For hundreds of years, Scottish people spoke a mixture of Gaelic and Scots, but after the union with England in 1701 the country quickly adopted English as the primary spoken language.
Today, 99% of people living in Scotland speak English and 1% speak Scottish Gaelic. Of the English-speakers, 30% use the dialect known as Scots.
Discover more fascinating facts about the Scottish language in this information-packed article.
Read MoreThe Marble Line is located a mile south of the village of Broadford in the southern half of the Isle of Skye.
This long-abandoned railway line was used to transport marble from a quarry 2 miles further south, but it has now been converted into a footpath that allows visitors to explore the clearance villages of Boreraig and Suisnish as well as the Strath Suardal valley.
Read MoreThe remains of long-abandoned villages can be seen all over the Isle of Skye, but Boreraig – situated 4 1/2 miles south of Broadford – is perhaps the most hauntingly beautiful.
Visiting Boreraig takes walkers on a 9-mile circular trail from Broadford to the shore of Loch Eishort, across heather-covered moorland on a rough path that offers stunning views along the way.
Read MoreArmadale Castle on the Isle of Skye is one of the island’s most-visited tourist attractions.
Visitors can explore extensive grounds that feature an arboretum, landscaped gardens, woodland walks and a children’s play park, as well as the castle ruins and a fascinating museum.
Read MoreThe Small Isles on the west coast of Scotland include Canna, Muck, Eigg, and Rum. Rum is the largest of the archipelago at 182 square miles, yet it is inhabited by just 40 people.
Getting to Rum involves a short ferry ride from the neighbouring Isle of Skye, after which visitors are free to explore mile after mile of heather-covered moorlands and dramatic mountain peaks.
Read MoreThe Isle of Raasay is located immediately north of Skye on the west coast of Scotland.
This beautiful island in the Inner Hebrides is just 24 square miles in area yet is home to one of the world’s most geologically diverse landscapes.
Visitors to Raasay can explore rolling hills, forests, lochs, golden beaches, and some of the most off-the-grid roads in Scotland.
Read MoreThe Isle of Lunga lies west of Mull and east of Tiree on the west coast of Scotland. This remote volcanic island is the largest of the Treshnish Isles, yet it’s only 81 hectares in size.
Visitors can explore Lunga as part of an organized tour to see the island’s famous colonies of puffins, as well as thousands of pairs of breeding seabirds, seals, and rare plants.
Read MoreThe Isle of Coll lies on the edge of Scotland’s west coast, directly north of Tiree and west of Mull.
This stunningly pretty island is surrounded by miles of pristine golden beaches and has vast swathes of unspoilt countryside at its centre.
Coll is also pleasingly free of tourism, making a visit to this gem of an island a real step back in time.
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