Scotland

Traditions, Trends and Tweeds

Theo Kitchen

Yes, there is Braveheart and bagpipes, but today’s Scotland is also a trend-setting cosmopolitan country where you can find the latest in martini bars crowded with sophisticated Scots whose iPods are filled with indie rock bands. This may seem somewhat at odds with the traditional images of kilts and castles but today’s Scotland is a unique blend of both traditional and trendy, of gourmet haggis and caviar bars.

Glasgow

Think Miami, think Paris, think Sex in the City and put them all together in Scotland and you’ll have a sense of Glasgow. Fashionable, great food, ultra cool restaurants, and lots and lots of upscale boutiques. Glasgy, as the locals call it, is “Scotland with style”. Though filled with history (it is still Scotland) Glasgow is a playground paradise to the trendy sophisticates who live here. Be sure to visit Princes Square for photo ops and people watching, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Budda Pub, a new twist on British Pubs, and Barca Restaurant for dining and caviar.

Edinburgh

Scotland’s capital city lies roughly an hour’s drive east of Glasgow. Built atop a series of extinct volcanoes, the city is divided into two parts. Edinburgh’s medieval city brings history to life. Cobbled streets run in every direction throughout the Old Town where shops feature traditional Scottish souvenirs, fine Scottish wool, authentic kilts, and homemade shortbread. The New Town, dating back 200 years, is home to trendy restaurants and bars. As a university town, Edinburgh knows how to party and is home to two of the UK’s biggest annual events, Hogmany (New Year’s Eve) and The Fringe (around the first week of August), billed as the largest arts and cultural event in the world.

Argyll, the Isles, Loch Lomond, Stirling and Trossachs

This is traditional Scotland, a region known as the birthplace of Scotish history and the cradle of early Christianity. Rolling hills, ancient lochs, and stunning natural beauty draw visitors by the thousands. Ideal for romantic getaways, the western lowland region is home to bed and breakfast styled inns, small family owned farms, and nationally protected forests. Here visitors will find horseback riding, outdoor activities, and genologists in search of their family’s roots. Visitor centers abound throughout the region, pointing the way to the next tea shop, ancient churchyard, or local gourmet grocery.

The Borderlands

The gateway to Scotland from the South, The Borders is famed for its textiles. Here visitors may buy authentic tweeds and tartans direct from the local mills. With rolling hills and picturesque villages, grazing sheep and local farmhouses, the Borders give visitors a chance to experience a sense of Scotish country life. Now the site of peaceful valleys and slow moving rivers, the Borders formerly was home to many epic battles between the English and the Scots and it is this history that inspires the many local festivals and pageants, commemorating great events that created today’s Scotland.

The Highlands

The remotness of the countryside lends to its haunting beauty and many myths. Here you will find Glen Coe, site of the historic battle between the Campbell and the MacDonald clans, a masaccare that legend says cursed the valley into silence and locals say the birds do not sing to this day. The Lochness Monster also makes its home in the Highlands. Home to myth, The Highlands also are billed as ‘the Outdoor Capital of the UK.’ Mountains, lochs, and the coastline offer miles of wildernesses where naturalists can spot dolphins, whales, deer, and a wide array of wildlife. Mountain climbing, hiking, and water sports combine with historic sites, remote castles, and a distinctive culture and language to create one of Scotland’s prime visitor attractions.