Scotland

Introduction & Quick Facts
Land
- Relief
- Drainage
- Soils
- Climate
- Plant and animal life
People
- Ethnic groups
- Languages
- Religion
- Settlement patterns
- Demographic trends
Economy
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
  - Agriculture
  - Forestry
  - Fishing
- Resources and power
- Manufacturing
- Finance
- Services
- Transportation
Government and society
- Constitutional framework
- Local government
- Justice
- Political process
- Security
- Health and welfare
- Housing
- Education
Cultural life
- Daily life and social customs
- The arts
- Cultural institutions
- Sports and recreation
- Media and publishing
History
- Ancient times
  - Roman penetration
  - Christianity
  - The Norse influence
- The unification of the kingdom
  - The development of the monarchy
  - David I (1124–53)
  - Medieval economy and society
  - David I’s successors
- The Wars of Independence
  - Competition for the throne
  - Robert I (1306–29)
  - David II (1329–71)
- Scotland in the 15th century
  - The early Stewart kings
  - 15th-century society
- Scotland in the 16th and early 17th centuries
  - James IV (1488–1513) and James V (1513–42)
  - Mary (1542–67) and the Scottish Reformation
  - James VI (1567–1625)
- The Age of Revolution (1625–89)
  - Charles I (1625–49)
  - Cromwell
  - The Restoration monarchy
- The era of union
  - The revolution settlement
  - The Act of Union and its results
  - Jacobitism in the Highlands
  - The Scottish Enlightenment
- 19th-century Scotland
  - The Industrial Revolution
  - Politics and religion
  - The Highlands
- Scotland since World War I
  - World War I and after
  - World War II and after
  - North Sea oil and the rise of Scottish nationalism
  - The establishment of a Scottish Parliament
  - Scottish independence referendum
  - Scotland under First Minister Nicola Sturgeon
Sovereigns of Scotland

References & Edit History Facts & Stats

Images & Videos

flag of Scotland

Map of Scotland showing major cities and towns, surrounding bodies of water including the Atlantic Ocean and North Sea, and borders with England and Northern Ireland. Insets highlight Scotland's location within the United Kingdom and the Shetland Islands. Major cities such as Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee, and Inverness are labeled, along with key islands and coastal towns.

Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland

Map highlighting Scotland within the United Kingdom, showing its location in northern Great Britain with Edinburgh labeled, and surrounding countries including Ireland, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, and Norway. Major bodies of water such as the Atlantic Ocean, North Sea, and English Channel are also labeled.

Ruins of St. Andrews Castle sit on a grassy cliff overlooking the ocean in Scotland, with stone walls and towers visible above the shoreline.

Edinburgh Castle

Physical map of Scotland highlighting major mountain ranges such as the Highlands and Southern Uplands, notable peaks including Ben Nevis and Ben Macdui, major lochs like Loch Ness and Loch Lomond, surrounding seas, and offshore island groups including the Hebrides, Orkney Islands, and Shetland Islands.

Loch Ness, Scotland

Ben Nevis rises above green hills and a cluster of houses, reflected in the calm water of Loch Linnhe near Fort William in the Scottish Highlands.

The River Tweed flows over rocks beside a stone wall, with green trees lining the riverbank and hills visible in the background at Melrose, Scotland.

At a Glance

Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland

Scotland summary

Scotland: Media

constituent unit, United Kingdom

Videos

Northern gannets on Scotland's Bass Rock

Northern gannets on Scotland's Bass Rock

Learn about the gannets on Scotland's Bass Rock.

Video: Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz

What you need to know about Scottish heritage

What you need to know about Scottish heritage

Learn more about Scottish heritage.

Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

A wee explanation of Scottish languages

A wee explanation of Scottish languages

Britannica editor Jeff Wallenfeldt provides an overview of the Scots language.

Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

A beginner's guide to tasting Scottish whisky

A beginner's guide to tasting Scottish whisky

Learn about the many varieties of Scottish whisky.

Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

An overhead shot of a kitchen counter with Scottish shortbread.

The Long and “Short” History of Scottish Shortbread

Shortbread used to be a luxury reserved for holidays like Christmas and New Year's.

Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Take a one-of-a-kind museum tour with Chicago Scots President Gus Noble

Take a one-of-a-kind museum tour with Chicago Scots President Gus Noble

Learn more about Robert Burns in this interview with Chicago Scots President Gus...

Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Take a look into the rolls featuring the Act of Union with Scotland (1707) and the Articles of Union with Scotland (1706)

Take a look into the rolls featuring the Act of Union with Scotland (1707) and the Articles of Union with Scotland (1706)

Examining England's Act of Union with Scotland (1707) and the Articles of Union with...

Video: © UK Parliament Education Service (A Britannica Publishing Partner)

Witness the unpolluted nature of Scotland's countryside in the northern third of the island of Great Britain

Witness the unpolluted nature of Scotland's countryside in the northern third of the island of Great Britain

The countryside of Scotland

Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Spotting wild otters in the Shetland Islands

Spotting wild otters in the Shetland Islands

Learn about the large otter population in Scotland's Shetland Islands.

Video: Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz

Explore the rocky glens and cliff-lined lochs of the Scottish Isle of Skye

Explore the rocky glens and cliff-lined lochs of the Scottish Isle of Skye

Time-lapse video of the isle of Skye, Scotland.

Video: © Mattia Bicchi Photography, www.mattiabicchiphotography.com (A Britannica Publishing Partner)

Images

flag of Scotland

flag of Scotland

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Map of Scotland showing major cities and towns, surrounding bodies of water including the Atlantic Ocean and North Sea, and borders with England and Northern Ireland. Insets highlight Scotland's location within the United Kingdom and the Shetland Islands. Major cities such as Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee, and Inverness are labeled, along with key islands and coastal towns.

Scotland

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland

Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland

Eilean Donan Castle, located in the Scottish Highlands.

© Goodshoot/Jupiterimages

Map highlighting Scotland within the United Kingdom, showing its location in northern Great Britain with Edinburgh labeled, and surrounding countries including Ireland, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, and Norway. Major bodies of water such as the Atlantic Ocean, North Sea, and English Channel are also labeled.

Scotland

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Ruins of St. Andrews Castle sit on a grassy cliff overlooking the ocean in Scotland, with stone walls and towers visible above the shoreline.

St. Andrews Castle, Scotland

The ruins of St. Andrews Castle, Scotland.

© Photos.com/Jupiterimages/Getty Images

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle in Scotland.

© Digital Vision/Getty Images

Physical map of Scotland highlighting major mountain ranges such as the Highlands and Southern Uplands, notable peaks including Ben Nevis and Ben Macdui, major lochs like Loch Ness and Loch Lomond, surrounding seas, and offshore island groups including the Hebrides, Orkney Islands, and Shetland Islands.

Physical features of Scotland

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Loch Ness, Scotland

Loch Ness, Scotland

Loch Ness, in the Highlands of Scotland. At the head of the loch is the monastery...

A.F. Kersting

Ben Nevis rises above green hills and a cluster of houses, reflected in the calm water of Loch Linnhe near Fort William in the Scottish Highlands.

Ben Nevis, Scotland

Ben Nevis from Loch Linnhe, Scotland.

© chrisdorney/Shutterstock.com

The River Tweed flows over rocks beside a stone wall, with green trees lining the riverbank and hills visible in the background at Melrose, Scotland.

River Tweed, Scotland

A view from the banks of the River Tweed, southeastern Scotland.

© Dennis Barnes—Photodisc/Getty Images

River Dee winding through grassy banks and rocky shores near Braemar, Scotland, with dramatic clouds and sunlight breaking through in the background.

River Dee, Scotland

River Dee, near Braemar, Scotland.

© iweta0077/stock.adobe.com

River Don

River Don

River Don, near Alford, Scotland.

Bryan A Watson

Highland cattle

Highland cattle

Highland cattle resting in a field, Scotland.

Brand X Pictures/Punchstock

port of Aberdeen, Scotland

port of Aberdeen, Scotland

Ships serving North Sea oil platforms at dock in the port of Aberdeen, Scotland.

