Scotland Fun Facts
1: SCOTLAND’S NATIONAL ANIMAL IS A UNICORN
Because mythical creatures can be national animals too, you know.
2: SCOTLAND HAS THE HIGHEST PROPORTION OF REDHEADS IN THE WORLD
Around 13 per cent of the population has red hair.
3: SCOTS ARE MOST LIKELY TO HAVE BLUE EYES THAN PEOPLE IN THE REST OF THE UK
The South East of Scotland has the highest proportion of blue-eyed residents at 57 per cent.
4: IMPORTS OF HAGGIS TO THE US HAVE BEEN BANNED SINCE THE 70S
All the more for us!
5: SCOTLAND IS HOME TO THE WORLD’S TALLEST HEDGE
It is located near Meikleour on the A93 Perth-Blairgowrie road. The hedge is over 1,700 feet in length and 100 foot high.
6: AS WELL AS A GIANT HEDGE, SCOTLAND IS HOME TO ONE OF EUROPE'S OLDEST TREES, FORTINGALL YEW
7: THE SCOTS INVENTED GOLF WITH ST ANDREWS CONSIDERED AS THE ‘HOME OF GOLF’
The sport has been played there since the 15th century.
8: YOU'VE HEARD OF NESSIE, NOW MEET MORAG, THE MONSTER OF LOCH MORAR
This large and elusive female is said to have attacked two fishermen in August 1969. They saw a creature described as around 30ft long with rough brown skin, three large humps and a snake-like head. Loch Morar is even deeper than Loch Ness, more than 1000ft in places.
9: THE SHORTEST COMMERCIAL FLIGHT IN THE WORLD IS IN SCOTLAND
The journey from Westray to Papa Westray in Orkney is approximately 1.5 miles long and takes just 47 seconds.
10: SCOTLAND HAS APPROXIMATELY 790 ISLANDS
660 are uninhabited.
11: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL GAME WAS PLAYED IN PARTICK
The match was between Scotland and England in 1872 and was played at the West of Scotland Cricket ground in Partick.
12: BUT FOOTBALL WAS ORIGINALLY BANNED BY KING JAMES I
He decreed that Na man play at the fut ball, in the Football Act of 1424. Luckily, it fell into disuse and Scotland became home to one of the most heated rivalries in world football – the Old Firm derby between Rangers and Celtic.
13: THE LONGEST ECHO INSIDE A MAN-MADE STRUCTURE WAS RECORDED IN INCHINDOWN TUNNELS, A WWII FUEL-STORAGE FACILITY NEAR INVERGORDON IN ROSS-SHIRE
Researchers from Salford University fired a gun down the tunnels, recording a record-breaking 112-second echo.
14: THERE ARE AS MANY PEOPLE WITH SCOTS HERITAGE LIVING IN THE US AS IN SCOTLAND
15: 'BRAVEHEART' WAS ACTUALLY THE NICKNAME OF ROBERT THE BRUCE AND NOT WILLIAM WALLACE
Despite this, Mel Gibson used the name for Wallace in his Hollywood blockbuster.
16: SCOTLAND HAS THREE OFFICIALLY RECOGNISED LANGUAGES: ENGLISH, SCOTS AND SCOTTISH GAELIC
Just one per cent of the population use the last.
17: EDINBURGH WAS THE FIRST CITY IN THE WORLD TO HAVE ITS OWN FIRE BRIGADE
18: THE DEEPEST LOCH IN SCOTLAND IS NOT LOCH NESS
It is, Loch Morar, which reaches 1,077ft (328m) down and is ranked the seventeenth deepest lake in the world.
19: THE SMALL SCOTS TOWN OF BONNYBRIDGE HAS BECOME THE UFO CAPITAL OF THE WORLD
The town has more than 300 sightings of Unidentified Flying Objects reported every year.
20: THE SCOTS INVENTED THE MODERN WORLD
John Logie Baird created the world’s first TV picture on October 2, 1925 while Scotsman Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in Boston in February 1876. Where would we be today without this technology?
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Scotland Fun Facts
There are so many reasons to visit and love Scotland. From the gorgeous scenery and rich history to the culture and the personalities of the people who live here, the unique aspects of the nation are appealing to so many around the world. But delve a little deeper into all things Scottish and you will find a host of interesting facts that will leave you stunned…
Scottish Music
Scotland’s traditional music in many ways forms the foundation of the country’s national identity and a key element of its culture…
Scottish Cuisine
Whether navigating the urban haunts of major cities, enjoying genteel market towns or experiencing remote island hideaways, exploratory food-lovers in Scotland will find a culinary scene that majors on bountiful wild harvests and top-notch meats underpinned by a strong cultural identity.
Scottish Reading
8 works of fiction, 6 non-fiction books and 6 guide books we recommend for our upcoming Scottish sojourn…
Scottish Phrases
The wit, expressive depth and wisdom of the Scottish people is something to be cherished. They know a thing or two about stoicism in the face of poor fortune, and there’s a clear knack for cutting through airs and graces too…
Scotland Movies
Scotland is famous for its breathtaking scenery and, not surprisingly, has been used as the location for many well-known movies. A land full of culture, mystery (I’m looking at you, Nessie) and some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world, Scotland is always at the front of location scouts’ minds.