BIALECKI+Natalie




 * Scotland ** is a [|country] that is [|part of] the [|United Kingdom] . Occupying the northern third of the island of [|Great Britain], it shares a [|border] with [|England] to the south and is bounded by the [|North Sea] to the east, the [|Atlantic Ocean] to the north and west, and the [|North Channel] and [|Irish Sea] to the southwest. In addition to the mainland, Scotland consists of over [|790 islands] including the [|Northern Isles] and the [|Hebrides].

**History **  Repeated [|glaciations], which covered the entire land-mass of modern Scotland, destroyed any traces of human habitation that may have existed before the [|Mesolithic] period. It is believed that the first post-glacial groups of [|hunter-gatherers] arrived in Scotland around 12,800 years ago, as the [|ice sheet] retreated after the [|last glaciation]. Groups of settlers began building the first known permanent houses on Scottish soil around 9,500 years ago, and the first villages around 6,000 years ago. The well-preserved village of [|Skara Brae] on the [|Mainland] of [|Orkney] dates from this period. [|Neolithic] habitation, burial and ritual sites are particularly common and well-preserved in the [|Northern Isles] and [|Western Isles], where a lack of trees led to most structures being built of local stone. A four thousand year old tomb with burial treasures was discovered at [|Forteviot], near [|Perth], the capital of a Pictish Kingdom in the eighth/ninth century AD. Unrivalled anywhere in Britain, it contains the remains of an [|early Bronze Age] ruler laid out on white [|quartz] pebbles and birch bark, with possessions including a bronze and gold dagger, a wooden bowl and a leather bag. Scotland's <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|head of state] is the <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|monarch of the United Kingdom], currently <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Queen Elizabeth II] (since 1952). The title //Elizabeth II// caused <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|controversy] around the time of the queen's coronation, as there had never been an //Elizabeth I// in Scotland. A legal case, <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|MacCormick v. Lord Advocate] (1953 SC 396), was taken to contest the right of the Queen to title herself //Elizabeth II// within Scotland, arguing that to do so would be a breach of Article 1 of the Treaty of Union. The case was lost and it was decided that future British monarchs would be <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|numbered] according to either their English or Scottish predecessors, whichever number is higher. Hence, any future King James would be styled <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|James VIII] (since the last Scottish King James was James VII (also James II of England, etc.)) whilst the next King Henry would be King <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Henry IX] throughout the UK despite the fact that there have been no Scottish kings of the name.
 * Government**

__**Geography**__ The main land of Scotland comprises the northern third of the land mass of the island of <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Great Britain], which lies off the northwest coast of <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Continental Europe]. The total area is 78,772 <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|km2] (30,414 <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|sq mi] ), comparable to the size of the <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Czech Republic], making Scotland the <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|117th largest country in the world]. Scotland's only land border is with England, and runs for 96 kilometres (60 mi) between the basin of the <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|River Tweed] on the east coast and the <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Solway Firth] in the west. The <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Atlantic Ocean] borders the west coast and the <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|North Sea] is to the east. The island of <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Ireland] lies only 30 kilometres (19 mi) from the southwestern peninsula of <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Kintyre] ; <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Norway] is 305 kilometres (190 mi) to the east and the <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Faroes], 270 kilometres (168 mi) to the north. The climate of Scotland is <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|temperate] and <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|oceanic], and tends to be very changeable. It is warmed by the <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Gulf Stream] from the <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Atlantic], and as such has much milder winters (but cooler, wetter summers) than areas on similar latitudes, for example <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Labrador, Canada] , <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Moscow] , or the <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Kamchatka Peninsula] on the opposite side of <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Eurasia]. However, temperatures are generally lower than in the rest of the UK, with the coldest ever UK temperature of −27.2 °C (−16.96 °F) recorded at <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Braemar] in the <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Grampian Mountains], on 11 February 1895. Winter maximums average 6 °C (42.8 °F) in the lowlands, with summer maximums averaging 18 °C (64.4 °F). The highest temperature recorded was 32.9 °C (91.22 °F) at <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Greycrook], <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Scottish Borders] on 9 August 2003. In general, the west of Scotland is usually warmer than the east, owing to the influence of Atlantic <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|ocean currents] and the colder surface temperatures of the <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|North Sea]. <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Tiree], in the <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Inner Hebrides] , is one of the sunniest places in the country: it had 300 days of sunshine in 1975. Rainfall varies widely across Scotland. The western highlands of Scotland are the wettest place, with annual rainfall exceeding 3,000 mm (118.1 <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|in] ). In comparison, much of lowland Scotland receives less than 800 mm (31.5 in) annually. Heavy snowfall is not common in the lowlands, but becomes more common with altitude. <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Braemar] experiences an average of 59 snow days per year, while coastal areas have an average of fewer than 10 days.
 * __Climate__**

