Hi there, everyone!

Following is a research paper I wrote on Scotland. I haven't yet been to Scotland, but I would absolutely love to visit there! I have a very large percentage of Scottish in my ancestry, along with Irish, Swedish, Norse, Celtic, Italian, French, German, and English.

I have always had a fascination with ancient Europe, castles, etc. so you are very likely to see more of this topic in my blog at some point!

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Highland cows... because who doesn't love highland cows?!

I realize it might seem kind of odd to publish a research paper on here, but I had to compile a lot of different information about traveling to Scotland, the culture, and the history and thought some of you might find it interesting and useful! Plus, it's a topic I'm really interested in, and thought some of you might be too!

Does it count as plagiarism if you steal it from yourself?

Without further ado, here it is:

Scotland

Medieval castles. Warring clans. Uprisings and revolutions. Glimmering royalty. Kilts. Beautiful land. Mythical creatures…This is Scotland. Scotland is a strong country full of thousands of years of history, culture, beauty, and intrigue. One can come to discover Scotland and all it has to offer by traveling there. The history and culture can be experienced firsthand through staying at one of Scotland’s unique Victorian or medieval themed hotels, or by touring the castles themselves. The culture is so prevalent that even though Scotland’s main language is English, some of the road signs are still in Gaelic, which is the native language. With Scotland’s mild year-round temperatures, one can experience the joys of the Scottish Highlands, or the beaches along the Isle of Skye during any season. The food enthusiast can also come to know Scottish culture through the food! Through traveling to Scotland, one can discover the rich history and vibrant culture, however; considerations such as cultural awareness, climate, things to do, safety, and travel should also be kept in mind.

Regardless of one’s budget, there is something for everyone to enjoy in Scotland. On average, it costs about $150 per person per day to travel around the country. This includes costs for food, entertainment, accommodations, travel, and tips, though this can vary some (budgetyourtrip.com). While traveling around Scotland, one will find that there are all sorts of unique accommodations available! For example, the history buff may want to check in at one of their medieval or Victorian themed hotels such as the “Old Town Chambers” or the “Glencoe House”, while a couple may want a quiet stay at one of their private house stays. However, a traveling family might better enjoy one of their modern themed lodges (Google hotel dates). Surely one will find amazing Scottish breakfast at whichever hotel or hostel they may choose to stay in!

There are unique things to do for everyone in Scotland! One could go on a tour of the Isle of Skye and the Scottish Highlands, for example. On the tour, the avid traveler can experience the scenic landscapes of Scotland, stop at Loch Ness to look for the legendary “Nessie”, and visit Skye’s gorgeous capital. Or, one could visit the National Museum of Scotland, located in Edinburgh, to explore both the modern and the medieval works of the country. The adventurist will definitely enjoy going on the 2-Day Jacobite Experience Tour! On tour, one will hear great tales of the Jacobite rebellion and battles, experience the scenic highlands, and even get to ride the Jacobite Steam Train, also known as Hogwarts Express for Harry Potter fans. For fans of the hit series Outlander, filmed in Scotland, there is also an Outlander Day Tour from Glasgow or Edinburgh. Throughout the tour, iconic filming locations are visited.

To firsthand experience the rich history and royalty of Scotland, the history buff will definitely want to tour the castles and great houses! Whether one has a small budget or wants a more personalized visit, the wonder and awe of visiting Scotland’s castles can still be experienced. To tour Linlithgow Palace, the birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots, the price is $7.35 USD for adults, and $4.41 for children aged 5-15. Children under 5 can visit the castle free of charge. For more extensive tours of various Scottish castles and great houses, the prices can vary. For a half a day tour (4 hours) the cost is $214.43 USD per person, and for a whole day (8 hours), the price is $336.96 USD per person. For overtime on the tours it is an additional $49.01 per hour. Throughout the Scottish castle tours, one can visit famous Scottish cities including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, and Inverness. Ancient sites will be revisited, and the Scottish history brought to life through these extraordinary castle tours (TripAdvisor.com)!

