Portal:Scotland/Did you know

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Did you know 1

Portal:Scotland/Did you know/1

... that John Gregorson Campbell was at the same time a church minister and a folklorist?
... that Lady Isle, a small Scottish island in the Firth of Clyde, is Britain's first seabird reserve?
... that bowls player Willie Wood was the first athlete to compete in 7 Commonwealth Games, despite being barred from the 1986 games in his home country of Scotland for refusing to reclassify as an amateur?

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Did you know 2

Portal:Scotland/Did you know/2

... that the Anstruther Fish Bar in Fife has won the accolade "best fish and chip shop" in Scotland, on three occasions
... that, according to the Lanercost Chronicle, Richard de Inverkeithing, Bishop of Dunkeld, was poisoned by King Alexander III of Scotland so that the king could take the bishop's movable possessions?
... that St. Mary's Collegiate Church is the longest church in Scotland at 62.8 m?

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Did you know 3

Portal:Scotland/Did you know/3

... that David Colville Anderson, whose career was ended by a scandal involving teenage girls, blamed it on the KGB?
... that there are four UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Scotland and four more sites currently undergoing a process of evaluation including the iconic Forth Bridge?
... that the Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park in Scotland covers an area of 108 square miles of Inverclyde, North Ayrshire and Renfrewshire, stretching from Greenock in the north, down the coast to Largs and West Kilbride and inland to Dalry and Lochwinnoch

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Did you know 4

Portal:Scotland/Did you know/4

... that Scotland's North West Highlands Geopark contains some of the oldest rocks in Europe and the site of a famous geological controversy?
... that several prehistoric standing stones and natural stone features in Scotland are called Carlin stones, possibly from the term cailleach meaning "old hag" or "witch"?
... that William Wallace disguised himself as a woman to hide at the castle in Riccarton, a village and parish in East Ayrshire, Scotland?

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Did you know 5

Portal:Scotland/Did you know/5

... that tradition traces Clan Drummond, a Scottish clan from Stirlingshire, to Hungarian origins?
... that Kellie Castle in Scotland dates back to 1150 and it is rumoured that the 5th Earl of Kellie hid there in a burnt-out tree stump for the entire summer following the Battle of Culloden in 1746?
... that the domesticated animal breeds originating from Scotland include the Scottish Fold cat, the Rough Collie of "Lassie" fame, and the Grice, a somewhat aggressive pig?

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Did you know 6

Portal:Scotland/Did you know/6

... that Robin Philipson, former President of the Royal Scottish Academy, was particularly renowned for his cockfight paintings?
... that the 14th-century Lennoxlove House in East Lothian, Scotland contains many important artworks and artefacts, including the death mask of Mary, Queen of Scots?
... that a cuttie-stool is the Lowland Scots name for a three legged stool that was thrown by Jenny Geddes at the Dean of St Giles High Kirk, in protest at the introduction of Anglican style prayer books in 1637?

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Did you know 7

Portal:Scotland/Did you know/7

... that after two thousand years or more of continuous habitation the Scottish island of Mingulay was abandoned by its residents in 1912?
... that North Berwick Harbour was built in the 12th century as a ferry port for St. Andrews bound pilgrims, while legend has it that "Satan himself" once worshipped on the Harbour's "Auld Kirk Green"?
... that the Scotch Professors, a group of 19th-century Scottish footballers, are credited with inventing the passing style of the modern game and spreading the sport globally?

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Did you know 8

Portal:Scotland/Did you know/8

... that Greenbank Gardens near Glasgow, Scotland were built by Robert Allason, a slave trader?
... that the Royal Navy operated a secret training and anti-submarine warfare base at Seacliff in East Lothian during World War I?
... that the Willow Tearooms, designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, is the most famous of many new Glasgow tearooms opened in the early 20th century due to the emergence of the Temperance movement?

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Did you know 9

Portal:Scotland/Did you know/9

... that Rough Castle Fort is the best preserved of 19 Roman forts along the Antonine Wall?
... that Greyfriars Kirkyard, famed for its association with Greyfriars Bobby, is haunted by the spirit of "Bluidy Mackenzie" and featured in the early photography of David Octavius Hill and Robert Adamson?
... that when the King of Scotland told King Magnus of Norway he could have any land he could circumnavigate, Magnus had a longshipdragged across an isthmus to East Loch Tarbert, Argyll and claimed Kintyre?