__**Average Temperature**__ . Scotland has five main <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|international airports] ( <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Glasgow International], <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Edinburgh] , <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Aberdeen] , <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Glasgow Prestwick] and <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Inverness] ) which together serve 150 international destinations with a wide variety of scheduled and <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|chartered flights] <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|BAA] operates three airports, (Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen), and <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Highland and Islands Airports] operates 11 regional airports, (including Inverness), which serve the more remote locations of Scotland. <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Infratil] operates Glasgow Prestwick. The Scottish <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|motorways] and major <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|trunk roads] are managed by <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Transport Scotland]. The rest of the road network is managed by the <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Scottish local authorities] in each of their areas. Regular <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|ferry] services operate between the Scottish mainland and <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|island] communities. These services are mostly run by <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Caledonian MacBrayne], but some are operated by local councils. Other ferry routes, served by multiple companies, connect to <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Northern Ireland], <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Belgium] , <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Norway] , the <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Faroe Islands] and also <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Iceland]. <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"> <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Forth Bridge] <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Network Rail Infrastructure Limited] owns and operates the fixed infrastructure assets of the railway system in Scotland, while the <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Scottish Government] maintains overall responsibility for rail strategy and funding in Scotland. Scotland’s rail network has around 340 railway stations and 3,000 kilometres of track with over 62 million passenger journeys made each year. Scotland's rail network is managed by <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Transport Scotland]. The <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|East Coast] and <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|West Coast] Main Railway lines and the <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Cross Country Line] connect the major cities and towns of Scotland with each other and with the rail network in England. Domestic rail services within Scotland are operated by <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|First ScotRail]. Furthermore in Glasgow there is a small integrated subway system which has been in existence since <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|1896]. There are currently 15 stations and there is a daily ridership of just under 40,000. There are plans to extend the subway system in time for the 2014 <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Commonwealth Games]. The East Coast Main Line includes that section of the network which crosses the <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Firth of Forth] via the <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Forth Bridge]. Completed in 1890, this <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|cantilever bridge] has been described as "the one internationally recognised Scottish landmark".
 * || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Jan ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Feb ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Mar ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Apr ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">May ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Jun ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Jul ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Aug ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Sep ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Oct ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Nov ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Dec ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Year ** ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">°C || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">2.9 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">3.6 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">4.7 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">7.1 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">9.9 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">13.0 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">14.7 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">14.3 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">12.1 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">8.7 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">5.3 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">3.7 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">8.3 ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">°F || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">37.2 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">38.5 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">40.5 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">44.8 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">49.8 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">55.4 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">58.5 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">57.7 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">53.8 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">47.7 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">41.5 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">38.7 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">46.9 ||
 * __Average Rainfall__**
 * || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Jan ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Feb ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Mar ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Apr ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">May ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Jun ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Jul ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Aug ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Sep ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Oct ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Nov ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Dec ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Year ** ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">mm || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">55.1 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">41.2 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">47.2 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">39.1 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">50.2 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">49.7 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">64.0 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">69.4 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">62.7 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">62.0 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">63.0 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">60.8 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">664.5 ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">inches || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">2.2 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">1.6 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">1.9 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">1.5 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">2.0 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">2.0 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">2.5 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">2.7 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">2.5 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">2.4 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">2.5 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">2.4 || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; text-align: right;">26.2 ||
 * __Transport__**


 * Scotland Train Travel** offers one the opportunity of exploring the famous as well as the virgin locations of Scotland. **Scotland Train Travel** is an enchanting experience of lifetime.


