History, Tradition and Roots

Bagpipes, Braveheart and the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond. Think you know everything there is to know about Scotland's history, tradition and roots? Think again. . . .

"It is in the nature of great things: they are very often misunderstood." Sir Walter Scott was talking about his Waverley novels, but he could just as easily have been describing the country which inspired them: Scotland, a place where, for every dusty cliché, there is the opposing, exhilarating reality.

Every section here contains twists and surprises; click on the links to find rich, hidden seams of history unearthed and traditions explained, unravelled and updated, as we reveal the roots of a nation, roots which burrow down into history, stretching back almost a millennium. . . .

Explore by Region

• Shetland and Orkney Islands
• The Highlands and Western Isles
• North East Scotland
• Central Scotland East
• Central Scotland West
• Glasgow and Surrounding Areas
• Edinburgh and Surrounding Areas
• South East Scotland
• South West Scotland