Scotland travel information would not be complete without including some of the countries fascinating facts. Scotland is an old country rich in history with magnificent scenery and enticing cities.

I am pleased to bring you 7 fascinating facts about Scotland and hope you find them interesting.
 
Fact #1: The Passion For Football In Scotland

Football, also known as soccer, is a game played with passion, spirit, pride and great skill all over Scotland. Organised and supervised by the Scottish Football Association it is without question the most popular spectator sport in the country.

The game is played at all levels of age and experience with most towns and cities having their own local team and supporters.

The two top teams are based in Glasgow and are ‘Rangers’ and ‘Celtic’. They compete fiercely every year to become Scottish league champions and to win the Scottish cup. There is something special about being in the crowd, soaking up the atmosphere when both teams play each other.

The Scotland team plays at Hampden, Scotland’s national stadium, where massive crowds, affectionately called ‘The Tartan Army’, gather to
support the team.
 
Fact #2: What About Scotland’s History?

The first people arrived in what is now known as Scotland in about 7000BC during the Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age) period. The people of that time settled around the coast on the west of Scotland and lived on shellfish and by spear-fishing.

The Battle of Bannockburn is considered to be the most significant battle held upon Scottish soil when Robert the Bruce leading the Scots army defeated the English army on 24th June 1314.

An uneasy peace lasted for the next few hundred years sprinkled with the occasional battle with the English until finally in 1707 the two countries united and fell under the governance of the same parliament.

Today, the proud people of Scotland once again have their own parliament sitting in a brand new building in Edinburgh.

Fact #3: How Many People Live In Scotland?

According to the General Register Office for Scotland (GROS). At the last census in 2001 the total population of Scotland is estimated to be 5,144,200.

The main cities share of the population is:

• Glasgow           577,980
• Edinburgh        446,110
• Aberdeen        179,950
• Dundee            141,930
• Inverness           42,400
• Stirling               33,060

The population growth rate is shown to be 0.4%.

Fact #4: Edinburgh – The Capital Of Scotland

Edinburgh is situated near the estuary of the Firth of Forth on the eastern side of the country in Lothian region.

It is a vibrant city having one of the most beautiful cityscapes anywhere in the world. Visitors love this city with its mix of modern and traditional architecture proving a delight to all who walk along its scenic streets.

Fact #5: The Stunning Beauty Of The Highlands Of Scotland

The Highlands of Scotland contain some of the most stunningly beautiful scenery you will visit anywhere in the world. There are many mountain ranges in the region including Britain’s highest mountain… Ben Nevis.

Inverness is the main city in the Highlands situated at the top of the Caledonian canal and quite near to Loch Ness.

The Highlands are a haven for hill walkers, skiers, mountain climbers and all kinds of outdoor sports are available.

Fact #6: How Scotland Teaches Its People

Scotland recognised very early on the importance of giving all its people a good standard of education. The Scottish education system is very different from the education system used in other parts of the British Isles.

Scotland has 14 universities with the oldest being the ‘University of St. Andrews’ established in 1413 to ‘Queen Margaret University’, Edinburgh, originally founded in 1875 as a college, being converted to a university in 2007.

Fact #7: Opportunities For Employment In Scotland

Scotland offers lots of employment opportunities to people ranging from senior positions in large companies across a broad spectrum of industries to positions in the teaching, medical and legal professions.

The discovery of oil and gas in the North Sea in the early 1960’s strengthened Scotland’s industrial base creating many jobs for local people.

Aberdeen is now the offshore oil capital of Europe providing technical expertise to the oil industry worldwide.

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