Card size: 152x152mm. Blank inside.

Photography: Ian Cameron, Ben Hall (CS101, CS107), Heather Leslie Ross (CS106, CS116), Patrick McGuire (CS108), Natasha Bridges (CS109), Frances Taylor (CS114), Peter Cairns (CS117), Tony Smith (CS119), Kenneth Muir (CS120, CS126), Richard Peters (CS121), Adam Burton (122), Mark Hamblin (CS123, CS127, CS137, XCS301), Dimitri Vasiliou (CS124), Pete Bridgwood (CS125), Colin Varndell (CS128), Michael Dudley (CS129), David Barz (CS130), Grant Ritchie (CS131-132, CS134-136), Jason Friend (CS133), Chris Sharratt (XCS302), Kenneth Barker (CS138), Chris Humphreys (CS140)

These stags are locking horns in the yearly breeding ritual known as the rut. With much bellowing and roaring, they spar to become the dominant male. The Celts believed deer were supernatural animals, describing them as ‘faerie cattle’. They were associated with fertility and vitality, and connected the mortal world with the realm of the gods and spirits. According to Celtic myth, a white hind or stag would be sent as a messenger by otherworld deities, often as a warning against wrongdoing.

Excerpt from ‘Scottish Emigrant’s Farewell’, Alexander Hume (1811–1859)

According to legend, the Old Man of Storr is so named because the rock outline and the protruding pinnacle resemble the face of an old man. The word ‘storr’ has Norse origins and is believed to mean ‘great man’.

Excerpt from ‘Over the Sea to Skye’, Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–1894)

With the iconic pyramidal form of Buachaille Etive Mòr, or ‘the great herdsman of Etive’, looming in the background, Rannoch moor is never short of atmosphere. Robert Louis Stevenson clearly found it oppressive, describing it in the novel Kidnapped as being ‘as waste as the sea … a wearier looking desert a man never saw’. In winter when shrouded in mist or lashed by rain, it is undoubtedly a desolate, inhospitable place to be, but the moor also takes its appeal from the feeling that it is one of the last true wildernesses in Scotland.

Excerpt from ‘Canadian Boat Song’, Anon.

In the UK the Crested Tit is largely confined to the ancient Caledonian Forest and Scot’s Pine plantations of Scotland.

Bristidh tu mo chridhe, isean bhòidhich, You’ll break my heart, thou bonny bird,
A sheinneas an cois do chèile,
That sings beside thy mate,
Oir an sin shuidh mi, agus sheinn mi,
For so I sat, and so I sang,
Gun fhios agam mu’n bha ‘n dàn dhomh.
But knew not of my fate.
‘S tric a shiubhail sinn air bruachan Deathan,
Oft did we roam by bonny Doon,
A’ faicinn ròs is snìomh an iadhshlat,
To see the rose and woodbine twine,
Far na sheinn na h-eòin a gaol,
Where every bird sang of its love,
Agus sin a rinn mi dom rùn fhìn.
And fondly so did I for mine.

Excerpt from ‘The Banks of Doon’, Robert Burns (1759–96)

Excerpt of ‘Loch Lomond’, Anon.

These Highland cattle look very much at home on the banks of Loch Buie. Perhaps they are crodh mara, the magical water cattle described in Scottish mythology. They are said to offer assistance to people threatened by the much more perilous water horse, the each uisge. If not kept a close eye on, however, they may well lead your entire heard of mortal cattle into a fairy hill, never to be seen again.

The reigning peak of Glencoe is Bidean nam Bian, a complex mountain, famed for its distinctive, steep-sided spurs that dominate the landscape and are known as ‘Three Sisters of Glencoe’. Their omnipotent presence is undeniably awe-inspiring, but also rather forbidding, so much has happened on their watch. The notorious Massacre of Glencoe took place here on the morning of 13 February 1692.

This scene is a third of the way up Tom Na Gruagach, a Munro in the Torridon Mountains.The highest mountains in Scotland are known as Munros, named after Sir Hugh T. Munro, who produced the first catalogue of peaks over 3000 feet (914.4 metres) in 1891. Some particularly enthusiastic hill walkers attempt to climb every single Munro, a practice known as ‘Munro bagging’. There is even a club for naked Munro bagging, which brings a different interpretation to the well-worn phrase ‘there’s no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing.’