Before traveling to Scotland, one may wonder how they are to navigate the country once they arrive. There are several different options to choose from, for example, one can travel by car, bus, bike, coach line or by walking (ecossedirect.com). If one traveling around Scotland does choose to drive, they may want to pay attention to the road signs. The main spoken language of Scotland is English, with other common languages being Scottish-Gaelic and Scots. Even though the majority of the road signs are in English, some road signs have recently been changed to Gaelic, to bring back the native language to Scotland (thetimes.co).

Whenever one may choose to venture to Scotland, it is a pretty safe bet that the weather will be agreeable. Scotland has fairly mild temperatures, year round. It can be rainy throughout all of the seasons though, so the traveler may want to pack an umbrella and lots of layers! Spring in Scotland lasts from March until May, and the temperatures in the spring generally range from 45 degrees (all temperatures in Fahrenheit) to 55 degrees. The summer lasts from June until August, and the temperatures are usually between 59 to 63 degrees. During the summer, in the north of Scotland, there is no complete darkness during the night! Autumn lasts from September to November where the temperatures generally stay between 46 to 57 degrees. During the winter (which lasts from December to February) the temperatures usually linger at about 41 degrees. Either way, one will want to pack a hoodie and some rainboots! However, it doesn’t get extremely hot and it doesn’t get extremely cold, so the weather for touring the country should be perfect pretty much year-round. However, one still may want to choose the best time to visit Scotland based on the seasons. For example, in the spring, the gorgeous blossoms begin to bloom, filling Scotland with lots of colors and sweet floral scents! (VisitScotland.com)

The Scots definitely have a unique culture, different from any other! Before visiting the country, one may want to keep cultural awareness in mind, for example, the foods they eat and the languages they speak. The Scots eat a lot of meats and root vegetables, as well as the occasional baked pastry. A lot of this is because of the food they have been eating for generations due to the Scottish climate. One popular food in Scotland is called “haggis” and it is a food most Americans would probably be apprehensive to eat! Haggis is made of sheep’s liver, lungs, and heart, together with spices, suet, oatmeal, and onion all inside of the lining of the animal’s stomach. While it may seem strange, it is eaten everywhere in Scotland! It is so popular that there is even a vegetarian version. Other popular foods include black pudding, sticky toffee pudding, and a full Scottish breakfast. (TheCultureTrip.com).

Whatever one may choose to do while in Scotland, one thing is for certain: they will not be bored. Between learning about the history and experiencing it through the tours, eating the food, learning about the culture, and visiting landmarks, one may not know how many things to try and fit into their visit! The adventurist can experience the rebellious side of Scotland through the Jacobite Experience tour, while the calmer traveler might better enjoy some tea in front of a fireplace in front of a scenic view at their Victorian themed inn. I would absolutely love to visit Scotland, and to experience the joys of the country firsthand. The history fascinates me, and I even have a large percentage of Scottish ancestry, going back to Mary Queen of Scots. In my opinion, it seems like it would be a fantastic experience! There is lots to be explored in Scotland, and as long as the traveler keeps safety, climate, cultural awareness, and travel in mind, they are sure to have a jolly good time!

And, just 'cause I wouldn't want to spare you the works cited page 😉.

Works Cited

“About Scotland’s Weather & Climate.” Visit Scotland.
https://www.visitscotland.com/about/practical-information/weather/. 8 Feb 2018.
Benjamin Elisha Sawe. “What Languages Are Spoken in Scotland?.” World Atlas. 25 April 2017, https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-language-is-spoke-in-scotland.html. 8 Feb 2018.
Clyde Coast Tourism. “Outlander Day Tour from Glasgow or Edinburgh.” Trip Advisor.
https://www.tripadvisor.ca/AttractionProductDetail-g186534-d11992553-
Outlander_Day_Tour_from_Glasgow_or_Edinburgh-Glasgow_Scotland.html. 8 Feb

Emma O’Neill. “Why is the Unicorn Scotland’s National Animal?.” Scotsman. 19 Nov 2015, https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/why-is-the-unicorn-scotland-s-national-animal- 13953188. 8 Feb 2018.

