SCOTLAND, UNITED KINGDOM TRAVEL, HOTEL, HOLIDAY & ACCOMMODATION GUIDE

Best Places to Visit in Scotland    by Paul Scottyn

Outdoor Activities

Backpackers in Scotland seeking a taste of the great outdoors will find the country is home to some of the best walking and hiking trails in the UK. The Dalbeattie to Colvend Trail is particularly popular for a hiking break. The three-hour walk runs through the Dalbeattie Forest, which is home to a large population of Red Squirrels.

During the winter months, skiing is also a big draw and many Scotland hostels are bustling with travelers looking forward to hitting the slopes. Major ski centers in the country can be found at Glenshee, Glencoe, the Lecht, Nevis Range and Cairngorm. Scotland is similarly well-known for its salmon fishing and travelers can learn how to hook one of their own with fishing lessons offered at many places such as Aviemore, Boat O Garten and Grantown. Surfing is another great activity in Scotland, as it boasts some of the best surf spots in Europe. Good breaks can be found along the coats between Edinburgh and Eyemouth.

Culture and Heritage

Scotland has a wealth of cultural heritage sights, including the famous Rossyln Chapel which is located in Roslin, Midlothian. Founded in 1446, the chapel has had many famous visitors over the centuries from Mary, Queen of Scots and Queen Victoria to William Wordsworth and Sir Walter Scot. It was also featured in the Dan Brown novel, The Da Vinci Code.

Another significant Scottish landmark is Edinburgh Castle, built on the site of a dormant volcano. The castle was constructed in the 12th century by David I and was the birthplace of James VI of Scotland (and I of England).  It's easily accessible from the many Edinburgh hostels located in the Old Town, with some accommodation even boasting views of the impressive castle. Stirling Castle, meanwhile, played a crucial role in Scotland's history. Looming over the battlefield where William Wallace (famously played by Mel Gibson in Braveheart) defeated the English in 1297, the castle's Great Hall is the largest banquet hall ever built in Scotland.

The Neolithic village in Skara Brae, 31km north-west of Kirkwall, is also well worth a visit. It is one of the best preserved villages of this era in Western Europe and was only discovered after a storm uncovered it in 1850.

About the Author: Before settling down and becoming a copywriter for Hostelbookers. Paul Scottyn did a backpacking tour of Scotland, he checked out a variety of the country's budget accommodation, including a number of most Edinburgh hostels.

Some Fun Facts About Scotland   by Albert Beetons

The Gaelic word for Scotland is Alba.

Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom (in the North-West of Europe), occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain.

Scotland is a mountainous country and shares a border with England to the South and is bounded by the North Sea to the East, the Atlantic Ocean to the North / West, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the South-West.

Scotland consists of over 790 islands (with around 130 inhabited) in addition to the mainland, including the Northern Isles, (sometimes known as the Shetland Islands) and the Hebrides. Edinburgh is the country's capital and second largest city as well as one of Europe's largest financial centres. It was also the first city in the world to have its own fire-brigade. The largest city in Scotland is Glasgow. The highest point in Scotland is Ben Nevis at 1,343m. Scotland is famous for its fresh water lochs (lakes) - there are over 600 square miles of them. The most famous is Loch Ness where a dinosaur-like monster is said to lurk in the water but this has not been proven. Famous Scottish inventors include Alexander Graham Bell (Telephone) and Alexander Fleming (Penicillin).

Culture lovers from around the world come to Edinburgh for its famous arts festival.

The national flag of Scotland is known as the Saltire or St. Andrew's Cross.

"Flower of Scotland" is popularly held to be the National Anthem of Scotland. Scotland the Brave is used for the Scottish team at the Commonwealth Games.

The largest lake in Scotland is Loch Lomond: 60sq km (40 km long).

St Andrew's Day (30 November) is the national day, although Burns' Night tends to be more widely observed. Scotland currently has a population of just over 5 million. Edinburgh, like Rome, was built on seven hills. Tourism is recognised as a key contributor to the Scottish economy. A briefing published in 2002 by the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) for the Scottish Parliament's Enterprise and Life Long Learning Committee stated that tourism accounted around 5% of GDP and 7.5% of employment in Scotland. Famous musicians from Scotland include Annie Lennox, Wet Wet Wet, Travis and Simple Minds.

Members of the European Union can apply for jobs in Scotland and other nationalities can apply for a visa subject to meeting requirements.

The most famous football teams in Scotland are Glasgow Celtic and Glasgow Rangers.

Scottish music is an important aspect of the nation's culture, with both traditional and modern influences. A well-known traditional Scottish instrument is the Great Highland Bagpipes, a wind instrument consisting of three drones and a melody pipe (called the chanter), which are fed continuously by a reservoir of air in a bag.

The thistle is Scotland's Floral emblem.

There are many famous universities in Scotland including the University of St. Andrews, Edinburgh University and Glasgow University.

The currency in Scotland is Pound Sterling.

The longest river is the Tay at 121 miles.

Scotland is in the Greenwich Mean Time time zone.

About the Author: Albert Beetons wrote this article about Scotland on behalf of Scottish Holiday Houses