The name of Scotland seems to originate from the latin word Scoti, which was the word used by the Romans to describe some of the Gaelic peoples found in the British Isles around 1600 years ago. The country extends northwards from the rolling hills of its Borders region in the south, where it meets England, through the more heavily populated urban areas found in the Central Lowlands strip, then out into the lonely towering peaks and sweeping glens of the Highlands. Beyond these, moving offshore, are the wild and windswept archipelagos of the Hebrides, Orkneys and Shetlands. It is a land of history, myths and legends, telling of fierce clan rivalries and struggles against oppression. Some of these historical figures have tales which still resonate across the globe, including William Wallace, Mary Queen of Scots and Robert the Bruce, with their stories often being bound together with those of the many spectacular castles to be found throughout the land.
The country is also reflected in the works of its great poets and writers, such as Robert Burns and R.L. Stevenson. With 16,500 km (10,250 mi) of coastline, Scotland has always been closely associated with the sea and all its dangers, as may be seen from many dozens of lighthouses which dot its shores. Scotland, however was also at the forefront of the Industrial Revolution, a land whose scientific, philosophical and technological innovation changed the world. There is, indeed, so much more to Scotland than just tartan and kilts.