 * Scotland Train Travel** is primarily controlled by First ScotRail. Over the year this mode of transport reduced considerably. **Train Travel in Scotland** has cut down substantially when tracks were open for heavy transportation. Many sectional lines and railway stations in Scotland have been closed. The route of railways has came down to two-thirds of the former. Nowadays huge development is initiated to enhance the reputation of **Scotland Railways**.

Various **Train Travel in Scotland** are:
 * __Scotland Train Services__**
 * First Scotrail: This particular train service is ideal for the tourists who are not only traveling within Scotland but also want to explore the rural destinations of the Scottish Highlands.
 * The Great North Eastern Railway is a one of the best transport service of Scotland. Train service between Edinburgh and London could be avail after every hour. Services are also available between Aberdeen and Inverness.
 * National Rail offers a useful source of transportation for a tour to famous destinations of Scotland. Here integrated timetables of various companies and routes are available. One could even search out the cheapest fares of train ticket online.
 * Strategic Rail Authority implements government rail enterprises.

Stamps


 * Scotland's currency** is the British Pound, though the banks print Scottish **money** notes

Royal Botanic Gardens

The [|Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh] was established in 1670 and during the twentieth century acquired three Regional Gardens - the mountainous [|Benmore] in Argyll; [|Dawyck] in the wooded hills of the Scottish Borders and [|Logan] on the Gulf Stream-warmed southern peninsula of Dumfries & Galloway The **Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh** is a scientific centre for the study of plants, their diversity and conservation, as well as a popular tourist attraction. Originally founded founded in 1670 as a physic garden to grow medicinal plants, today it occupies four sites across [|Scotland] — [|Edinburgh], [|Dawyck], [|Logan] and [|Benmore] — each with its own specialist collection. The RBGE's living collection consists of more than 15,000 plant species, (41,00 accessions) whilst the [|herbarium] contains in excess of 3 million preserved specimens. The Edinburgh site is the main garden History The Edinburgh [|botanic garden] was founded in 1670 at St. Anne's Yard, near [|Holyrood Palace], by [|Dr. Robert Sibbald] and Dr. Andrew Balfour. It is the second oldest botanic garden in Britain after [|Oxford's]. In 1763, the garden's collections were moved away from the city's pollution to a site on the road to [|Leith], and the garden moved to its present location at [|Inverleith] in 1820. The Temperate [|Palm House], which remains the tallest in Britain to the present day, was built in 1858. The botanic garden at [|Benmore] became the first Regional Garden of the RBGE in 1929. It was followed by the gardens at [|Logan] and [|Dawyck] in 1969 and 1978.[|[1]]

The Garden at Edinburgh
The Botanics at Edinburgh is a hugely important player in a worldwide network of institutions seeking to ensure that [|biodiversity] is not further eroded. The RBGE is actively involved in, and coordinates numerous [|in situ] and [|ex situ conservation] projects both in the UK and internationally. The three main cross-cutting themes of scientific work at the RBGE are: Scottish [|Biodiversity], Plants & [|Climate Change], and [|Conservation]. In addition to the RBGE's scientific activities the garden remains a popular destination for both tourists and locals. Locally known as "The Botanics", the garden is a popular place to go for a walk, particularly with young families. Entrance to the botanic garden is free, although a small entry charge exists for the glasshouses. During the year the garden hosts many events including live performances, guided tours and exhibitions. The RBGE is also an important centre for education, offering taught courses across all levels. Established in 1670 and referred to as the 'Botanics,' this attraction has welcomed over 660000 visitors each year. Its present location in Inverleith is not its original one as it was moved from Holyrood in 1820 where it was only set up as a physic garden, which is one for medicinal and healing purposes. Acknowledged as a garden where the unusual and beautiful can be found, one can find 6% of all known plants here. This number might seem small, but when one thinks of the variety of plants in the world, it becomes quite impressive.
 * [[image:http://www.hotels-edinburgh-scotland-hotels.com/royal-botanic-gardens/pinkgreenstonesteps.jpg width="400" height="300" caption="Some stone steps leading round some pink flora"]] ||

Special collections have been sent aside for the delicate and tall plants, which are housed in the Palm House that is the tallest in the United Kingdom. The Glasshouses is an opportunity to see plants from all ten-climate zones. The oldest plants are carefully tended in the Orchid and Cycad House, while the Tropical Aquatic House holds all the rainforest based plants. Not something one sees everyday. For the spectacular, go to the Peat and Rock Houses where your eyes will feast on the largest collection of Vieya Rhododendrons that are directly from New Guinea and Borneo.