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Did you know 10

Portal:Scotland/Did you know/10

... that Jim McColl, the son of a butcher, reportedly became Scotland's richest man in 2008?

... that Glen Ord is the only remaining single malt scotch whisky distillery on the Black Isle in the Highlands of Scotland?

... that from its creation in 1963 to its closure in about 2000, the Scottish Tartans Society recorded and documented about 2,700 different designs of tartan?
... that Angus Purden, regular presenter of the BBC's Cash in the Attic, was crowned Mr. Scotland as a teenager, and modelled for Giorgio Armani for three years in Milan?

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Did you know 11

Portal:Scotland/Did you know/11

... that Adam of Kilconquhar, first husband of Robert the Bruce's mother Marjory of Carrick, died on crusade at Acre in 1271?
... that Scots' Dike was constructed by the English and the Scots in 1552 to mark the division of the Debatable Lands and thereby settle the exact boundary between the kingdoms of Scotland and England?
... that the Dunmore Pineapple was a folly where pineapples were grown in Scotland from 1761 and that it was built by the 4th Earl of Dunmore, John Murray, who later became governor of Virginia Colony in the U.S.?

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Did you know 12

Portal:Scotland/Did you know/12

... that the Scottish Fisheries Museum in Anstruther contains 66,000 exhibits including Reaper, a 104 year old restored fifie herring drifter?
... that Fowlsheugh cliffs, attract 170,000 breeding seabirds annually, and may be one of the few nature reserves with more vertical than horizontal land area?
... that the Carron, a river in central Scotland only about 23 km long, has given its name to a type of naval cannon, a line of bathtubs, two warships and an island in the Southern Hemisphere?

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Did you know 13

Portal:Scotland/Did you know/13

... that the Scottish composer Martyn Bennett, who was influential in the evolution of modern Celtic fusion, was sometimes called the "techno piper"?
.. that the Port an Eilean Mhòir ship burial, excavated in 2011, is the first confirmed Viking ship burial to be discovered in mainland Scotland since 1935
... that HMS Vidal, the ship sent to annexe Rockall, was named after Alexander Vidal, the first man to properly survey the islet?

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Did you know 14

Portal:Scotland/Did you know/14

... that Angus Purden, regular presenter of the BBC's Cash in the Attic, was crowned Mr. Scotland as a teenager, and modelled for Giorgio Armani for three years in Milan?
... that according to legend, the eponymous ancestor of Clan McCorquodale was awarded lands for recovering the severed head of Alpin, father of Kenneth MacAlpin, King of Scots?
... that although he was an illegitimate child, the 13th century prelate of Scotland Albin of Brechin had a successful career in the Roman Catholic Church after obtaining dispensation from the Bishop of Porto?

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Did you know 15

Portal:Scotland/Did you know/15

... that ever since coming between neighbours, Funzie Girt has run almost the length of a Scottish island?

... that near the hamlet of Barkip in North Ayrshire, the largest anaerobic digestion power plant in Scotland was completed in June 2011?

... that a 1640 Act of the Parliament of Scotland abolished the observation of Christmas in Scotland?"

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Did you know 16

Portal:Scotland/Did you know/16

...that the Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park in Scotland covers an area of 108 square miles of Inverclyde, North Ayrshire and Renfrewshire, stretching from Greenock in the north, down the coast to Largs and West Kilbride and inland to Dalry and Lochwinnoch?

...that when John Sands excavated a ~2,000 year old building on the remote Scottish island of St Kilda he unearthed tools that the 1877 residents recognised?

...that moot hills in Scotland were mostly artificial mounds built as traditional meeting places for de facto lairdly courts and courts of law?

...that 16th century Scottish Bishop of Ross Henry Sinclair was simultaneously Lord President of the Court of Session, and was succeeded in that office by his brother, John Sinclair, Bishop of Brechin?

