Scotland
Alba. Caledonia. Scotland the Brave.
Occupying the northern half of the island of Great Britain, Scotland is a nation which needs little introduction. While places such as the magnificent city of Edinburgh and the spellbinding Isle of Skye are famous around the world, Scotland has so much to offer off the beaten track, from the ancient UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Orkney to the incredible wildlife of Isles such as Lunga, and the warm welcome of seaside towns such as Tobermory and Stornoway, visitors are spoiled for choice. From mountains to moors, seals and seabirds, whisky and wandering the lochs, Scotland is an explorer’s dream with huge amounts left to discover. With vibrant cities, quaint towns and villages and pristine wilderness to be found across the country, the best of it accessed by sea, Scotland is among the best expedition cruise destinations in the world.
Area of Scotland
- 77,910 km²
Population of Scotland
- 5.5 million
Why Travel to Scotland?
From the Highlands to the Islands and everywhere in between, Scotland is an explorer’s paradise.
Global culture
Bagpipes, ceilidhs, haggis, and Highland flings, Scottish culture looms large on the world stage. Some elements of Scottish heritage (such as the Edinburgh Royal Tattoo) are famous global events drawing visitors from around the world, whereas cosy ceilidh dances and clan games are the cornerstones of the calendar in smaller communities. Traditional Scottish products such as tartan, kilts and whisky are famous the world over.
Wild Isles
Although home to several large bustling cities, Scotland’s population is heavily concentrated on the Central belt between Glasgow and Edinburgh, and parts of the Highlands have a population density more similar to Mongolia than the rest of the UK. Some of the UK’s only true ‘wilderness’ can be found here, and many of the islands and mountain ranges of Scotland hold spectacular concentrations of wildlife. Examples include the vast gannet rookeries of St Kilda, and the huge puffin colony on the Isle of Lunga.
The Home of Geology
Scotland has a long history of innovation – the steam engine, the television and the telephone were all invented here. However arguably Scotland’s greatest contribution to modern science lies in the land itself and the geological revolution brought about by Scottish scientists such as James Hutton and Sir Charles Lyell, who revolutionised our understanding of our planet. Containing rocks from almost all geological time periods as well as oddities barely known from other parts of the world, geologists from the world over still flock to the hillsides of Scotland to study the history of the Earth.
Breathtaking World Heritage
Scotland holds seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including St Kilda – Britain’s only duel human/natural World Heritage Site. Other UNESCO sites in Scotland include the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh, the Antonine Wall (the more northerly predecessor of Hadrian’s Wall), and the Heart of Neolithic Orkney, which includes sites such as the scared stone Ring of Brodgar, and the touchingly familiar-yet-ancient village of Skara Brae.
A wee dram?
Scotland’s most famous product is without a doubt, the water of life, uisge beatha, the legendary golden nectar that is Scottish whisky. 152 distilleries currently operate in Scotland across 5 regions, and the spirits produced are as many and varied as the land the distilleries are built on. Almost every town in Scotland has its own distillery – the Isle of Islay alone has five – and no trip to Scotland is complete without sampling a wee dram – sláinte!
Map of Scotland
Geography of Scotland
Comprising the rugged mountainous mainland and over 900 islands, Scotland’s geography is incredibly varied. Scotland may broadly be split into the Lowlands, largely towards the south, rich in fertile farmland, and the Highlands, which are largely mountainous and mainly used for pasture. Additionally, the Scottish Islands may be split into the Inner Hebrides (including islands such as Skye and Mull), the Outer Hebrides or Western Isles of Lewis and Harris, and Shetland and Orkney, the two archipelagos of the Northern Isles.
Scotland holds the highest mountains in Great Britain. The highest is Ben Nevis at 1,345m (4,413ft) in the Grampian Mountains, although the Cairngorm Plateau and the Assynt Mountains also hold large numbers of Munros (Scottish term for peaks over 3000ft), as do some of the Isles such as Mull and Skye. The Cairngorm Plateau in particular represents a unique subarctic environment in the United Kingdom, and is home to species more often found much further north, including Arctic hares and rock ptarmigan, as well as Britain’s only free-ranging reindeer herd.
From the Picts to the Proclaimers: The history of Scotland
Scotland has been inhabited for almost 15,000 years, however the oldest true ruins date to around 5,500 years ago during the Neolithic Period – indeed, entire villages and countless monuments from this era can still be seen today on Orkney and other isles.
Scotland first enters recorded history as ‘Caledonia’ a name bestowed by the unimpressed Romans who reached it by the year 71AD. Finding a cold rainy nation of ‘rebellious barbarians’ (Picti or ‘painted ones’ in Latin) with little to offer the Empire, the Legions constructed a series of walls (the most famous of which was built by Emperor Hadrian) to defend the Roman frontier.
