| Scotland has a rich heritage that can be traced back | | | | Course at St Andrews, just north of Edinburgh and |
| prior to the Iron Age and this culture is very much | | | | the home of golf, undoubtedly the most famous of |
| alive and flourishing wherever you go in the country. | | | | all. |
| The country is split into several quite distinct regions. | | | | Moving further north, the cities of Dundee and |
| In the South you have the Border regions with their | | | | Aberdeen offer a new experience. Dundee is |
| rolling rural landscapes, where sheep often outnumber | | | | steeped in history with the now defunct jute |
| people. Rugby is the main passion here and Border | | | | industry still providing a number of fascinating tourist |
| towns such as Hawick and Kelso have produced | | | | attractions along with Captain Scotts famous vessel |
| some of Scotland's most successful professional | | | | the Discovery moored as a permanent display in the |
| rugby stars. Moving slightly north you enter the | | | | River Tay. Aberdeen, by contrast is known as the Oil |
| Central Belt - where over 75% of the population | | | | Capital of Europe and home to a very much thriving |
| actually live. The 2 major cities of Glasgow and, of | | | | North Sea Oil industry. It is one of the most |
| course, the capital city Edinburgh, are major tourist | | | | cosmopolitan cities in Scotland, mainly thanks to the |
| attractions in their own right. | | | | legacy of the early oil years and the large influx of |
| Edinburgh has numerous world famous tourist | | | | foreign workers that this brought, and boasts a huge |
| attractions including Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace | | | | range of cultures, restaurants and a thriving nightlife. |
| and, a more recent addition, The Scottish Parliament. | | | | The last major city in Scotland is the Capital of the |
| Its dozens of museums, art galleries and, of course, | | | | Highlands, Inverness which has only recently been |
| the annual Fringe Festival - the largest arts festival in | | | | granted City status. Sitting at the head of the |
| the world are major draws for visitors from all over.. | | | | famous Loch Ness - watch out for Nessie - the |
| Glasgow is a less well known tourist destination but | | | | worlds most famous monster - it really is the |
| has become very chic and increasingly popular in | | | | gateway to the Highlands.. Inverness has seen |
| recent years largely thanks to widespread | | | | explosive growth in recent years but still retains a |
| regeneration of the Clydeside area. You must see | | | | very unique 'small town' atmosphere and is a favorite |
| the newly regenerated riverside area and the famous | | | | stopping off point of many tourist parties en-route to |
| Armadillo structure at the Exhibition Center if you | | | | the Highlands. |
| visit the city. | | | | In part 2 of this series I will continue the journey |
| Golf fanatics are, of course, well catered for with | | | | around Scotland taking in the Highlands themselves, |
| some of the world's finest golf courses located | | | | the scenic beauty of the Western Isles, and West |
| around the country. Scotland certainly has more than | | | | Coast before finishing up in the un-spoilt beauty of |
| its fair share of world class golf courses with the Old | | | | the Trossachs. |