Scotland offers travelers a landscape filled with ancient mystery and rugged charm. You probably picture bagpipes and kilts, but the true history is far more surprising. It holds the highest concentration of redheads in the world. Furthermore, the locals once banned Christmas for nearly four centuries. Every castle ruin tells a story of clans, battles, and inventions. Consequently, this small nation has made a massive impact on global culture. Let’s explore the misty hills of the north.
Scotland
Scotland officially chose the unicorn as its national animal. In fact, this creature represents purity and power in Celtic mythology.
The country operates the shortest commercial flight in the entire world. Remarkably, the trip between Westray and Papa Westray lasts just 80 seconds.
Surprisingly, Parliament legally banned Christmas celebrations for nearly 400 years. Therefore, it did not become an official public holiday again until 1958.
Edinburgh sits upon the remains of an extinct volcano and a massive underground city. Consequently, real people lived in these dark vaults beneath the streets.
Scotland has the highest proportion of redheads in the human population. Specifically, approximately 13 percent of the people possess this rare genetic trait.
The game of golf originated on the sandy dunes of the eastern coast. Originally, players used simple wooden clubs to hit pebbles into rabbit holes.
Bonnybridge is widely considered the UFO capital of the world. Reportedly, residents see over 300 unidentified flying objects every single year.
The Fortingall Yew is likely the oldest living tree in all of Europe. Currently, experts believe this ancient tree is between 3,000 and 9,000 years old.
Local inventors created the first waterproof raincoat in the early 19th century. Eventually, Charles Macintosh fused rubber with fabric to protect citizens from rain.
Scotland has approximately 790 offshore islands. However, people inhabit only about 130 of them, leaving the rest for wildlife.
The Encyclopedia Britannica actually started in Edinburgh rather than London. Indeed, three Scottish printers published the very first edition between 1768 and 1771.
Vikings ruled over many Scottish islands for hundreds of years. Ultimately, the Scots reclaimed the Hebrides from the Norsemen in 1266.
Scientists cloned the very first mammal from an adult cell in Edinburgh. Fittingly, they named the famous sheep Dolly after the singer Dolly Parton.
Locals have over 400 distinct words to describe snow. For example, flindrikin means a light snow shower, while feefle describes swirling snow.
A small village called Dull is twinned with a town in the United States called Boring. Together, the two communities celebrate their unexciting names to boost tourism.
