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Bagpipes: Scotland does not claim to have invented the bagpipes, but it does claim to have developed them into an art. Roman legions once marched to the pipes, and even the Indian snake-charmer today uses a pipe which, although it has no bag, is basically the same as the Highland one. Most countries in the world have tried their hand at the bagpipes (even England, where there was a pipe band at court in 1327), but only in Scotland have they survived long enough to become a great musical instrument. Bagpipes in Scotland. In a broad sense, there are two main forms of pipe music, called in Gaelic ceol mor and ceol beag, literally big music and little music. Ceol mor, often described as piobaireachd, is the classical form of pipe music and is a highly sophisticated kind of early post-medieval art music with its own tonal system, its own intricate metrical forms and its own characteristically heroic style. It is a type of art form unique to Scotland and completely uninfluenced by the European music of the last three of four hundred years. There are over 300 compositions in the ceol mor style, most of which were written between the 16th and 18th centuries - a time which saw the flowering of the Highland culture in Scotland. The best-known composers of ceol mor were the MacCrimmons of Skye, who were the hereditary pipers for some 300 years in unbroken succession to the Clan MacLeod. There were the MacArthurs (pipers to Clan Donald), the Rankines (pipers to the Macleans of Duart), the MacKays (pipers to the MacKenzies of Gairloch), and other hereditary pipers, many of whom studied with the MacCrimmons at their College of Piping at Boreraig. By contrast to the classical music, there is the light form of pipe music - ceol beag - which is comprised of marches, strathspeys, reels, jigs, and hornpipes. This is a fitting test for the finest of pipers and demands not only a finely tuned instrument but the utmost concentration of memory.

What event inspired the English to widely install public lavatories in Victorian London? The success of public lavatories used at the Great Exhibition, held at Hyde Park in 1851, led to the widespread installation of public toilets in London.

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."World Conker Championships" in tiny Ashton near Peterborough are worth a visit. They are not only fun for children but a hilarious example of weird English culture & everybody can join in if they register early on www.worldconkerchampionships.com
About hogmanay in scotland Hogmanay and New Year in Scotland is immortalised, needs little introduction to most, and there is simply no better way to experience it than to indulge yourselves in one of the great selection of Scottish New Year breaks and hotel deals on the site. Whether you decide to join in one of the great street parties, notably the Edinburgh and Glasgow Hogmanay celebrations, or want to escape to a traditional Scottish highlands Hogmanay retreat – there’s something for everyone. Hogmanay is a more important festival in Scotland than Christmas . Perhaps because at one stage in its history, the celebration of Christmas was banned in Scotland, the Scots have always made New Year's Eve something special. The traditions associated with this pagan mid-winter festival are repeated not just in Edinburgh, the capital city, but in towns and villages throughout the country. Great events, festivals and celebrations take place every year in Pitlochry, Dundee, Aberdeen Stirling, Inverness and Perth – to name but just a few. An integral part of the traditional Hogmanay partying, which still continues very much today, is to welcome friends and strangers alike, with warm hospitality - and of course a kiss - to wish everyone a ‘Guid New Year’. The underlying belief is to clear out the vestiges of the old year, have a clean break and welcome in a young, New Year on a happy note! The origin of the word is somewhat ‘cloudy’! "It is ordinary among some Plebians in the South of Scotland, to go about from door to door upon New Year`s Eve, crying Hagmane." Scotch Presbyterian Eloquence, 1693. Opinions differ as to whether it originated from the Gaelic oge maidne ("new morning"), Anglo-Saxon Haleg Monath ("Holy Month"), or Norman French word hoguinané, which was derived from the Old French anguillanneuf ("gift at New Year"). It's also been suggested that it came from the French au gui mener ("lead to the mistletoe") or a Flemish combo hoog ("high" or "great"), min ("love" or "affection") and dag ("day").

