Overview

Scotland occupies a large area of Great Britain and is made up of a mainland and over 790 islands. The country shares a border with England to the south, the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the southwest. There is a lot of history of the region from the days of Julius Caesar, but goes back even further than that to 9,600 BC. Scotland has a long political history, falling under the rule of the Romans, becoming an independent nation and ultimately joining the Kingdom of Great Britain.

Activities & Attractions

The two largest population centers are the country's capital, Edinburgh, and Glasgow, its largest city. Its diverse nature can be best viewed in terms of its standard of living in the various areas of the country. There are many fine attractions worth seeing and most of them are nature-oriented. The Five Sisters Zoo Park, Beecraigs Country Park, Macduff Marine Aquarium, and Edinburgh Zoo are all nature-based attractions. Other historical attractions include the Royal Yacht Britannia and the Jarlshof Prehistoric and Norse Settlement.

Many visitors will be interested in local legends such as Wallace Monument and the Official Loch Ness Exhibition Center. Others may prefer educational attractions like Stratosphere Science Center and Glasgow Science Center. There are also a few sites designed for children's entertainment like Pitlochry Children's Amusement Park.

The country offers visitors such a variety of activities to choose from. Cycling is one of the best to do because it suits the country's terrain beautifully, as does hiking. It helps people get closer to the natural surroundings Scotland has to offer. Some other well-known activities to enjoy while in the country are archery, kart racing, off-road driving, paintball and skiing.

Lodging

Visitors can spend a lot for accommodations in Scotland, but they certainly don't have to. There are various types of hotels, holiday cottages, and apartments, and many of these are converted castles and country mansions. For more information about lodging in Scotland you can contact the tourist information center. Some Web sites to help you are listed in the resources section below.

Transportation

Buses are usually the cheapest way to get to Scotland from other parts of United Kingdom, but flights are also available. To travel inside the country, normal modes of transportation like buses and taxis are available. There are also trunk roads and motorways managed by Transport Scotland. If visitors wish to travel to the many islands, then there are affordable ferry services.