St Andrew's Day In Bonnie Scotland

Today is St Andrew’s Day, the patron saint of Scotland as well as many other places, so what better day to celebrate the culture and beauty of the northernmost country in the British Isles.

There are so many things that are iconically Scottish, including bagpipes, tartan, haggis, the thistle, highland cattle, Scotch whisky, and the kilt.

Highland cattle.

It has some of the most spectacular wild landscapes - moorland, mountain and rugged coastlines.
I was lucky enough to spend five years in the Outer Hebrides as a teenager, where its wild rugged beauty really appealed to me. There was nothing better than swimming in the sea with seals and porpoises around you or walking alone across open moorland with all manner of gulls and terns flying overhead.
Not to mention the beautiful Northern Lights.
The weather could be very wild, and the winters dark, but I loved it.

Heather moors are a paradise for wildlife!

One of the many beautiful sandy beaches in the Outer Hebrides - Sellebost on the Isle of Lewis.

And, of course, Scotland has many vibrant cities and picturesque towns and villages.

Portree on the Isle of Skye

The people of Scotland were organised in a clan system - both Lowland clans and Highland clans. These were families who ruled over specific areas usually with a chieftain controlling things from a stronghold or castle. Those without such a chieftain were called armigerous clans.
Clan feuds existed and much blood was spilt.
My own clan was a minor, armigerous one, so doesn’t appear on that map, but they held some land near Livingston and I do have my own tartan!! 😁

Kilchurn Castle is a ruined structure on a rocky peninsula in Loch Awe. It was first constructed in the mid-15th century as the base of the Campbells of Glenorchy.

But the history of Scotland stretches back far beyond then, right to prehistoric times.

The Callanish Stones - a series of stone circles on the Isle of Lewis that are older than Stonehenge!

Dun Carloway - a broch, or Iron Age fort, situated on the Isle of Lewis, which dates back to the 1st Century AD. It was still in use until the 1600s

So today, let’s celebrate St Andrew’s Day by sharing all manner of things Scottish, be it music, videos, pictures, gifs, or memes.

All are welcome.
And please feel free to share all discussions you enjoy.