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Welcome to Scotland
Scotland is a small nation with much of the land and climate demanding rugged and intelligent people to prosper as well as it has. A harsh phase of Scotland's frequently tragic history known as "The Highland Clearances" encouraged massive emigration which lead to considerable Scottish influence in North America and other parts of the British Empire. The second half of the 20th Century saw a great measure of economic improvement so that many Scots now enjoy a comfortable life in one of the world's more scenic lands.
Despite a small population, Scots have distinguished themselves in many fields: Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott, James Boswell, Robert Louis Stevenson, J. M. Barrie, David Livingstone, David Hume, Adam Smith, Alexander Fleming, John Logie Baird, Robert Owen, and many others. The Great Scots! web pages published on the University of Edinburgh web site is an excellent resource for biographical information. The Gateway to Scottish Authors is a splendid site providing biographical sketches of many of the fine authors identified with Scotland.
Go to our pages for airports, railways and ferry services in Scotland for information on these topics.
The web site for the Scottish Tourist Board is a primary on-line source of information for visitors to Scotland. The British Tourist Authority web site also has a good range of information about Scotland. See also: Undiscovered Scotland, Romance In Scotland and Electric Scotland.
The National Trust for Scotland, Historic Scotland, and the Scottish Natural Heritage are excellent sites for people interested in historic buildings and sites around the nation. The Scottish Wildlife Trust seeks to preserve and protect wildlife in Scotland for the enjoyment of all. The trust's web site lists reserves where visitors can observe local wildlife and provides information about its related activities. The Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland is another source of information about historic buildings.
The web site for BBC Scotland is an excellent location for the latest news on a wide variety of topics about Scotland. This site also an excellent introduction to Scottish history
The National Museums of Scotland web site is a very good source for information about museums in Scotland. The Museum of Scotland has a very extensive collection of historical maps of Scotland. The Scottish Museums Council has lists of museums in Scotland with basic information and, where applicable, Internet links.
The web site for the National Archives of Scotland provides an excellent introduction to resources available for searching family histories and other areas related to the nation's history. The Scottish Archive Network is an Internet resource providing access to the written history of Scotland. Ancestral Scotland is an excellent starting point for genealogical research.
Resources in Learning in Scotland (RLS) is a vast resource for anyone wishing to acquire knowledge about Scotland's social, cultural and industrial heritage.
The Gazetteer for Scotland is a superb Internet resource for information about many aspects of Scotland from villages to cities, islands, glens, people and history. The site has a useful map of the counties and regions of Scotland.
The Scotland Open Guide is a new Wiki-type site in development that allows users to publish entries on topics related to Scotland. It promises to have the advantage of providing good local knowledge.
Nicolas Janberg's Structurae web site has architectural data regarding many important buildings and other structures in Scotland and links to other sites with related information.
The World Heritage Centre of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has a list of heritage sites Scotland
The Scottish Youth Hostel Association offers low-cost accommodations throughout Scotland.
TravelData21 encourages environment-friendly tourism. In this regard, check the Cycling Scotland web site for a great way to discover this country with minimum impact on the environment.
The Forth Bridges Visitor Centre Trust web site will be of interest to visitors with an interest in civil engineering and history of travel.
Scotland is regarded as the home of golf, and the Scottish Golf site is a good place to visit before planning a golfing vacation.
The hi-ways Gateway to the Highlands and Islands of Scotland is a partnership of agencies in the region providing a variety of public information, including tourism, transportation and maps.
Many of the links on our UK and Ireland links page connect to web sites that also have information about Scotland. Go to the route planning and maps page for links to web sites with these services and graphics.
Go to the regions page for Scotland for information to assist with travel planning.
Recommended Reading: The historical books by John Prebble - Glencoe, Culloden and The Highland Clearances - are among the most respected and pleasurable to read, even if their subjects are among the more tragic.
Fitzroy MacLean is another historian with popular books about Scotland. His Scotland: A Concise History and Highlanders: A History of the Scottish Clans provide very good introductions to the history of this country and its people.
Scotland: The Story of a Nation by Magnus Magnusson is a new one-volume history that is very readable and informative.
The History of Scotland by Peter and Fiona Somerset-Fry is another popular but smaller one-volume history.
Serious students of Scottish history will appreciate Ancient Scotland by Stewart Ross for its study of Scotland prior to 1000 AD.
There is a large selection of books about Mary, Queen of Scots, one of the many important royal figures in Scottish history. There is also a good selection of books about Scotland's Bard, Robert Burns, and his poetry.
Blasted Heaths and Blessed Greens by James W. Finegan is the story of a "Golfer's Pilgrimage to the Golf Courses of Scotland"
Scotland's Golf Courses: The Complete Guide by Vic Robbie will make an excellent reference for planning a golfing tour.
Guides: The following books published by the Automobile Association (UK) - Exploring Britain, the Illustrated Guide to Britain ▪ Village Walks in Britain ▪ Weekend Walks in Britain; Baedeker - Scotland; The Blue Guide - Scotland; Eyewitness - Kings and Queens of England and Scotland ▪ Scotland; Fodor's - Scotland; Frommer's - Scotland's Best Loved Driving Tours ▪ Scotland; Lonely Planet - Scotland; Michelin Green Guide - Scotland; Rough Guides - Scotland ▪ Scottish Highlands and Islands