𝟮𝟭 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻'𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄:
1. Scotland has over 790 islands, but only about 130 are inhabited. The largest inhabited island is Lewis and Harris.
2. Edinburgh was the first city in the world to have its own fire brigade, established in 1824.
3.
Scotland's national animal is the unicorn, symbolizing purity, innocence, and power in Celtic mythology.
4. The shortest scheduled flight in the world is in Scotland. The flight between Westray and Papa Westray in the Orkney Islands lasts just around one minute.
5. Scotland is home to the oldest tree in Europe: A twisted yew tree in Fortingall that is estimated to be between 3,000 and 9,000 years old.
6. Shetland has the highest density of otters in Europe, with around 1,000 otters living in the wild.
7. The raincoat was invented by Charles Macintosh, a Glaswegian, in 1824, revolutionizing outdoor wear with his waterproof fabric.
8. Scotland has its own legal system, separate from England and Wales, with its roots in Roman law and influenced by other legal traditions, including French law.
9. The Encyclopaedia Britannica was first produced in Scotland in 1768, in Edinburgh, to be precise.
10. The world’s first colour photograph was taken in Scotland: In 1861, James Clerk Maxwell presented a colour photograph of a tartan ribbon.
11. Golf originated in Scotland, with the game being played on Musselburgh Links in 1672, which is recognized as the world’s oldest golf course.
12. Scotland’s national dish is haggis, a savoury pudding containing sheep's heart, liver, and lungs, mixed with onions, oatmeal, suet, spices, and salt, encased in the animal's stomach.
13. The first official international football (soccer) match was played in Scotland between Scotland and England in 1872.
14. Scotland has its own currency: Scottish banks issue their own banknotes, which are legal currency throughout the UK, though they might be met with confusion outside Scotland.
15. Edinburgh was named the first UNESCO City of Literature in 2004, recognizing its strong literary heritage.
16. St. Andrew’s Day on November 30th is a national holiday in Scotland, celebrating Saint Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland.
17. The Old Course at St. Andrews is considered the "home of golf" and has been played on since the 15th century.
18. Skara Brae on Orkney is older than Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids, making it one of the oldest agricultural villages in the UK.
19. The largest second-hand bookshop in Scotland, Leakey’s Bookshop in Inverness, is housed in an old church and features a wood-burning stove in the centre.
20. The Scots Pine is Scotland’s national tree, symbolic of its ancient Caledonian forests.
21. Scotland is famed for its "right to roam", where people can access most land and inland water for recreation, as long as they do so responsibly under the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
