Let's discover Scotland together !
Click on my country to continue !
SCOTLAND
J.DESIRONT AC-REIMS
Hi Sassenach ! My name's Jamie Fraser. My family is part of a very old Scottish clan. Click on my castle to learn more about my country and its traditions !
Welcome to my living room. Click on the objects in the room !
Let's play games !
Finish completing your worksheet before playing !
HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
1800
Urban and industrial Scotland
124 AD
The Roman Empire
1040 AD
Macbeth rules Scotland
1306
King Robert the Bruce
1707
The act of Union
2014
Referendum
1990s
Scottish culture
2021
Net Zero Ambitions
1297
Battle of Stirling Bridge
1542
800 AD
Arrival of the Vikings
Mary Queen of Scots
1746
The Battle of Culloden
SCOTTISH CLOTHING
Tartan is the pattern, made by horizontal and vertical coloured lines crossing over each other, known all over the world as being Scottish. The stripes that cross over each other are called setts. Tartan patterns are used on woollen clothing. Tartans differ in colour and design and are historically linked with a particular clan or family. After the Battle of Culloden, tartan was banned in Scotland. It was not until 1782 that the ban on tartan was lifted. It is now a fashion item.
SCOTTISH CLOTHING
Highland dress for men includes a kilt made from tartan, a sporran (a purse worn around the waist) and a sgian dubh (a small decorative knife). Highland dress for women includes a tartan sash or shawl and a tartan skirt.
A sgian dubh
A tartan sash
A sporran
A Kilt
SCOTTISH CLANS
Clans in Scotland date back hundred of years to the 12th century, which is over 800 years ago ! The Scottish clans were originally big families who had one chief. Despite sharing the same surname, not everyone in the clan was related ! Clan names usually came from the area where they lived. The word "clan" comes from the Gaelic word clann which means family or children. The Clans lived off the land : they were mostly farmers. The members of the clans swore allegiance to the Clan Chiefs. There were strong rivalries between some clans. The clan system lasted for hundreds of years until the Battle of Culloden in 1746.
BAGPIPES
The bagpipes are the national instrument of Scotland and they are best represented in the music of the Scottish Highlands. Many, who hear the bagpipes played, think of Scotland as the origin of the unique instrument. Some historians believe that bagpipes originate from ancient Egypt and were brought to Scotland by invading Roman Legions. Others maintain that the instrument was brought over the water by the colonising Scots tribes from Ireland.
BAGPIPES
Watch an extract of Edinburgh military tattoo show, a music show performed each August on the Esplanade of Edinburgh Castle.
SCOTTISH SPORTS
History of the Highland Games
HISTORY OF THE HIGHLAND GAMES
Highland Games began a long time ago. A story told that in the 11th century, King Malcolm III held a race to the top of a mountain near Braemar, in the hope of finding the fastest runner, who would then become his personal messenger. Events like this were a way of choosing the best and strongest warriors but also to find musicians and dancers for entertainment. Today they are celebrated all over Scotland. The Highland Games season runs from the end of May until the middle of September. The Cowal Highland Games are the largest Highland Games in Scotland with around 3500 competitors and around 23,000 spectators. There is usually music, dancing, foods and refreshments at the Games.
TOSSING THE CABER
A long pine pole or log is used, that is tapered at one end. The log is lifted by the competitor. The competitor runs forward, attempting to toss it in such a way that it turns end over end, with the upper (larger) end hitting the ground first. The smaller end that was held by the athlete, then should hit the ground in the 12 o'clock position.
TOSSING THE CABER
PUTTING THE STONE
There are two versions of this event, that are different because of the way the stone is thrown : - The Braemar Stone version uses a 9-12 kg stone for men and a 6-8 kg for women and does not allow any running before the competitor reaches the point where they throw the stone. - In the Open Stone version, which uses a 7-10kg stone for men and 4-5½kg for women, the thrower is allowed to use any throwing style as long as the stone is thrown with one hand and the stone rests cradled in the neck until it is thrown.
PUTTING THE STONE
THROWING THE HAMMER
In this event, a small round metal ball (weighing 7–10kg for men and 5-7kg for women), is attached to the end of a pole, just over 1 metre in length. With their feet in a fixed position, the metal ball or hammer is whirled around and thrown for a distance over the shoulder.
THROWING THE HAMMER
DANCE
There are several different Highland dances - for example the Highland Fling and the Sword Dance - all of which are performed in the traditional kilt. Scottish Highland Dancing is regarded as being one of the most sophisticated forms of national dancing in the world.
DANCE
GEOGRAPHY
Click on the map to learn more about the places of interest in Scotland
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is located on the South-East of Scotland. It has been the capital city of the country since 1437. It is Scotland's second most populous city and the seventh most populous city in the United Kindgom with 526,470 inhabitants. The Scottish Parliament resides in Edinburgh as well as one of the residences of the British monarchs : Holyrood Palace. The famous Edinburgh Castle is situated on the top of a volcanic rock intrusion, a perfect defensive site!
Edinburgh
Holyrood Palace
Edinburgh Castle
Calton Hill
Arthur's Seat
Glasgow
Glasgow is a city in west-central Scotland and the most populous city in the country. It is the third-most populous city in the United Kingdom with 635,130 inhabitants.
Riverside Museum
City Center murals
Kelvingrove art gallery and museum
Perth
Perth is a pleasant city in central Scotland. It was the first capital of Scotland and it has a population of around 47,500 inhabitants. The "Fair City" sits on the banks of the River Tay, just a short journey from Edinburgh or Glasgow.
Scone Palace
Kinnoull Hill
Inverness
Inverness is located in the North of Scotland and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands. Inverness also houses some of Scotland's top whiskey distilleries, where you can learn about the process of making this Scottish tipple while sampling some single malts. It is the closest town to the Loch Ness. 46,984 people live there.
The Scottish Kiltmaker visitor center, a museum where you can learn how kilts are made.
The Victorian Market
Culloden Moor
Culloden Moor is the place where the Battle of Culloden took place on 16th April 1746 between the English and the Scots. They disagreed on who should be on the throne. It resulted in the end of the clan way of life.
Loch Ness
It is a large freshwater loch ("Lake") in Scotland and also the most famous one. The Loch Ness Monster affectionately known as Nessie, is a creature in Scottish folklore that is said to inhabit Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands.
Urquhart castle, on the banks on Loch Ness
Eilean Donan Castle
Eilean Donan Castle is one of the most photographed castles in Scotland, built in the 13th century. It appears in some films like "Highlander" starring Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery or the James Bond Film "The world is not enough".
Saint Andrews
St Andrews is a town on the east coast of Fife in Scotland, 10 miles (16 kilometres) southeast of Dundee and 30 miles (50 kilometres) northeast of Edinburgh. St Andrews had a total population of 14,209. The town is home to the University of Saint Andrews, ranked as the best university in the UK. It is also globally known as the "home of Golf".
Saint Andrews University