about scotland

Where is Scotland
At the north west tip of Europe. Scotland is one of the 4 countries that make up the United Kingdom. Scotland lies to the north of England with the North Sea to it's east and the Atlantic to its west.

How Big is it?
Scotland is roughly 300 miles north to south and anywhere up to 200 miles east to west.
The population is around 5 million people, mostly concentrated in the central lowlands between Edinburgh and Glasgow.

What currency do you use in Scotland?
Although a European Union member, we do not use the Euro yet. Our unit of currency is Pounds Sterling (£) sometimes refered to as GBP. The pound can be used through the UK. Scotland's banks issue their own bank notes.

How do you get to Scotland?
By Air - we have airports at Glasgow Prestwick, Glasgow International, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness. There are international flights to all of these airports, though many travellers arrive after changing flights in London.
By Rail - The train journey from London to Edinburgh should take around 4 hours 30.
By Sea - A ferry runs from Belgium to Rosyth in Fife twice daily.

Geography
Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland lying at the east of the narrow 'belt' in the middle of the country. It is a beautiful old ciy, very famous for its Castle and the festivals in August and at Hogmanay.
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland situated about an hour's drive west of Edinburgh. Glasgow is famous for its architecture, museums, football, and possibly most of all, its friendly people.
Elsewhere in Central Scotland you're never far from a historical monument, castle or place to visit.

Southern Scotland comprises rolling hills, forest and beautiful old market towns. Towns in the Borders and Dumfries & Galloway are steeped in history and tradition. Southern Scotland is a wonderful, peaceful place to visit.

Northern Scotland takes in the wilderness of the North-West Highlands south to beautiful Argyll and over to Perthshire, the high Grampians and lowland Aberdeenshire. It is a vast area dominated mostly by mountainous terrain, wilder in the west and more rolling as you come further east. Exploring Northern Scotland could take some time so make sure you're not in a hurry.

The Islands comprise the Inner Hebrideas like Skye and Mull to the west of the country along with the Outer Hebrideas including Lewis, Harris and North and South Uist. Off the north coast of the Scottish mainland lies Orkney - a very lush green set of Islands. To the north of Orkney lies Shetland - a set of islands on the same latitude as Norway and Sweden.

More about Scotland:

Weather in Scotland - a guide about what weather to expect depending on the time of year you visit Scotland.

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