All About Scotland

Written by: Natalie Yao

Scotland is one of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom. It is north of England and is surrounded by water on three sides. Scotland has mountains, lakes, forests, and hundreds of islands. Its capital city is Edinburgh, and its largest city is Glasgow. English is the most widely spoken language in Scotland. Scots and Scottish Gaelic are also spoken there. In Scots, the word “wee” means small, so a small dog might be called a “wee dug.” In parts of Scotland, road signs show the names of towns in both English and Scottish Gaelic.

Edinburgh Castle is one of Scotland’s best-known buildings. It stands on a rocky hill above the city, where Scottish kings and queens lived hundreds of years ago. Today, visitors can walk around the castle and visit the Great Hall, where large meals and special events were held. In Glasgow, the Riverside Museum displays old buses, trains, and trams. Visitors can climb aboard some of them and see what public transportation was like back then.

The Scottish Highlands are a large area of mountains and valleys in the north and west of Scotland. Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the United Kingdom, is in the Highlands. It is near the town of Fort William. Scotland’s islands are also home to many kinds of wildlife. On some islands, puffins nest near the sea. These are small birds have orange feet and colorful beaks. Seals are also seen often along the coast. In Scotland, many lakes are called lochs. Loch Ness is a large, deep lake in the Highlands. It is famous for stories about a creature called the Loch Ness Monster, or Nessie. People have reported noticing shapes in the water, but there is no good evidence that the monster exists. 

Shortbread is actually a Scottish cookie that is made with butter, sugar, and flour. Another traditional food is haggis, a dish usually made with parts of a sheep, oats, onions, and spices, often served with mashed turnips and potatoes. In Scotland, these side dishes are called neeps and tatties. Porridge, a warm dish made from oats, is also a traditional breakfast.

Highland games are events held in towns and villages across Scotland. They often include music, dancing, and sports. In one event, called the caber toss, people lift a long wooden pole and try to flip it over. Bagpipes are often played at the games. A bagpipe player fills a bag with air and squeezes it to push air through the pipes. Some people wear kilts, which wrap around the waist and have a pattern of colored lines and squares.