In 1997, the Chinese Hillside opened to display Chinese plants that are the largest collection of native Chinese plants in cultivation. They were collected during the early 20th century and are set within a beautiful and calming setting that holds a pool of water. Related to this theme is the Rock Garden displaying rare stones, such as those from the Alps. There is also the Scottish Health Garden and Woodland Garden. The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh's Herbarium was set up in 1836. It is an organized collection of dried plants offering an easy way to examine many kinds of plants or many examples of one particular kind. Herbariums provide a valuable, permanent record of plant life. A good herbarium has many specimens of each kind of plant from the area in which it is located. If the specimens are protected from pests and moisture, specimens will last for hundreds of years, the oldest of which dates back to 1697. In reference to the three other Gardens, Benmore is in the Eachaig Valley, just north of Dunoon, and measures 150 acres in which you can find Redwoods, some as high as 130 feet (40 metres) and 250 species of rhododendrons including one from the Himalayas. The Logan is close to Stanraer and is reputed to be the most exotic garden in the country among which are eucalypts and is in a constant blaze of colour. The Dawyck is near Peebles and thanks to a 300-year-old tradition of tree planting has a stunning collection of trees, such as conifers and beeches as well as walking along trails to discover some of the special collections. The banks of the Scrape Burn turn white thanks to its snowdrops.
 * [[image:http://www.hotels-edinburgh-scotland-hotels.com/royal-botanic-gardens/overthefootbridge.jpg width="400" height="300" caption="A lovely bridge scene most of us can only dream of recreating "]] ||
 * [[image:http://www.hotels-edinburgh-scotland-hotels.com/royal-botanic-gardens/theeastentranceinspring.jpg width="400" height="300" caption="East entrance 25 April 2004"]] ||

Opening times
Glasshouses close: **3.30pm** Nov to Feb | **5pm** Mar to Oct Garden entry is **FREE** with a charge for the Glasshouses. __**Edinburgh Castle**__
 * Open daily from 10am** (except 25 Dec and 1 Jan), closing:
 * 4pm** Nov to Feb | **6pm** Mar | **7pm** Apr to Sep | **6pm** Oct
 * NOTE**: the [|John Hope Gateway] is now open and there is visitor access through the West Gate. The North Gate on Inverleith Place is now closed