The Thistle Legend But why is it that such a proud people as the Scots should choose a humble weed as its national symbol? In truth, no-one knows. There is a legend which relates how a sleeping party of Scots warriors were almost set upon by an invading band of Vikings and were only saved when one of the attackers trod on a wild thistle with his bare feet. His cries raised the alarm and the roused Scots duly defeated the Danes. In gratitude, the plant became known as the Guardian Thistle and was adopted as the symbol of Scotland. The Saltire Flag of Scotland The Scottish national flag is a white-on-blue saltire (i.e. a diagonal cross on a coloured background) and it derives from the shape of the cross on which Scotland's patron saint, St Andrew, was crucified. St Andrew St Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland, a task he shares with Greece, Russia and Romania. The brother of St Peter and one of the original Apostles, Andrew was reputedly martyred at Patras in Greece, having petitioned the Roman authorities who had sentenced him to death not to crucify him on the same shape of cross as Christ. His request was granted and Andrew was duly crucified on the x-shaped cross (or saltire) which has subsequently become his symbol. St Andrew and Scotland His association with Scotland traditionally stems from either of two legendary sources. Relics of the saint were reputedly brought from Patras to Kinrymont in Fife in the 4th century by St Regulus, following his shipwrecking off the east coast. The church at Kinrymont subsequently became the cathedral of St Andrews and developed into a major centre of medieval pilgrimage. Another version relates that in the 9th century, the Pictish king, Angus mac Fergus adopted St Andrew as patron following the appearance of a saltire in the sky immediately before his victory at Athelstaneford.

Here are our choices for: Scotland Travel - Scotland Tour, short Scotland Vacations, and Scotland Tourism Information - the most complete travel information including - Edinburgh hotels - Everything you want to know about traveling to Scotland -Scotland Travel Agents - Scotland Hiking - Scotland Cycling - Scotland Golf - Scottish castles (including castle accommodation), landscape, history and sites of interest, Scottish Castle Hotels, Scottish Inns, Scottish B&B's - Aberdeen - Dundee - Edinburgh - Glasgow - Inverness- Perth, Edinburgh Tattoo Packages. For travel to Scotland, we have day tours of Edinburgh and tours to the Scottish highlands, longer, Scotland motorcoach tours, self-drive tours with car rentals and bed and breakfasts, hotels and castles, train travel, barging and cruising on the canals Scotland. We offer chauffeur driven itineraries, apartment and castle rentals, Scotland walking tours bicycling tours, fishing in Scotland, Scotland golf , Harry Potter tours, custom family tours to Scotland, and so much more. Planning a honeymoon in Scotland? Visiting by ship for a short time - we also have shore excursions for cruise ships or private day tours. If you don't see it here, please ask. We more than likely can arrange it for you. Click here for air inclusive self drive specials for one week or two weeks. Why take an escorted vacation of Scotland? These escorted tours of Scotland may be combined with a stay in Edinburgh, or with Ireland, or Iceland.

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What is a Single Malt Scotch Whisky? A Single Malt Scotch Whisky is the product of one specific distillery and has not been mixed with whisky from any other distilleries. The greatest concentration of malt whisky distilleries can be found in the Speyside region of north-east Scotland with Highland Lowland and Islay being the other main malt whisky producing zones.

What is a Blended Scotch Whisky? A blended scotch whisky may contain a combination of whiskies from over 40 or 50 different malt and grain distilleries. The normal ratio of malt to grain is 60% grain 40% malt. The percentage of malt used will determine the quality and smoothness of taste and character.

What is worn under the kilt? There is the answer given by all Scotsmen - regardless of whether they have underwear on or not - is: NOTHING WORN, ALL IN FIRST CLASS WORKING ORDER!

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For travel to Scotland, we have day tours of Edinburgh and tours to the Scottish highlands, longer,Scotland motorcoach tours, self-drive tours with car rentals and bed and breakfasts, hotels and castles, train travel, barging and cruising on the canals Scotland. We offer chauffeur driven itineraries, apartment and castle rentals, Scotland walking tours bicycling tours, fishing in Scotland, Scotland golf , Harry Potter tours, custom family tours to Scotland, and so much more. Planning a honeymoon in Scotland? Visiting by ship for a short time - we also haveshore excursions for cruise ships or private day tours. If you don't see it here, please ask. We more than likely can arrange it for you. Click here for air inclusive self drive specials for one week or two weeks.