In the face of Viking invasion, the Gaels and Picts who comprised the Scottish population ceased squabbling and united against the invaders, creating the Kingdom of Scotland. A complex web of lordships and clan politics, Scotland remained independent until 1707, when after almost a century of political turmoil, the Acts of Union were passed, uniting the Kingdoms of Scotland and England.
The desire for Scottish independence has never waned however, and a Scottish Parliament was reconvened in Edinburgh in 1999. In 2014, a referendum on independence was held in Scotland, with 55% of the electorate voting to remain part of the United Kingdom. Today Scotland is an integral part of the United Kingdom, and plays an outsize role in the British agriculture, energy and tourism sectors, despite having a population less than 10% that of England. Scotland also plays a huge cultural role in the United Kingdom and throughout the world, from global whisky icons to legendary musicians to famous authors such as Harry Potter’s J.K. Rowling.
The Wildlife of Scotland
Scotland has been inhabited for thousands of years, and this human activity is reflected in the country’s ecology. Like the rest of Britain, the majority of fertile land is farmed, leaving little room for nature. Bears, wolves and other predators have long since been eradicated, and the numbers of grazers such as deer are managed by human hunters. Nonetheless, Scotland holds some precious refuges of wilderness, home to animals no longer found elsewhere in the United Kingdom such as Scottish wildcats, red squirrels, black grouse and recently re-introduced beavers. Offshore however, Scotland holds and incredibly rich marine ecosystem, with abundant resident marine mammals (including the UK’s only resident orca pod), as well more exotic seasonal visitors such as basking sharks.
Northern Gannet Quick Overview Scientific Name Morus bassanus Population Estimated at 1,500,000-1,800,000 individuals globally Regions Arctic and...
Common Eider Quick Overview Scientific Name Somateria mollissima Population Estimated at close to 2 million globally Regions Arctic and North...
The Atlantic puffin or the “clown of the sea,” is a recognisable seabird in the North Atlantic. Famous for its beak and diving, it is essential in...
Spanning the icy waters from Norway to Canada, the Common Guillemot is a true conqueror of the sub-Arctic world. Whether you call them "Guillemots"...
Often overshadowed by their larger cousins, the Minke whale is the unsung acrobat of the polar seas. They are the friendly scouts and often the...
From the icy waters of Greenland to the rocky coasts of Japan, the Harbor Seal is a true survivor. Navigating waters patrolled by orcas and polar...
They are elegant, beautiful and remarkable birds that fly extraordinary distances. Whether you embark on one of our journeys to the Southern or...
The Climate of Scotland
Scotland’s climate is dominated by the Gulf Stream, which brings warm water and humid air to the country year-round. Scottish weather is famously fickle, leading to the common saying ‘if you don’t like the weather, just wait ten minutes.’ Rain, sun, snow and wind can all be experienced in the same day, or even the same hour. Scotland is generally colder than the rest of the United Kingdom due to its northerly location, however variations between regions are intense. The west of the country is warmer and wetter, whereas the eastern side is sheltered by the mountains, where Scotland’s harshest weather occurs. Indeed, the remote Cairngorm Mountains have recorded Scotland’s lowest temperatures and highest windspeeds at a terrifying -27.2°C (-17°F) and 278km/h (173mph).
| Aberdeen | AVERAGE HIGH | AVERAGE LOW | PRECIPITATION |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 42°F (5°C) | 32°F (0°C) | 2.5 in (63 mm) |
| February | 43°F (6°C) | 33°F (0°C) | 2 in (50 mm) |
| March | 46°F (7°C) | 35°F (1°C) | 2.1 in (53 mm) |
| April | 50°F (10°C) | 37°F (2°C) | 1.9 in (48 mm) |
| May | 55°F (12°C) | 42°F (5°C) | 2.1 in (53 mm) |
| June | 60°F (15°C) | 47°F (8°C) | 2 in (50 mm) |
| July | 64°F (17°C) | 51°F (10°C) | 2.8 in (71 mm) |
| August | 64°F (17°C) | 50°F (10°C) | 2.8 in (71 mm) |
| September | 59°F (15°C) | 46°F (7°C) | 2.5 in (63 mm) |
| October | 53°F (11°C) | 42°F (5°C) | 3.0 in (76 mm) |
| November | 47°F (8°C) | 37°F (2°C) | 3.1 in (78 mm) |
| December | 44°F (6°C) | 35°F (1°C) | 2.9 in (73 mm) |