“Fabulous Facts About Scotland!.” NatGeo Kids.
https://www.natgeokids.com/za/discover/geography/countries/factsaboutscotland/#!/regis ter. 8 Feb 2018.
“Glencoe House” Glencoe House. glencoe-house.com. 13 Feb 2018.
Highland Experience Tours. “2-Day Jacobite Experience including the Hogwarts Express.” Trip Advisor. https://www.tripadvisor.ca/AttractionProductDetailg186525d114511462_Day_Jacobite_Experience_including_the_Hogwarts_ExpressEdinb urgh_Sc otland.html. 8 Feb 2018.
ikiseyyah.com. 13 Feb 2018.
Jason Allardyce. “Road signs go Gaelic to save the language.” The Sunday Times. Times Newspapers, 24 June 2012, https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/road-signs-gogaelictosave-the-language-9wxw99q9pw0. 8 Feb 2018.
“Linlithgow Palace: Prices and Opening Times.” Historic Environment Scotland.
https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/linlithgowpalace/pricesandopening-times/. 8 Feb 2018.
National Museum of Scotland. “National Museum of Scotland”. Trip Advisor.
https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Attraction_Review-g186525-d2359701-
ReviewsNational_Museum_of_Scotland-Edinburgh_Scotland.html. 8 Feb 2018.

Rabbie’s. “3-Day Isle of Skye and Scottish Highlands Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh.” Trip Advisor. https://www.tripadvisor.ca/AttractionProductDetailg186525d114469683_Day_Isle_of_Skye_and_Scottish_Highlands_Small_Group_Tour_f rom_Edi nburghEdinburgh_Scotland.html. 8 Feb 2018.
“Scotland Castle Tours: Prices.” Scotland Castle Tours. www.scotlandcastletours.uk/en/prices/.
8 Feb 2018.

Tori Chalmers. “16 Foods You Must Eat When You’re in Scotland.” The Culture Trip. The Culture Trip LTD., 23 Jan 2018, https://theculturetrip.com/europe/unitedkingdom/scotland/articles/16-foods-you-musteatin-scotland/. 8 Feb 2018.
“Transport & Travel Info For Scotland & Edinburgh.” Ecosse Direct.
www.ecossedirect.com/cities/edinburgh/categories/transport-and-travel. 8 Feb 2018.
“Travel Budget for Scotland.” Budget Your Trip. www.budgetyourtrip.com/united-
kingdom/scotland#. 8 Feb 2018.
“What Accommodations are Available in Scotland.” Google.
https://www.google.ca/search?dcr=0&q=what+accommodations+are+available+in+scotla
nd&npsic=0&rflfq=1&rlha=1&rlla=0&rlhsc=ChUI3sTZm9qd1PgtCK_ko7b2gPOXvgE
&rllag=56641387,-
3359142,77489&tbm=lcl&ved=0ahUKEwibzKXBzJfZAhVPx1kKHVuaBUQQjGoIeg& hotel_dates=2018-02-25,2018-02-26&tbs=lf_hd:-
1,lf_ho:2,lrf:!1m4!1u13!2m2!13m1!1b1!2m1!1e13!2m7!1e17!4m2!17m1!1e3!4m2!17m
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!1m1!1u350!3sCAD!4m4!7m3!1m1!1u400!3sCAD!2m1!1e2!2m1!1e19!3sIAE,lf:1,lf_ui:
6&rldoc=1#rlfi=hd:2018-02-25,2018-02-26;si:,53.833150145870924,
4.841392865641751;mv:!1m3!1d1902520.663116679!2d-
3.7867053656417506!3d55.03123796963048!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i404!2i624!4f13.1.
8 Feb 2018.

So, what do you think? Have any of you ever been to Scotland? Or better yet, do any of you live there? I would love to hear more about it!

Until Next Time, Steemians!

~Zoey