ScotlandExplored

17/08/2024

Summer mornings on the coast in ancient Orkney 💙 🤩
📍 Skara Brae, Orkney
📸 by instagram.com/earlyretirementwanderlust

17/08/2024

Sharp-eyed visitors to Scotland may have noticed that as you travel North on the M74, at the point where it loses the English name of M6, there's a line crossing the motorway. At a casual glance you could be forgiven for thinkiing that it's an expansion gap, but as ever, in a facebook group like this, the truth is far weirder.
This gap actually extends along the entire border between Scotland and the other place and its purpose is to prevent haggis from entering England, where it would be considered to be an 'invasive species'. Haggis, like chickens, dolphins and aeronautical engineers will never cross a line in a road, saving our precious haggis from immediate extermination by English wildlife officials.

01/04/2024

31/03/2024

In time for Easter, both of our Highland calves have now been born.

One has been named but we’re looking for name suggestions for this one, a female, comment below your choice.

All of our Highland Cows are out in the field by the castle carpark for our visitors to see. The mothers can be very protective so we ask you do not enter the field or allow your dog to.

31/03/2024

𝟮𝟭 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻'𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄:

1. Scotland has over 790 islands, but only about 130 are inhabited. The largest inhabited island is Lewis and Harris.

2. Edinburgh was the first city in the world to have its own fire brigade, established in 1824.

3. Scotland's national animal is the unicorn, symbolizing purity, innocence, and power in Celtic mythology.

4. The shortest scheduled flight in the world is in Scotland. The flight between Westray and Papa Westray in the Orkney Islands lasts just around one minute.

5. Scotland is home to the oldest tree in Europe: A twisted yew tree in Fortingall that is estimated to be between 3,000 and 9,000 years old.

6. Shetland has the highest density of otters in Europe, with around 1,000 otters living in the wild.

7. The raincoat was invented by Charles Macintosh, a Glaswegian, in 1824, revolutionizing outdoor wear with his waterproof fabric.

8. Scotland has its own legal system, separate from England and Wales, with its roots in Roman law and influenced by other legal traditions, including French law.

9. The Encyclopedia Britannica was first produced in Scotland in 1768, in Edinburgh, to be precise.

10. The world’s first color photograph was taken in Scotland: In 1861, James Clerk Maxwell presented a color photograph of a tartan ribbon.

11. Golf originated in Scotland, with the game being played on Musselburgh Links in 1672, which is recognized as the world’s oldest golf course.

12. Scotland’s national dish is haggis, a savory pudding containing sheep's heart, liver, and lungs, mixed with onions, oatmeal, suet, spices, and salt, encased in the animal's stomach.

13. The first official international football (soccer) match was played in Scotland between Scotland and England in 1872.

14. Scotland has its own currency: Scottish banks issue their own banknotes, which are legal currency throughout the UK, though they might be met with confusion outside Scotland.

15. Edinburgh was named the first UNESCO City of Literature in 2004, recognizing its strong literary heritage.

16. St. Andrew’s Day on November 30th is a national holiday in Scotland, celebrating Saint Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland.

17. The Old Course at St. Andrews is considered the "home of golf" and has been played on since the 15th century.

18. Skara Brae on Orkney is older than Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids, making it one of the oldest agricultural villages in the UK.

19. The largest secondhand bookshop in Scotland, Leakey’s Bookshop in Inverness, is housed in an old church and features a wood-burning stove in the center.

20. The Scots Pine is Scotland’s national tree, symbolic of its ancient Caledonian forests.

21. Scotland is famed for its "right to roam", where people can access most land and inland water for recreation, as long as they do so responsibly under the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

21/01/2024

Breaking news!
An injured Haggis was found dehydrated and starving and handed into a local vets.
The vet said " He was expected to make a full recovery and is being treated with I.V Irn Bru and shortcake"
He is looking much better and will be released back into the wild before Burns Night.

02/12/2023

📸 Watch this video on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/aRd8WNVwokDX32iC/

02/12/2023

The witty gritters are back!
Gonnae Snow Dae That!
You can track them here:
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 www.traffic.gov.scot/gritter-tracker ❄

24/09/2023

For six months, people can get free admission to participating Historic Scotland visitor attractions, which is part of Historic Environment Scotland, on the first Sunday of the month (1 October 2023 through to 3 March 2024) Photographed at Stirling Castle.

23/01/2023

Injured haggis found in the perthsire hills is now being cared for..... Whisky, shortbread and IV drip.. Should be well again for Burns night on Wednesday 😁

13/12/2022

The gritters are out in Scotland. This is the tracking with their names.. From Mary Queen of Salt, Lord Coldermort, Sled Zeppelin, Salt Disney to Basil Salty - actually genuine 👍😁

01/12/2022

01/12/2022

Loch Lomond 😍

30/11/2022

Happy St Andrew's Day.... drawings by P**o and Maria (aged 7 years) ❤️

20/09/2022

The Stone of Destiny - also known as the Stone of Scone or the Coronation Stone - will travel south with the King for his coronation.

19/09/2022

The Ceremonial Procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II travels down the Long Walk as it arrives at Windsor Castle for the Committal Service at St George's Chapel

19/09/2022

Where are we today??

14/09/2022

Simply Stunning!
https://kuula.co/share/collection/7lKpb?logo=1&info=1&fs=1&vr=1&zoom=1&initload=0&autorotate=0.06&autop=10&autopalt=1&thumbs=1&fbclid=IwAR0iUYQfEsSSz-p8Dbjva2Ye-rrdA8IADGKFG3QouuS0twPerZ13XmoEnQ8

Virtual Tour | Take a Virtual Aerial Tour of Loch Lomond, Scotland | "The Narrows"

12/09/2022

Spectacular view looking down into the lower part of the pass of Glencoe with Loch Achtriochtan clearly visible , the A82 running alongside the loch and down towards the village of Glencoe.

12/09/2022

Her Majesty the Queen has started her journey to the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

Rest in peace your Majesty

Long live the King

12/09/2022

The Queen's children, led by King Charles III, walked behind their mother's coffin on Edinburgh's Royal Mile.

17/08/2022

Savills picked out the most desirable villages to live in 53 counties across England, Wales and Scotland.

17/08/2022

Looking for an adventure this summer?