Half the size of England with only a tenth the population, Scotland possesses open spaces and natural splendor unrivaled by its neighbor to the south. The craggy Highlands, beaches of the western coast, and mists of the Hebrides are awe-inspiring, while the farmland to the south and tiny fishing villages to the east convey a more subtle beauty. The Scots revel in a distinct culture ranging from the fevered nightlife of Glasgow and the festival atmosphere of Edinburgh to the tight-knit communities of the Orkney and Shetland Islands. The Scots defended their independence for hundreds of years before joining England to create Great Britain in 1707, and they only regained a separate parliament in 1999. The mock kilts and bagpipes of the big cities can grow tiresome: discover Scotland’s true colors by venturing off the beaten path to find Gaelic-speaking B&B owners, peat-cutting crofters, and fishermen setting out in skiffs at dawn.
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