Its people are feisty, opinionated and fiercely loyal. The country
is wild, untamed and beautiful. The bad climate adds an edge to
both. Buoyed by the continued irritant of England on its doorstep,
Scotland has survived encroachment, brass-monkey weather and the
annual influx of stand-up comedians arriving for the Edinburgh
Festival. But its people have a rock-solid identity and sense
of self. On top of that, the Scots haven't eaten their waterways
and forests bare. Scotland's lamb, beef, venison, trout and salmon
are highly prized, and game birds such as grouse and pheasant
abound. Wash all this down with a shot or two of the world's best
whisky and you'll be warming very quickly to the Scottish way
of life.
Area: 78,772 sq km (30,414 sq mi)
Population: 5.1 million
Capital city: Edinburgh (pop 453,000)
People: Celts, Anglo-Saxons
Language: English, Gaelic
Religion: Presbyterian Church of Scotland, other Presbyterian
churches, Anglicans, Catholics
Events
The highlight of Scotland's calendar is the Edinburgh
Festival, held every August. This is one of the world's most important
arts festivals, and its Fringe claims to be the largest in the
world, with over 500 performers pushing the boundaries every year.
The city's Military Tattoo is held in the same month, as is the
Edinburgh International Film Festival, Edinburgh Book Festival
and Glasgow's World Pipe Band Championships. September's Braemar
Gathering is attended by the queen in Braemar, with other games
held all over the country. All Scotland hits the streets for Hogmanay,
the Scottish celebration of New Year, and you can expect a better
party than you've had for some time. For some truly unruly rugby,
try the Ba' in Kirkwall in the Orkney Islands, which has been
held on Christmas Day and New Year's Day for centuries. It consists
of two teams and some 400 alcohol-fuelled players, who turn the
entire town into a giant rugby pitch for the day. The game starts
at the cathedral and the harbour is one of the goals. Puritans
should steer well clear. |
