Scotland occupies the northern third of Great Britain (32% of land area), bordering only England to the south. In addition to the Scottish mainland, it is home to approximately 800 small islands, including the northern isles of Orkney and Shetland, the Hebrides, Skye and Arran.
Scotland features the most mountainous terrain in Great Britain, with 284 Munros (peaks over 3000ft/914m) found in the highlands, and is therefore loved by those who love the outdoors. There are presently two national parks in the country: Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, created in 2002, and the Cairngorms National Park, created in 2003.
Capital city: Edinburgh
Highest Point: Ben Nevis (4406ft / 1343m)
Lowest Point: North Sea (0ft / 0m)
Land Area: 30,251 sq. mi (78,352 sq. km)
Water Area: 356 sq. mi (920 sq. km)
Total Area: 30,607 sq. mi (79,272 sq. km)
Coastline: 8149 miles (13,115 km)
Bordering countries (1) England
Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in Britain, with an elevation of 4409ft (1344m). As you would expect given this accolade, it’s an extremely popular tourist attraction, with approximately 150,000 ascents made every year. Climbing Ben Nevis The most common and simplest route to the summit is the Pony Path, which is reasonably well maintained,…
Much of the history of Scotland has been handed down as tales passed from one generation to the next. This is a country with a violent and blood-stained past but, in addition to the indisputable historical facts, many of the stories about Scotland in bygone days also include generous helpings of legend, myth and magic….