Travel in style with our qualified driver/guides in a chauffeur driven car or minibus. We have luxury vacations to suit your every desire. Shore excursions for all cruise lines in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

The quality and variety of Scotland's fishing is quite breathtaking. Spend a week walking the hills and valleys of Scotland, or golf in Scotland. We will pre-arrange your tee times at all the best courses - St. Andrews, Carnoustie, Gleneagles, Turnberry and more. Bike Scotland, with luggage transfer.

Rent an Edinburgh apartment, a stone built manor house or a fairytale castle. Scotland vacation deals: We have city packages in Edinburgh, and other vacation spots, too. Special information on getting married in Scotland. Honeymoon registry. Tour conditions Presbyterian Tour of Scotland Travel insurance

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Scottish Malt Whisky Scots are known worldwide for their frugality and their whisky, a reputation curious for its extremes of parsimony and sensual extravagance. Scotch whisky has been called the "world’s leading drink," a claim no doubt made by a Scotsman. Broadly defined, Scotch whisky refers to whisky distilled and matured in Scotland. Of the multitude of Scotch whiskies available to the discerning connoisseur, single malt Scotch whisky is both the finest and the rarest. Here are some: Highland Malt Whisky Ben Nevis Scotland’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis, rises 4490 feet. It gives its name to a distillery in nearby Fort William. 10-year-old: a dark, warm, big, winter whisky; classic, heavily-sherried Dalmore Founded in 1839, this distillery resembles a country railway station. 12-year-old: complex and subtle with a pungent nose; hint of saffron cake and earth; oaky, but not unpleasantly so; barely sweet with a hint of pepper; just short of oily. Dalwhinnie This is the highest distillery in Scotland at 1073 feet, located in a glen on one side of Monadhlaith Mountain. Dalwhinnie, which means "meeting place," is in a barren and isolated spot. Its water comes from the Allt an t’Sluic spring, which is bedded in granite. 15-year-old: pale golden colour; mellow, soft, with lasting flavours of heather; a smoky nose with a peaty taste; when diluted, lightly sweet with an appealing mustiness. Glen Garioch This is a distillery noteworthy for having tried to operate a greenhouse in conjunction with the distillery, born out of the desire to utilise the heat produced in the distillation process. 12-year-old: extraordinary flavour; sharp edge, with hints of lovage and wood as well as limes in caramel; a distinctly honeyish aspect with a wonderfully long aftertaste. Oban This is a distillery which, in its original form, appeared to be growing out of a cliff. 14-year-old: golden colour with a sweet nose; medium body; malty, slightly smoky palate with a spicy finish. Speyside Malt Whisky Balvenie This distillery is located near Dufftown, which is surrounded by seven malt distilleries. Owned by the same company which owns Glenfiddich, it retains a number of traditions: it grows its own barley, has its own coopers to tend the barrels and its own coppersmiths to tend the stills. 15-year-old pale gold in colour with a dry, earthy nose of wood and heather and a suggestion of coconut; fruity sweetish with a dry, peppery finish. Benriach Built in the 1890’s, this distillery was closed in 1900 but rebuilt in 1965. 10-year-old pale in colour with a rich, sweet vanilla nose; with a splash of water it loses its sharpness and sweetness and picks up the aroma of leather and malt; its taste is rich and aggressive, suggestive of liquorice or bitter chocolate; very dry aftertaste. Cragganmore Founded in 1869, this distillery is named after the hill behind it, Craggan Mor Hill. This is a small distillery on the Ballindalloch Estate, founded in 1869, its location chosen for its plentiful supply of barley, peat, and water. 12-year-old gold in colour with a very complex nose; medium dry with smoke and sweetness; smooth body; a full, round taste with floral notes, spicy and slightly smoky; a long, clean finish. Glenfiddich Glenfiddich is the biggest-selling single malt whisky in the world, maintaining a 30% world market share. The distillery uses coal-fired stills and ages most of its whisky in plain oak casks. An excellent beginner’s malt, its single malt carries no age statement, although it is thought to be bottled at a minimum of eight years of age. Pale, almost clear in colour; light, fruity note with some sweetness and peat; a light, fresh, and smooth body; dry to the palate with a hint of smoke, malt and perhaps fruit.

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