will never be close or be affected by Fog due to its unique location less than half a mile from the sea (River Clyde). Hunterston Power Station Hunterston 'A' Nuclear power station opened in 1964 is the worlds safest nuclear
installation. Since its opening and until its decommissioning in 1988 this power station has never had an emergency situation, or any threat to security or radiation leaking into the local countryside. You can find out
more on Hunterston power stations by clicking here. |