For many, Findhorn Bay is more than just idyllic, it is also deeply spiritual. Nearby is the world famous eco-village and holistic education centre, the Findhorn Foundation. Designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), the bay is fantastic for wildlife. Home to a colony of grey seals, it is also a great place to see birds such as oystercatchers, eider and even osprey, who often fish here in the summer.

In Scottish folklore, Cailleach Bheur is said to be the mother of all the gods and goddesses and sometimes even held responsible for the very creation of Scotland’s landscape! Often depicted as a wild-haired ugly giantess, with just one eye in the centre of her forehead, she strides from place to place dropping rocks from her apron from which mountains and hills like these are formed.

Despite their diminutive size, you could hardly get a tougher, more resilient pony than the Shetland. Renowned for their independence and intelligence, they are generally very kind natured. Not so the njuggle, the sinister shapeshifter of Shetland folklore. Taking the form of a Shetland pony this monster entices weary travellers onto its back, and then charges off to the nearest loch to drown them. Mischievously, the njuggle also likes to hide under mills and stop the wheel from turning by rubbing its back against it.

This ruined medieval castle has a history as dramatic as its precipitous setting. It was originally known as a Pictish fortress and was the location for what can be considered the first big battle between the Scots and the English when Æthelstan, King of Wessex attempted, and failed, to conquer Alba in AD 934. Later, notable visitors to the castle included William Wallace, Mary Queen of Scots, the Marquis of Montrose and the future King Charles II. Dunnottar is perhaps most famous for an incident in which a small garrison saved the Scottish crown jewels – the ‘Honours of Scotland’ – from destruction and held out against the might of Cromwell’s army for eight months.

In Celtic mythology, the Cailleach Bheur was a blue hag said to frequent parts of the Scottish Highlands. According to ancient tradition, she reappears each year at Hallowe’en carrying a magical staff that freezes the ground with each tap. Throughout the winter she is the guardian of wild animals, especially deer, looking after their welfare and ensuring a healthy population. Her reign ends at Beltane (1 May) when she is said to lay down her staff under a holly or gorse bush and then she turns to stone. She is replaced by Brigit, the goddess who ushers in the spring.

In Celtic mythology the eagle is the king of birds, representing majesty and splendour. Revered for its swiftness, strength and keen sight, the eagle is traditionally described in folklore as one of the oldest of all our animals, surpassed only by the salmon in wisdom and age.

Excerpt from ‘My Heart’s in the Highlands’, Robert Burns (1759–1796)

Steeped in history, Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, and the seat of the Scottish Parliament. The city’s history begins with Edinburgh Castle, which, perched dramatically on the volcanic Castle Rock, dominates the city’s skyline. The rock was formed 70 million years ago and archaeological evidence shows that people lived on it as early as 850BC. Sometimes known as the ‘Athens of the North’, Edinburgh led the way in the Scottish Enlightenment. Today, the city’s cultural scene continues to flourish, its annual festival attracting visitors from across the world.

It is likely that the area we now know as Glasgow, with its advantageous position on the River Clyde, has been inhabited for millennia. Stone Age canoes have been unearthed from the riverbanks, suggesting the presence of small fishing communities. The city itself was established by a Christian missionary, St Mungo, in the 12th century. Shaped by the Industrial Revolution, Glasgow is now Scotland’s biggest city and boasts the largest contemporary arts scene in the UK outside of London.

In the land clearances of the 18th and 19th centuries, landlords motivated by profits forced thousands of Scots from their homes and farms to secure the best grazing for sheep. Many were faced with the option to emigrate or try to eke out an existence in coastal or less fertile areas. Today sheep are an indispensable part of life in Scotland: the textiles industry is a major employer and Scottish knitwear and apparel is renowned worldwide for its superior quality.