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Did you know 17

Portal:Scotland/Did you know/17

...that Balfour, Orkney (pictured) was built in 1782 to house tenants evicted to make way for the house now called Balfour Castle, then it was partly demolished later to improve the castle's view?

...that despite being organised on St. Andrew's Day, the first Scotland v England football match did not result in a home win?

...that the last chief of Clan MacQuarrie sold off his clan lands in Scotland and joined the British Army, at age 68, and fought in the American Revolutionary War?

...that Bob McGrory managed the English football team Stoke City for a period of 17 years, having previously played for the club for 14 years?

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Did you know 18

Portal:Scotland/Did you know/18

...that the Corbett hill Beinn Chuirn (pictured) has Scotland's largest known deposits of gold?

...that Alma Cadzow is a former news reader, who once was so upset by an item on animal cruelty she cried on television?

...that the name of Stob Choire Claurigh in Scotland translates from Gaelic as “Peak of the Brawling Corrie”, referring to the roaring of the stags inhabiting the corries of the mountain during the breeding season?

...that Hinba, an island in Scotland of unknown location was the site of a small monastery associated with the church of Saint Columba on Iona?

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Did you know 19

Portal:Scotland/Did you know/19

...that Ardencaple Castle Light (pictured) is used as a navigational aid for shipping on the Firth of Clyde?

...that Edinburgh's Princes Street lent its name to a stone run in the Falkland Islands?

... that Australian rules football has its own league in Scotland?

...that St. Mary's Collegiate Church is the longest church in Scotland at 62.8 m?

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Did you know 20

Portal:Scotland/Did you know/20

...that over four hundred 4000-year-old carved stone balls (pictured) have been uncovered in archaeological digs in Scotland?

...that the Laigh Milton viaduct, built in 1812, is the oldest surviving railway viaduct in Scotland and one of the oldest in the world?

...that several of the Orkney islands' highest points are named "Ward Hill" due to the many old warning beacons in the area?

...that football players Billy and John McPhail are the only brothers to have both scored hat-tricks for Celtic F.C. against their Old Firm rivals, Rangers F.C.?

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Did you know 21

Portal:Scotland/Did you know/21

...that the Anstruther Fish Bar in Fife (pictured) has won the accolade "best fish and chip shop" in Scotland, on three occasions?

...that Whuppity Scoorie is a traditional celebration in Lanark, Scotland during which children run around a church three times swinging paper balls over their heads?

...that the Scottish island of Lunga is the location of the "well of the church of Saint Columba", which reputedly never runs dry?

...that the potential for the production of renewable energy in Scotland includes up to 25% of the EU’s capacity for both wind and tidal power generation?

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Did you know 22

Portal:Scotland/Did you know/22

...that Charlotte Stuart (pictured) was the illegitimate daughter of Bonnie Prince Charlie and the secret mistress of the Archbishop of Bordeaux?

...that John Murray of Broughton was a Jacobite turncoat, whose evidence led to Lord Lovat's execution for high treason?

...that Archibald Cameron of Locheil was the last man to be executed for his part in Bonnie Prince Charlie's Jacobite rebellion?

...that the Loch Arkaig treasure, a large amount of specie provided by Spain to finance the Jacobite rising in Scotland in 1745, is said to be still hidden at Loch Arkaig in the Scottish Highlands?

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Did you know 23

Portal:Scotland/Did you know/23

...that Sgurr na Ciste Duibhe (pictured), a Munro in Scotland, is one of the "Five Sisters of Kintail"?

...in 2005, Adam Bruce became the first herald appointed to Clan Donald of Scotland in 510 years?

...that the fauna of Scotland includes almost half of the EU’s breeding seabirds, but only one endemic vertebrate species, and that although a population of Wild Cats remains, many of the larger mammals were hunted to extinction in historic times?

...that Craignethan Castle was the last private fortress built in Scotland?

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Did you know 24

Portal:Scotland/Did you know/24

...that the Carron (pictured), a river in central Scotland only about 23 km long, has given its name to a type of naval cannon, a line of bathtubs, two warships and an island in the Southern Hemisphere?

