Live in Scotland
Scotland is the northern third of Great Britain its only land border is with England; it is a large part of the UK with a population of over 5 million people
The most heavily populated areas are in the Scottish Central belt with Scotland's two largest cities Edinburgh and Glasgow. Scotland is a place filled with history and culture from celebration every year of the great poet Robert Burns to famous historic characters like William Wallace. Scotland also offers some of the most spectacular views in the UK and even the world and has often been a favourite for impressive backdrops in films. Whether you want an urban or a rural lifestyle Scotland has a lot to offer.
Weather
The weather in Scotland does vary dependent on where you are the
east coast can sometimes be colder than the west due to its
proximity to the North Sea. However the west although milder
can often be wetter. The north west of Scotland can often get
a little windy and often has gales. But some parts of Scotland are
the sunniest in the UK!
In summer there are long days (on some of the northern islands
there is almost no darkness) and temperatures average around 20
degrees. In the winter it depends on where you are as to the
weather you will get. There are long nights, some places do
get snow fall and temperatures are on average 5 degrees.
Culture
History
Scotland is thought to have been first inhabited over 10,000 years ago, modern Scotland it started off with different Kingdoms of the Picts, the Celts, the Britons and the Anglo-Saxons, even the Vikings had control of the northern islands. There were many wars between the Kingdoms, the Romans, the Normans and the Vikings. It wasn't until the 9th century that it was united under the Kingdom of Alba or in English; Scotland. The Hebrides became part of Scotland in the 12th Century and Orkney and Shetland in the 15th Century. Scotland was an independent state until the 1 May 1707 when the Union between Scotland and England was formed. Since then Scotland has been a part of the United Kingdom but in many ways has retained its unique Scottish culture and National identity. This was helped by retaining its separate legal system, education system and Church. During the Scottish Enlightenment and the industrial revolution Scotland became the forefront for commercial and intellectual activity. Scotland's varied history has made it what it is today.
Tradition
Scotland is fiercely proud of its culture and heritage; it has been handing its traditions down to each generation since the 12th century. Scottish traditions include Hogmanay or the celebration of New Year; Burn's Night the celebration of Scotland's national poet Robert Burns; kilts; haggis; porridge; bagpipes and many many more. Folklore is a strong part of the Scottish tradition with the legend of the Loch Ness Monster being one of Scotland's more famous tales. Gaelic is the traditional Scottish language going back form the days when the different Kingdoms were all united however today it is only spoken by a minority. Scotland is so rich with tradition it is any wonder that the Scottish hold a strong sense of the Scottish national identity.
Innovation
Scotland is a hub of learning and culture it has some of the oldest and best Universities in the world and is renowned for its contributions in areas including engineering, medicine, science, philosophy, law, art, music, literature and film Scotland has boasted many achievements both past and present. From Arthur Conan Doyle the writer of Sherlock Holmes, to John Logie Baird who invented the television. Alexander Fleming who discovered Penicillin was also a Scot as was David Hume the famous philosopher.
Lifestyle
What ever type of lifestyle you want you can find it in Scotland, in the large cities of Glasgow or Edinburgh you can get urban living. If you are looking for a more rural and laidback lifestyle there is the north. With major shopping areas in most parts of Glasgow, world renowned restaurants, bars, nightclubs, traditional pubs, castles, museums there really is something for everyone in Scotland. Scotland has an abundance of sports with the most popular being football and rugby. There are water sports, hill walking, cycling, skiing, traditional sports such as the Highland games to name but a few. Scotland is the home of golf; with more world renowned golf courses than any other country of its size.
Food and Drink
Scotland has a booming food and drink industry, not only in the production but also in the retail aspect with several Michelin starred restaurants in Scotland. Agriculture is an important part of Scotland and the fresh produce it supplies is world class. The most famous fresh produce is Aberdeen Angus beef; it is always a sign of quality as well as cheeses, fruit and vegetables. Scottish salmon has to be one of Scotland's most valuable exports as well as shellfish these industries are important to Scotland and the produce is excellent.
Multiculturalism
As more and more people from all over the world decide to choose
Scotland as their home it is becoming ever more
multicultural. The main language in Scotland is English the
other official language however Gaelic is spoken in some parts of
Scotland. Scotland is home to lots of different
communities the largest communities include Pakistani, Indian,
African, Eastern European, Western European, Irish, Chinese and
many other smaller communities.
Scotland is a diverse country and as such it accommodates for its
diverse residents, this means that there are places of worship for
most religions in Scotland. In the larger cities there are
often mosques, synagogues and temples, Glasgow is the most diverse
area in Scotland and it can cater for most needs. For more
information on worshipping in Scotland see the useful links
section.
