Five fascinating things that you may not know about Scotland…

The story of the classic Scottish tartan is certainly an intriguing one. Traditional tartan is a patterned cloth made up of criss-crossed, horizontal, and vertical bands in multiple colours and were originally woven from wool, but now is made out of many other materials.

Traditional Scottish kilts almost always have tartan patterns, and until the mid-nineteenth century highland tartans were typically associated with regions or districts, rather than a specific clan, the reason being that like other materials in the olden days, the tartan designs were produced by local weavers and used natural dyes available in that specific area, getting colour dyes from other areas proved to be very expensive, and so the distinction of people from different areas was made easier, using their tartan’s to identify each other upon a first meeting.

After the mid-nineteenth century more patterns were created and tartans became associated with clans and families, who wished to honour their Scottish ancestry, and today tartan prints are applied to just about everything from wrapping paper to mugs, tea towels and even face masks, and has become seen as a symbol of Scotland, and is especially popular with tourists.

We love our local tartan and you will often spot many traditional tartan’s on display at local festivals, dancing competitions and national events.

The Scottish national animal is the unicorn – this fact is utterly fascinating for many visitors to Scotland, some of whom believe that they may even have spotted one during their Scottish walking holidays on the Highlands – although the tales may be a bit far-fetched, especially after a few drams at the local pub!

Now, we love a good bit of a myth and a legend here in Scotland, and although the animal itself is mythical – the ideals that it represents are of a proud and beautiful beast – one that represents the resilient nature of the Scots, who over the centuries remain to fight unconquered in battle.

The unicorn that represents Scotland on its coat of arms, is shown to be wrapped in a golden chain around it’s neck and body and although the animal depicts being wild and untamed, it can be said that the chain ensnaring it symbolises the power of Scottish kings – and that they were strong enough to tame even the magical, powerful unicorn.

The Northern Lights are visible from Scotland. We love the fact that Scotland is one of the best places to view the beautiful and intriguing Aurora Borealis from – no need to travel far into Europe to get some incredible views and even better Instagram snaps.

The best months to view the Northern Lights in Scotland are between November and February (although this does vary year to year, and is worth doing some research on before booking your trip) and the lower the air pollution in the area the better for spotting the ‘mirrie dancers’. This is one of the many reasons why the Scottish Highlands are so popular with walkers and travellers from around the world.

Why not plan your next walking holiday in Scotland to coincide with an opportunity to possibly view the Northern Lights – this incredible sight is something that you will never forget, and although spotting the lights is never guaranteed, the beauty of the Scottish countryside is another sight that you will take home with you to recall for many years to come.

Bagpipes (beside being used to create music for dancing to) originated around the 14th century from animal skins and were first used in battle, the Scots playing their bagpipes to strike fear into the hearts of the invaders on Scottish land.

Picture the mists rolling over the Scottish moors and the fearsome sound of hundreds of bagpipes rising up all around you, the invading enemies would have been utterly petrified, and rightly so.

Nowadays bagpipes are either played as a solo or a band instrument, with pipe bands displaying their skill and dexterity on the instrument at festivals and get togethers around the world.

The iconic flag of Scotland is steeped in history and dates back to as early as 1503 – although the background was originally red but was modified to light blue (to reflect the sky) in 1540 by King Angus. The flag is known as the Saltire and can be spotted on, and in, many buildings around the country.

The Saltire can be flown by any individual, and does not require permission to be displayed, hence the fact that it is often seen adorning buildings and is also flown on St. Andrews Day which is celebrated annually on 30th November. St Andrew’s Day honours the Scottish patron saint, and also marks the national day of Scotland, as well as the official beginning of winter and associated festivals such as Hogmanay and Burns Night.

We cannot wait to share more about our beautiful country with you. If you need more information on Scotland walking holidays, where to stay, and great places to eat (to suit all budgets) and much more – make sure to download our FREE app in your Google play or Apple store – tips, ideas and tons of information await.

For bespoke Scotland tours, we are here to help – drop us an email and we can help you create something magical - info@thewalkersclub.com