Edinburgh hosts the largest performing arts festival in the world -- a summer event that seems to last longer than notoriously brief Scottish summers.
Summer fests are better than summers —
Edinburgh hosts the largest performing arts festival in the world -- a summer event that seems to last longer than notoriously brief Scottish summers.
Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
Some Scots talk about the 14th-century Battle of Bannockburn like it happened last year, which is perhaps why it regularly gets re-enacted.
Bannockburn is still an issue —
Some Scots talk about the 14th-century Battle of Bannockburn like it happened last year, which is perhaps why it regularly gets re-enacted.
Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images
To commemorate its Viking past, a Jarl Squad, with replica Viking Galley, lead the Viking Fire Festival every year in different parts of the Shetland Islands.
It's a bridge to Scandinavia —
To commemorate its Viking past, a Jarl Squad, with replica Viking Galley, lead the Viking Fire Festival every year in different parts of the Shetland Islands.
P. Tomkins / VisitScotland /Scottish Viewpoint
The Jacobite steam train (aka the Hogwarts Express) crosses the Glenfinnan Viaduct at the head of Loch Shiel. It's one of the most scenic railway routes anywhere.
Its railways are amazing —
The Jacobite steam train (aka the Hogwarts Express) crosses the Glenfinnan Viaduct at the head of Loch Shiel. It's one of the most scenic railway routes anywhere.
Paul Tomkins / VisitScotland / Scottish Viewpoint
Scottish author Walter Scott's country home, Abbotsford House, is full of unusual objects and artifacts that inspired his greatest works.
It produced world's first lit superstar —
Scottish author Walter Scott's country home, Abbotsford House, is full of unusual objects and artifacts that inspired his greatest works.
Courtesy Scott's Abbotsford
Haggis and scary-looking pies are fine, but Indian curry is Scotland's favorite dish. Mister Singh's restaurant in Glasgow does an Indian and Scottish fusion menu.
Its fave dish isn't Scottish ... —
Haggis and scary-looking pies are fine, but Indian curry is Scotland's favorite dish. Mister Singh's restaurant in Glasgow does an Indian and Scottish fusion menu.
Courtesy Mister Singh's India
Holyrood -- the colossally expensive home of the Scottish Parliament -- is a good place to get a feel for contemporary events. Weekly shouting matches, otherwise known as First Minister's Questions, can be seen from the public gallery.
Scotland loves politics —
Holyrood -- the colossally expensive home of the Scottish Parliament -- is a good place to get a feel for contemporary events. Weekly shouting matches, otherwise known as First Minister's Questions, can be seen from the public gallery.
AndrewCowan/Scottish Parliament Corporate Body