Castle Stalker is almost implausibly bewitching, seemingly too perfect to be true – its setting is straight out of a fairy tale. Sitting on a tidal islet, known as ‘the Rock of the Cormorants’, the castle is surrounded by the water of Loch Laich and has a dramatic backdrop of mountains. Built in its present form in the 15th century, Castle Stalker remains one of the best preserved medieval tower houses in Scotland. Highly picturesque, it lends itself perfectly to the medium of film and was featured in the final scenes of Monty Python and the Holy Grail as Castle Arghhhhhhh!

Perched on an island at the point where three sea lochs meet, this magical castle is a Scottish icon, a popular venue for film and television locations. It is likely that Eilean Donan, or the island of Donan, is named after the 6th-century Irish saint, Bishop Donan. The island offers an ideal defensive position and the first fortified structure was built in the 13th century to protect the surrounding lands from Viking raiders. Since then, as Scotland’s feudal history unfolded, the castle has seen at least four different incarnations. In the 17th and 18th centuries it played a part in the Jacobite risings, and was destroyed in the process. Around 200 years later, it was restored, using a surviving ground plan, to its former glory.

Machrie Moor, on the Isle of Arran, has stone circles, standing stones and chambered cairns dating from the Neolithic period and the early Bronze Age – it is one of the most important sites of its kind in Britain. The most obvious of the circles consists of three upright red sandstone pillars, the tallest of which is just over 5.5 metres high.

Arran itself is also very special. Sometimes described as ‘Scotland in miniature’, the island has all the scenery of Scotland, with mountains and lowlands, glens, lochs, royal castles and fabulous wildlife. It is also home to one of the few remaining traditional independent whisky distilleries in Scotland. Whisky derives its name from a compound of two Gaelic words and literally means ‘the water of life’.

Excerpt from ‘Caledonia’, James Hogg (1770–1835)

The spectacular Bow Fiddle Rock is part of the huge Caledonian fold belt, which stretches right across Scotland from Connemara in west Ireland through to Shetland, Norway and Spitsbergen. Its unusual shape has resulted from wave action wearing away at different rates on the various layers of rock that form this coastline. It’s a fantastic spot for bird watching – and a noisy one! A large colony of herring gulls, great black-backed and lesser black-backed gulls nest here and you can also see fulmars flying along the cliff face, gannets diving for fish, and cormorants and shags sitting on the rocks drying their wings.

According to legend, Vikings intent on conquering Scotland used the cover of darkness to attack a group of Scottish clansmen who were resting overnight in a field. In order to move more stealthily the raiders removed their footwear. The Scots were awakened by the shrieking that ensued as the Vikings stepped onto the thistles growing underfoot, and the thistle has been Scotland’s national emblem ever since. The thistle is also an ancient Celtic symbol denoting nobility of character.

Heather has become one of the many symbols of Scotland, carpeting the hills with colour. Less common that ling heather, bell heather is found on the drier heaths, blooming from June through to September. Like all Scottish heathers it is rich in nectar and pollen, and is very attractive to insects, particularly honey bees and bumble bees. Heather honey is distinctively dark, and has a characteristic strong delicious taste.

Excerpt of ‘The Return (A Piper’s Vaunting)’, Pittendrigh MacGillivray (1856–1938)

One of the few Scottish medieval churches to have survived the Reformation intact, Glasgow Cathedral has a history that is inextricably linked with that of the city. It is said to be located on the spot where Glasgow’s patron saint, St Mungo, first built his church (made of wood) circa AD 550. Later, in 1136, the first stone church on the site was consecrated in the presence of King David I. Over the centuries the cathedral has continued to change and adapt and is now a truly magnificent building. The title ‘cathedral’, however, is honorific and historic: the current congregation is part of the Church of Scotland’s Presbytery of Glasgow.

Just a short walk from Princes Street, this former village has a unique character. For over 800 years it was a successful milling community; at its high point there were eleven working mills here, all driven by the strong currents of the Water of Leith. It is now a residential area, displaying a range of architecture from converted mills, industrial buildings, rows of mews houses and modern apartments. The name Dean means ‘deep valley’, referring to the village’s position lying 30 metres below the rest of Edinburgh – a serene oasis virtually smack bang in the middle of Scotland’s capital city.

