scotland

Flower of Scotland
O Flower of Scotland,
When will we see
Your like again,
That fought and died for,
Your wee bit Hill and Glen,
And stood against him,
Proud Edward's Army,
And sent him homeward,
Tae think again.

The Hills are bare now,
And Autumn leaves
lie thick and still,
O'er land that is lost now,
Which those so dearly held,
That stood against him,
Proud Edward's Army,
And sent him homeward,
Tae think again.

Those days are past now,
And in the past
they must remain,
But we can still rise now,
And be the nation again,
That stood against him,
Proud Edward's Army,
And sent him homeward,
Tae think again.

Flower of Scotland,
When will we see
your like again,
That fought and died for,
Your wee bit Hill and Glen,
And stood against him,
Proud Edward's Army,
And sent him homeward,
Tae think again.

Scotland is around 34% of Britain and 60% the size of England

Total area 78,783 sq km/48,955 sq miles

Mainland sealochs 40

Oldest granny pine
More than 520 years old (Highland Caledonian Forest)

World�s oldest rock
Archaen Gneiss, Lewis (almost 3,000 million years old)

Deepest rock formation in Scotland
North-west Highlands: Moine (10 km/6.2 miles)

Today's Highland Dress is distinctive, smart, martial, formal and known world wide as Scotland's national costume. However like Tartan itself the origins of the costume are surrounded by a degree of controversy.
The Highlander of old (pre-1746) would often have worn the feileadh mor, Gaelic for a large piece of woollen tartan material wrapped round the body, belted at the waist and pinned over the shoulder. It no doubt also served as a blanket while campaigning - the word 'plaid' is the Gaelic plaide meaning blanket.

Most of the stories concerning Wallace actually came from a 15thC minstrel, Blind Harry and most popular tails of Wallace's daring-do have no documentary evidence. But Wallace holds a special place in the imagination of the Scots People and in the 1860's a massive tower to Sir William Wallace was build on Abbey Craig at Stirling overlooking the location of 'his finest hour'- the Battle of Stirling Bridge.

Tartan has become the main symbol of Scotland and Scottish Culture. It is an emblem for those of Scottish descent around the world. With Scottish National identity probably greater than at any time in recent centuries, the potency of Tartan as a symbol cannot be understated.

Gaelic has a long and rich literary history - it has been suggested that the Bible was translated into Gaelic a 1000 years before an English translation appeared.