Milt and Joan Mann/CameraMann International

Scottish distillery

Scottish distillery

Glenlivet whisky distillery, Minmore, Scotland.

© Brian Seed from TSW—CLICK/Chicago

Islay

Islay

Bowmore Distillery on the island of Islay, Inner Hebrides, Scotland.

Mick Garratt

The exterior of the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, Scotland, showing a symmetrical stone facade with round towers and a decorative fountain in the courtyard.

Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh

The exterior of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, Scotland.

© Chon Kit Leong/Dreamstime.com

Stirling Castle

Stirling Castle

Stirling Castle, Scotland.

Finlay McWalter

Map of the United Kingdom highlighting current political boundaries and subdivisions for Scotland, England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The map shows administrative counties, unitary authorities, metropolitan counties, and other local authorities, with major cities and numbered subdivisions labeled in each country. Insets display the Channel Islands, Shetland Islands, and a locator map for geographic context. Lists of numbered subdivisions for each UK country are included around the map.

Map showing the political boundaries of the United Kingdom

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh

Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh

The Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh.

© Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body 2010

The main building of Glasgow University in Scotland features a tall central tower with Gothic architectural details, surrounded by trees and greenery in the foreground.

University of Glasgow, Scotland

The Main Building, University of Glasgow, Scotland.

© Amra Pasic/Shutterstock.com

bagpipe

bagpipe

Scottish Highland bagpipe; in the Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford, England.

The Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford, Eng.

Scottish poet Robert Burns

Scottish poet Robert Burns

Robert Burns, detail of an oil painting by Alexander Nasmyth; in the National Portrait...

Courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery, London

Tiger Woods follows through on his golf swing on the second tee at the Old Course in Saint Andrews, Scotland, with historic stone buildings and spectators in the background.

The Royal and Ancient

Tiger Woods competing in the opening round of the 2000 British Open held at the Royal...

Jacques Demarthon—AFP/Getty Images

David I

David I

David I, detail of an illuminated initial on the Kelso Abbey charter of 1159; in...

By permission of His Grace the Duke of Roxburghe

cathedral of Moray, Elgin, Scotland

cathedral of Moray, Elgin, Scotland

Ruins of the cathedral of Moray at Elgin, Scotland.

© Foto-Jagla.de/stock.adobe.com

Cathedral ruins, St. Andrews, Scotland

Cathedral ruins, St. Andrews, Scotland

The ruins of the cathedral seen through the West Port of the precinct wall, St. Andrews,...

Kenneth Scowen

Adam Smith

Adam Smith

Adam Smith, paste medallion by James Tassie, 1787; in the Scottish National Portrait...

Courtesy of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh

Constantine II of Scotland

Constantine II of Scotland

Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Malcolm I of Scotland

Malcolm I of Scotland

Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Indulf, engraving by Bannerman

Indulf, engraving by Bannerman

Mary Evans Picture Library

Kenneth II of Scotland

Kenneth II of Scotland

Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Constantine III

Constantine III

Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Kenneth III of Scotland

Kenneth III of Scotland

Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Malcolm II of Scotland, engraving by Bannerman

Malcolm II of Scotland, engraving by Bannerman

Mary Evans Picture Library

Duncan I of Scotland

Duncan I of Scotland

Mary Evans Picture Library

Macbeth

Macbeth

Mary Evans Picture Library

Malcolm III Canmore

Malcolm III Canmore

Malcolm III of Scotland, known as Canmore.

Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Engraved portrait of Duncan II of Scotland, shown with curly hair and wearing a fur-trimmed garment inside an ornate oval frame.

Duncan II of Scotland

© Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Alexander I of Scotland

Alexander I of Scotland

© Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Malcolm IV of Scotland

Malcolm IV of Scotland

Hulton Archive/Getty Images

William the Lion

William the Lion

Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Alexander II of Scotland

Alexander II of Scotland

Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Alexander III of Scotland

Alexander III of Scotland

Hulton Archive/Getty Images

John de Balliol of Scotland

John de Balliol of Scotland

© Universal History Archive—UniversalImagesGroup/Getty Images

Robert the Bruce

Robert the Bruce

Robert the Bruce, coloured engraving by an unknown artist, 1797.