Each year Edinburgh Castle provides the backdrop for the awe-inspiring finale to the Edinburgh International Festival. Live music from the world-renowned Scottish Chamber Orchestra is accompanied by a choreographed firework display which paints the sky in explosive colour. Currently it is the biggest annual event of its kind, ensuring that the festival ends not with a whimper but a bang – in fact many bangs!

An eerie presence in the moonlight, this castle fortress towers above the city of Edinburgh from its position on the volcanic Castle Rock. There has been a royal castle here since at least the reign of David I in the 12th century, so it is perhaps unsurprising to learn that Edinburgh Castle is reputed to be one of the most haunted spots in Scotland. Stories abound of a phantom piper, a headless drummer, the spirits of French prisoners from the Seven Years’ War and even the ghost of a dog wandering around the dog’s cemetery in the castle grounds.

Located in Princes Street Gardens, a public park in the centre of Edinburgh, this mid-19th-century fountain was brought to the city by philanthropist and gun-maker, Daniel Ross. The figures on the fountain represent science, the arts, poetry and industry.

Situated on Calton Hill, with fabulous views across the city, this Greek-inspired monument is dedicated to the philosopher, Dugald Stewart (1753–1828), widely considered to be one of the greatest Scottish Enlightenment thinkers.

Connecting Edinburgh with Fife, the 2.5 kilometre-long Forth Railway Bridge was the world’s first major steel bridge, and ranks as one of the great achievements of engineering. Its robust design, in the aftermath of the Tay Bridge disaster, was the work of civil engineers, Sir John Fowler and Benjamin Baker. Formally completed in 1890, the bridge has become an iconic Scottish landmark and featured in Alfred Hitchcock’s film, The 39 Steps.

Currently the European eagle owl is not considered native to Scotland, although there have been plenty of sightings of this majestic bird – often escapees from captivity. Some people believe that, along with goshawks and ospreys, the owls were wiped out by gamekeepers in the 19th century, while others argue that they have not been part of Scotland’s avian fauna since before the Ice Age, 15,000 years ago. With a wingspan of 1.8 metres and a body length of 76 centimetres, the eagle owl is a formidable predator; its presence in Scotland will no doubt continue to cause controversy.

The bagpipes have been part of the musical traditions of many different cultures since ancient times – archaeologists have found pipes in Egypt that date to 1500 BC. The Romans were the best-known advocates of using pipes in battle, and the Emperor Nero was a proponent of the tibia utricularis – an instrument that many historians believe was a bagpipe. The origins of the pipes in Scotland are uncertain, but the best guess is that they arrived circa 1300.They became intrinsically associated with Scotland largely because of the Highland clans who, influenced by Celtic legends and the wild beauty that surrounded them, developed and elevated the instrument into a national icon.

Situated in a sheltered glen within the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, picturesque Loch Ard is perfect for kayaking and sailing and is stocked with brown trout, pike and perch. It is one of many gorgeous lochs and lochans to be discovered among the forests and hills of the National Park. The Trossachs is the fourth largest national park in the British Isles and is home to a plethora of wildlife, including red and roe deer, capercaillie, red squirrels, otters, ospreys and woodpeckers.

Completed in 1846, the Scott Monument pays tribute to Sir Walter Scott, an Edinburgh native famed for his works such as the historical novels Ivanhoe and Rob Roy and the narrative poem The Lady of the Lake. Located in Princes Street, the tower is 61.11 metres tall and has a series of viewing platforms, which give panoramic views across the city. The author, Bill Bryson, perhaps describes the Scott Monument best, declaring it a ‘gothic rocket ship’!

Winter can be a challenging season in Scotland, with the elements at their wildest. Ancient traditions celebrate fire and light, both so vital during the long dark months. However, Christmas, frowned on as a ‘Popish festival’ during the Protestant Reformation, was virtually banned in Scotland for around 400 years. As many Scots had to work over Christmas, the New Year holiday, or Hogmanay, became the focus, an opportunity to visit friends and family and to exchange gifts.

With the arrival of winter the mountain hare switches to its warm woollies, its coat changing from brown to white, the perfect camouflage as it bounds across the snow. Native to the Scottish Highlands, these hares can reach speeds of over 60km an hour!