Edinburgh Castle dominates the city of Edinburgh like no other castle in Scotland, and Edinburgh Castle is unequalled in the whole of the British Isles. Over one thousand years of history sit on top of the famous Edinburgh rock, and when you see Edinburgh Castle you will understand why over a million visitors a year visit Edinburgh Castle. When you come to Scotland and visit Edinburgh Castle you will see why the early inhabitants of the area we now call Edinburgh, made their first settlements here, in what is now the city of Edinburgh. People have always sought a safe refuge, and the volcanic rock that forms the base of Edinburgh Castle, has always afforded the ultimate safe and defensive position in Edinburgh. The City of Edinburgh grew outwards from the Castle rock, and the first houses in Edinburgh were built on the area in front of Edinburgh Castle, which is now known as the Lawnmarket, and then the house building continued down the High Street and The Cannongate towards the Royal Palace of Holyrood House. These streets collectively form a single street known as The Royal Mile. The Royal Mile acquired its name over the ages as Scottish and English kings, queens and royalty in general, have travelled to and fro between the Palace of Holyrood House and Edinburgh Castle - hence the name The Royal Mile. No visit to Edinburgh is complete without a visit to Edinburgh Castle, and once you have ventured up to the highest parts of Edinburgh Castle’s structure, you will be overwhelmed by the spectacular views of Edinburgh afforded from this Scottish "Castle of Castles". Edinburgh Castle is every schoolboy's dream of what a castle should look like and the Edinburgh Castle website endeavours to give the Edinburgh visitor an in-depth view of Edinburgh Castle and it's history from early times right up until the present day. The visitor to the Castle is awarded with magnificent panoramas in every direction when they visit the Castle. No matter whether you are on the lowest levels of the Castle, or the highest points, visitors are delighted by what can be seen. When you look to the north, on a clear day, you can see the mountains of The Kingdom of Fife in the distance and immediately below you are the world famous Princes Street Gardens. Princes Street is unique in that the shops along its length are only on the north side of the street, so from them you have an uninterrupted view of the Castle. Beyond Princes Street is George Street the most original of Edinburgh's Georgian New Town Streets - with shops along its length. Continuing to the north you have Queen Street which runs parallel to it. Beyond Queen Street the remaining New Town Preservation area is mostly residential, and the city can boast of having the most intact Georgian city in the whole of Europe, and has Unicef World Heritage Site status. Apart from information on Edinburgh Castle, we have included lots of general information about Edinburgh in the website. You will notice we have sections covering Edinburgh accommodation which include Edinburgh Hotels, Edinburgh Bed and Breakfasts, Edinburgh Guest Houses, Edinburgh Self-catering Flats and Edinburgh Apartments. Other sections include Edinburgh Cafes, Edinburgh Entertainment, Edinburgh Restaurants, Edinburgh Weddings, Edinburgh Festivals and of course Shopping in Edinburgh. On [|Edinburgh Pubs and Clubs Guide] website you can also find lot of useful information on where to relax and have fun in Edinburgh. The Edinburgh Castle website has many photographs of the various artefacts contained in Edinburgh Castle and pertaining to the Castle and Edinburgh itself. We act on what the Edinburgh Castle website visitors request, and have added the Edinburgh Tattoo page complete with the derivation of the word Tattoo as a result. We are always interested in what our visitors would like to see in Edinburgh, and in the pages of the Edinburgh Castle website. We welcome requests from you whether your interest is Edinburgh Castle or the City of Edinburgh, as we want our website to reflect what people really want to see and do when they visit Edinburgh. All photographs of Edinburgh and Edinburgh Castle used in our website are taken with state-of-the-art professional digital cameras by our resident Edinburgh Castle biz photographer, and we hope that his photos of Edinburgh and Edinburgh Castle reflect the diverse aspects of Edinburgh Castle and Edinburgh.

Lake of Menteith __Lake of Menteith at sunset__ The **Lake of [|Menteith]** ([|Scottish Gaelic] "Loch Innis MoCholmaig"), or, until the 20th century, the **Loch of Menteith**, is a [|loch] in [|Scotland], located on the [|Flanders Moss], the flood plain of the upper reaches of the rivers [|Forth] and [|Teith], upstream of [|Stirling]. The only settlement of any size on the Lake of Menteith is [|Port of Menteith]. The are a number of small islands in the loch. On the largest, [|Inchmahome], is [|Inchmahome Priory], an ancient [|monastery]. The [|priory] served as refuge to [|Mary Queen of Scots] in 1547. She was only four years old at the time and stayed for three weeks after the disastrous [|Battle of Pinkie Cleugh] in September of that year. The Loch is not particularly deep and can freeze over completely in exceptionally cold winters. If the ice becomes thick enough (10 inches (25 cm)) an outdoor [|curling] tournament called The [|Bonspiel] or the [|Grand Match] is held on the loch. The event can attract thousands of curlers despite its rarity. The last Grand Match was held in 1979. The Lake of Menteith is often thought of as the only body of water in [|Scotland] that is referred to as a [|lake]. Actually, there are others, including four small artificial bodies: [|Pressmennan Lake], the [|Lake of the Hirsel], Lake Louise (within the grounds of [|Skibo Castle]) and Cally Lake (near [|Gatehouse of Fleet]). There is also a sea bay near [|Kirkcudbright] known as Manxmans Lake. Nearly all other major bodies of water in Scotland are known as [|lochs]. This unusual name is believed to be a corruption of the [|Lowland Scots] //Laich o Menteith//, where "laich" simply means "low place".