The Granger Collection, New York

Engraved portrait of David II of Scotland wearing a crown and fur-trimmed robe, with a beard and shoulder-length hair, facing slightly to his left.

David II of Scotland

© Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Robert II, coin, 14th century; in the British Museum

Robert II, coin, 14th century; in the British Museum

Peter Clayton

King of the Scots

King of the Scots

Robert III, coin, 14th century; in the British Museum.

Peter Clayton

James I

James I

James I, oil painting by an unknown artist; in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery,...

Courtesy of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh. Purchased 1909

James II

James II

James II, painting by an unknown artist; in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery,...

Courtesy of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh. Purchased 1909

James III

James III

James III, painting by an unknown artist; in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery,...

Courtesy of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh. Purchased 1909

James IV

James IV

James IV, painting by an unknown artist; in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery,...

Courtesy of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh. Purchased 1909

James V

James V

James V, detail of a painting by an unknown artist, c. 1540; at Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire

Courtesy of the National Trust, Hardwick Hall (Duke of Devonshire Collection), Derbyshire

Mary, Queen of Scots

Mary, Queen of Scots

Mary, Queen of Scots, ruler of Scotland (1542–67) and queen consort of France (1559–60)....

Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (LOT 13407, no. 181)

Daniel Mytens: portrait of James I

Daniel Mytens: portrait of James I

James I, oil on canvas by Daniel Mytens, 1621; in the National Portrait Gallery,...

© World History Archive/Alamy

Expansive granite boulder field on the summit plateau of Ben Macdui, with rugged peaks of the Cairngorm Mountains and Braeriach visible in the distance under a partly cloudy sky.

Ben Macdui

Ben Macdui, Cairngorm Mountains, Scotland.

© munro1—iStock/Getty Images

Golf history

Golf history

Early professional golfers—including “Old Tom” Morris (right, with club)—on the Leith...

Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (LC-USZ62-100377)

Edinburgh

Edinburgh

Edinburgh, Scotland.

© Hemera/Thinkstock

View of Loch Tummel from Queen's View, with calm water reflecting the sky, surrounded by green hills, trees, and distant mountains in Perth and Kinross, Scotland.

Loch Tummel, Scotland

Loch Tummel, Perth and Kinross, Scotland.

© Juergen Wallstabe/stock.adobe.com

Heraldic flagsBanner: The blazon of the shield is applied to the whole surface of a square or a vertically or horizontally oriented rectangular flag. This is the Royal Banner of Scotland, which follows the blazon of the second quarter of the Royal Arms of the United Kingdom. Although it is the banner of the sovereign, it is widely but incorrectly used today as the national symbol.Fork-tailed pennon: Shown here is that of the Sovereign and Military Order of the Knights of Malta, in heraldic terms gules a cross argent.Standard: The Cross of St. George at the hoist identifies this as English. The profusion of badges, the diagonally placed motto, and the border of alternating tinctures are typical. This is the standard of Sir Henry Stafford, c. 1475.

Heraldic flagsBanner: The blazon...

Drawing by Wm. A. Norman, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Map of the United Kingdom showing regional results of the 2016 EU Referendum. Scotland, Northern Ireland, and London are shaded blue to indicate a majority voted to remain in the European Union, while the rest of England and Wales are shaded red to show a majority voted to leave.

United Kingdom Brexit referendum

The majority vote by region in the 2016 referendum on whether the United Kingdom...

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Political map of England showing major cities, towns, and transportation links, with borders outlined for Scotland, Wales, and surrounding countries. The map includes neighboring bodies of water such as the Irish Sea, North Sea, and Celtic Sea, and features an inset for regional context within the British Isles and Europe.

England

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Map showing the physical features of England, including major hills, plains, national parks, and upland regions such as the Lake District, Pennines, Yorkshire Dales, Cotswolds, and South Downs. The map also marks surrounding countries-Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Ireland-as well as nearby bodies of water like the North Sea, Irish Sea, and English Channel.

England

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

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