Unicorn As A National Animal, Mythological Creatures Or The Shortest Flight In The World. 10 Interesting Facts About Scotland

Scotland. Edinburgh, bagpipes, whiskey and castles. One of the four countries of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, offers its visitors more than enough history and entertainment. Not only those who are looking for adventure, but also loners will find something to their liking. It is said, that in Scotland you will meet more sheep and cows than people.

In addition to beautiful natural scenery, the country also hides some myths and oddities. Read about those, as well as some historical facts, in the article below.

1. Going commando under a Scottish kilt?

Although traditional Scottish clothing includes knee-high socks, opinions differ on the issue of underwear. The tradition that some men follow is that men don't have to wear anything under their skirts. It is said to be the mark of a true Scotsman.

In the past, the Scots supposedly wore a linen tunic instead of underwear. It should have reached their knees, but it could not stick out from under the kilt. Until the end of the 18th century, it was the only piece of clothing that men wore under their clothes.

For a long time, the kilt was part of the Scottish military uniform, but without underwear. It was later discontinued due to the fact that it exposed too much skin during the use of chemical weapons, which posed a considerable danger to the soldiers.

2. The flight between two Scottish islands is the shortest in the world

Loganair flight LM711 can boast of being entered in the Guinness Book of Records. It earned its title thanks to a duration that does not exceed two minutes. This line runs regularly two to three times a day and connects the islands of Westray and Papa Westray.

The small plane seats eight people and those lucky enough to sit in the front get to watch the pilot during the flight. However, the journey itself cannot be called comfortable. Better go to the toilet quickly before departure, because you won't even find toilets on the plane. 

Although the plane does not offer comfort, you can enjoy a beautiful two-minute view of the surrounding islands and the Atlantic Ocean from it.

3. A waterfall three times higher than Niagara Falls

Eas a' Chual Aluinn is the highest waterfall in Great Britain. With a height of 200 meters, it is three times larger than, for example, the famous Niagara Falls. The name is an English transliteration of the original Gaelic name, the literal translation of which is "Fall of beautiful hair". You can get to it, for example, by a ten-kilometer walk through the marsh, and in good weather there is also a boat to Loch Beag, from where the waterfall offers the best views.

4. Unicorn as national animal?

The mythical unicorn first appeared in the Scottish coat of arms in the 12th century and was meant to symbolize purity, innocence, strength and chivalry. The animal is wrapped in a golden chain that first goes around its neck and continues down the rest of its body. People once believed that the unicorn was the strongest of all animals.

His wildness and untamedness could supposedly be tamed only by a virgin girl. It is possible that the chaining symbolizes the power of the Scottish kings. It may indicate that they were strong enough to tame a unicorn. You can find the characteristic appearance of these animals in cities and towns throughout the country, many of them are also depicted in their coats of arms.

5. Where dwarves bathe and other legends

Part of the charm of Scotland are the many legends associated with it. Without a doubt, the most famous is the Loch Ness monster, which, according to historians, lives in the Scottish lake Loch Ness. However, it is far from the only legendary creature in the country.

For example, dwarves are said to bathe in fairy-tale lakes on the Isle of Skye. Another myth is the 160-meter rock formation The Old Man of Storr. It is named after its resemblance to an old man. Legend has it that the Old Man of Storr was a giant who inhabited this place. It is said that when he was laid to rest after his death, his thumb remained partially above the ground in the form of a rock.

6. The raincoat was invented by a native Scotsman

No wonder, the weather here is often rainy. Until the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, there was no clothing on the market that was completely waterproof. Until then, people used to specially treat their clothes with oil, but this apparently did not work 100%.

Therefore, many attempts have been made to invent effective clothing impregnation. Discovered by Charles Macintosh in the early 1820s, the method was first intended for sails. The material can be compared to a sandwich, where gasoline-softened rubber is located between two pieces of fabric. The texture of the material ensured resistance to soaking linen, wool, cotton and silk, as well as leather and paper.

7. The biggest art festival in the world

Anyone who loves art, theater or live music will find something to their liking in Scotland. This is evidenced, for example, by the Edinburgh Festival, the largest art event in the world. It was created in 1947 after the Second World War as a celebration of culture.

There are thousands of shows at over 300 venues across the city. But Scottish festival culture isn't just about Edinburgh. You can find live music and art events throughout the year throughout the country. Whether you are on the Hebridean island of Tiree or the village of Killin in the Trossachs National Park.

8. Redheads!

Despite the fact that the first place with the number of people with red hair is occupied by Ireland, it is closely followed by Scotland. There are less than two percent of people with this hair color worldwide, but looking at Scotland, you'd think they all lived there. People with red hair make up six percent of the country's total population.

9. Scotch whiskey at the top of the list. Or is it gin?

Scotland is home to up to 130 types of whisky, making it the country with the largest concentration of whiskey production in the world. It is no surprise that it is called the "water of life" and that it is one of the most famous traditional Scottish products. Traditional Scotch whiskey is exceptional precisely because of its diversity.

There are many flavors and you can buy peaty, smoky or sweet. They all have the same base, which is malted barley. Recently, Scotch whiskey has a lot of competition for the position of the most popular drink in the country. You may not have known it, but Scotland is also a major producer of gin. In the country you will find more than 90 distilleries of gin, which is quite popular. So, will you ask for whiskey or gin?

10. A nation of inventors and innovators

The Scots are a nation of inventors, pioneers and innovators. They brought us a huge number of new concepts, systems, architectural techniques, scientific discoveries and inventions. These include, for example, the telephone, the steam engine, asphalt, anesthesia, penicillin, the pedal bicycle, and the decimal point.