...that after two thousand years or more of continuous habitation the Scottish island of Mingulay was abandoned by its residents in 1912?

...that Beinn a' Ghlò is a large mountain in Scotland that has three Munro summits, and is an SSSI?

... that Fowlsheugh cliffs, attract 170,000 breeding seabirds annually, and may be one of the few nature reserves with more vertical than horizontal land area?

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Did you know 25

Portal:Scotland/Did you know/25

...that Miss Cranston (pictured) pioneered the social phenomenon of tea rooms, introducing "fairyland"-like interiors designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh?

...that Saint Gilbert of Dornoch was the last Scot to appear in the Calendar of Saints?

...that Lord Neaves, a judge on the supreme court of Scotland, was quoted by Charles Darwin on evolution, but attributed the concept of evolution to Lord Monboddo, not Darwin?

...that Charles St. Clair was both a Scottish Peer and a York Herald of Arms, and was consequently able to attend the State Opening of Parliament in either capacity?

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Did you know 26

Portal:Scotland/Did you know/26

...that the Willow Tearooms, designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, is the most famous of many new Glasgow tearooms opened in the early 20th century due to the emergence of the Temperance movement?

...that in the 1848 Moray Firth fishing disaster on the east coast of Scotland, 124 boats sank and 100 fishermen perished, leading to a major redesign of fishing boats in the following years?

...that bowls player Willie Wood was the first athlete to compete in 7 Commonwealth Games, despite being barred from the 1986 games in his home country of Scotland for refusing to reclassify as an amateur?

...that Reaper, a 105 year old historic Fifie herring drifter, nearly sank off the north east coast of England after being restored and put back into service as a museum ship?

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Did you know 27

Portal:Scotland/Did you know/27

...that the Scottish Fisheries Museum (pictured) in Anstruther contains 66,000 exhibits including Reaper, a 104 year old restored fifie herring drifter?

...that Robin Philipson, former President of the Royal Scottish Academy, was particularly renowned for his cockfight paintings?

...that the village of Cellardyke in Fife, Scotland, is the site of the first confirmed case of H5N1 avian flu in the United Kingdom, and was once home to a 200-strong fishing fleet?

...that North Berwick Harbour was built in the 12th century as a ferry port for St. Andrews bound pilgrims, while legend has it that "Satan himself" once worshipped on the Harbour's "Auld Kirk Green"?

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Did you know 28

Portal:Scotland/Did you know/28

...that the 14th-century Lennoxlove House (pictured) in East Lothian, Scotland contains many important artworks and artefacts, including the death mask of Mary, Queen of Scots?

...that the Royal Navy operated a secret training and anti-submarine warfare base at Seacliff in East Lothian during World War I?

...that Bonnybridge, forming part of the "Falkirk Triangle" in Scotland, is considered by many UFO enthusiasts to be world's number one UFO hotspot, with around 300 sightings every year?

...that Rough Castle Fort is the best preserved of 19 Roman forts along the Antonine Wall?

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Did you know 29

Portal:Scotland/Did you know/29

... that David Byrne (pictured), lead singer-songwriter of Talking Heads was born in Dumbarton on 14th May 1952?

... that Super Bowl winner Lawrence Tynes, who plays for the New York Giants was born in Greenock in 1978?

... that the first edition of Collins Encyclopaedia of Scotland took seven years to compile, contained nearly 500 illustrations, 4000 separate entries, and is around a million words long?

... that Domhnall mac Raghnaill was the founder of the MacDonald clan?

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Did you know 30

Portal:Scotland/Did you know/30

... that William Wallace disguised himself as a woman to hide at the castle in Riccarton (pictured), a village and parish in East Ayrshire?

... that Nicholas de Balmyle, former Chancellor of Scotland, became Bishop of Dunblane in 1307 when he was likely in his 70s, but nevertheless lived on to hold the position for at least another 12 years?

... that rugby union footballer George MacPherson was the captain of the first Scotland team to ever win a Five Nations Grand Slam?

... that Church of Scotland clergyman William Couper protested against the introduction of episcopacy in 1606, but became Bishop of Galloway four years later?