| Scotland
is about half the size of England, and roughly two-thirds
of the country is mountain and moorland. Geographically, it
can be divided into three areas: the Southern Uplands, Central
Lowlands, and Northern Highlands and Islands.
The Southern Uplands are the fertile plains
and hills bordering England; the Central Lowlands run from
Edinburgh to Glasgow and contain the industrial belt and most
of the population, while the Highlands are mountain ranges
of sandstone and granite, rising to their heights at Ben Nevis,
Britain's highest mountain. Of Scotland's 790 islands, 130
are inhabited. Island groups include the Inner and Outer Hebrides,
the Orkneys and Shetlands.
The main tourist period is April to September,
and the height of the season is during the school holidays
in July and August when accommodation, be it campsites, B&Bs
or luxury hotels, is at a premium. Edinburgh in particular
becomes impossibly crowded during the festival period in August,
so book well ahead.
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Statistically, your best chances of fine weather
are in May, June and September; July and August are usually
warm, but may be wet too. In summer, daylight hours are long;
the midsummer sun sets around 23:00 in the Shetland Islands
and even Edinburgh evenings seem to last forever in June and
July. Conversely, in December the sun doesn't show its face
for very long at all.
'Varied' describes Scotland's climate perfectly.
There are wide variations in climate over small distances,
and a sunny day will often as not be followed by a rainy one.
Although the country nudges the Arctic Circle, the Gulf Stream
winds keep the temperature mild (well, relatively mild).
The Highlands, however, can have extreme weather
at any time. The east coast tends to be cool and dry, with
winter temperatures rarely dropping below freezing (but watch
out for the bone-chilling winds off the North Sea). The west
coast is milder and wetter, with average summer highs of 19°C
(66°F). May and June are the driest months; July and August
the warmest. In the north the summer sun barely sets; the
winter sun barely rises.
Scottish culture is a thriving beast, with
a depth of hearty tradition and a solid footing on the world
stage of literature and performing arts. Scotland has made
its presence felt through its amazing festivals, actors and
writers; Irvine Welsh has made a heavy impact on the international
literary scene and the prestigious Edinburgh Festival is a
hotspot on international arts calendars.
There are direct air services from Europe
to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen, Inverness or Kirkwall,
and from the States to Glasgow or Edinburgh.
Long-distance buses are the cheapest way of
getting to Scotland; alternatively you can take a train from
London which will get you into Edinburgh in four hours and
Glasgow in five - it's comfy but it's not cheap.
The highlight of Scotland's calendar is the
Edinburgh Festival, held every August. This is one of the
world's most important arts festivals, and its Fringe claims
to be the largest in the world, with over 500 performers pushing
the boundaries every year.
The city's Military Tattoo is held in the
same month, as is the Edinburgh International Film Festival,
Edinburgh Book Festival and Glasgow's World Pipe Band Championships.
September's Braemar Gathering is attended by the queen in
Braemar, with other games held all over the country. All Scotland
hits the streets for Hogmanay, the Scottish celebration of
New Year, a riotous party indeeed.
For some truly unruly rugby, try the Ba' in
Kirkwall in the Orkney Islands, which has been held on Christmas
Day and New Year's Day for centuries. It consists of two teams
and some 400 alcohol-fuelled players, who turn the entire
town into a giant rugby pitch for the day. The game starts
at the cathedral and the harbour is one of the goals. Up in
the Shetland Islands the Up Helly Aa festival, that celebrates
the islands Viking heritage by burning a boat they've spent
all year building in a dazzling spectacle.
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