McLean Scotland - Scottish Tour and Holiday Company - Individually Designed Scottish Tours and Vacations

To help you through the weird and wonderful phrases and those, "odd" terms, here is everything you need to know - unless you know better? contact mcleanscotland in that case please

Founded in 1179, the city of Aberdeen is Scotland's third largest city and is built on the rivers Dee and Don with a harbour on the North Sea, is almost entirely built of granite which although a little grey and depressing on a rainy day gives the city a clean and bright aspect when the sun shines. The city preserves the so-called Aberdeen Maiden, the forerunner of the French guillotine, in the Tolbooth. Aberdeen granite shown right...

Made famous by the comedy film Whisky Galore, Barra is the most southern of the major islands that make the chain that is the Outer Hebrides. There are frequent flights but as it has no airstrip, planes land on the beach at Cockle Strand.

C coach, climate, children, castles, Celtic (or seltic?), car rental, coos! And clans. Currency - see money clothing; We always recommend bringing plenty of layers as the weather can be changeable throughout the day even in summer. A waterproof is essential. Please check the local weather from our link under weather section.

Clothing advice: in Scotland our weather can be very varied, from all four seasons in one day, to really hot sunny days, to a wee bit chilly and rain. Always bring a light waterproof jacket, we recommend you bring layers, so you can dress as per the weather. A selection of smart casual and casual is ideal (in city restaurants you may feel more comfy in smart/casual - rather than jeans, trainers/sneakers)

Clydebank has a "modern" name, coined in the 19th century. The liners Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth I & II were launched here although little of this ship-building heritage remains in the town today. During the second world war the town was severely bombed.

Dunbarton. The Cutty Sark was launched here in 1869. Dumbarton's name means "fort of the Britons" referring to the unassailable rock on which Dumbarton Castle stands which was the capital of the 6th century kingdom of Strathclyde which stretched from Loch Lomond to Lancashire. Rebuilt many times the present castle is of 18th century design Mary Queen of Scots lived there as a child and the garrison was loyal to her in later life. Also Dunstaffnage - where Paul was born! let's not forget eh!!!

shown left: Eilean Donan Castle, a stunning location and a must see visit for anyone remotely in the area! A castle Liz likes to call alien donan, och well!

E elevators - we call them lifts, Edinburgh, English ( people and language), en suite (private bathrooms)

Edinburgh (above) fully deserves its status as a world-class city. The centre setting of Princes Street overlooking the gardens with the castle rising on its volcanic rock above is just one of the delights of Scotland's capital city (which it became in 1347 when it superceded Perth). The city dates back to settlements before Roman times and the Castle is at least a thousand years old. The biggest arts festival in the world is held in Edinburgh in late summer which also hosts the tattoo.

Meaning "speckled church", Falkirk, which lies close to the roman Antonine Wall, is a translation of the town's original Gaelic name, Egglesbreth. Two major battles were fought nearby - the first in 1298 saw the defaet of William Wallace at the hands of Edward I. The second in 1746 saw Prince Charles Edward Stuart defeat General Hawly.

G guides - mclean scotland can supply, Great Britain , Guest Houses, ghost tours

Glasgow the largest city in Scotland. The city has the most complete cathedral in Scotland, originally began in 1123. The University was founded in 1450, and was moved in the 19th century to its present site to escape the then bad air of the city centre. The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum houses many important works of art as does the Burrell Collection, a recently added attraction. Also home to Colin.

Holy Island. The island gets its name from St Molaise, a follower of St Columba, who is reputed to have resided on it. A mile long and over a thousand feet high. The Saint's Cave about 30 feet above sea-level is inscribed with millenia of scribblings including a short Runic message. Hairdryers; Many accommodations provide hairdryers however they often tend to be basic. We recommend bringing your own, however it is very important that you ensure the hairdryer is dual voltage, a travel adaptor itself does not ensure a hairdryer will work in Scotland. Alternatively purchase a cheap hairdryer locally.

Iona, a small island off the south-western edge of Mull, was chosen by St Columba as a religious centre in 563. Although a place of peace and tranquillity, the island has seen its share of violence: at the hands of the Vikings, who killed 68 monks at what is now known as Martyrs' Bay in 806, and during the Reformation when all the buildings were dismantled and 350 of the island's crosses destroyed. Many Scottish, Norwegian and Irish monarchs are buried here although none of these crypts survive. Much smaller than its neighbour, it is interesting to note that in geological terms Iona is much older than Mull.

Irons; Many accommodations provide irons however not all do. We recommend bringing a travel iron with an adaptor.

J Jacobites, this comes from the Latin for James. A Jacobite would have been a follower of James, who was also the father of Bonnie Prince Charlie

Jura. Stretching for thirty miles and at most nine miles wide, the southern half is dominated by the famous "paps" (breasts), mountains over 2500 feet high. The island has only one road, from the ferry crossing to Islay at Feolin to about two thirds up the eastern coastline.

K Kilmartin Glen, above - THE location for ancient Scots history dating back thousands of years. Standing stones, burial cairns, hilltop fort, Knights Templar graves, it's all here!

Loch Katrine is secluded with only a private road around one shore and with surrounding hills, the highest of which is the rocky Ben Venue. The loch forms part of the water supply for the city of Glasgow. Sir Walter Scott's The Lady of the Lake is associated with its waters. Nearby is the road that leads to Glengyle, the birthplace of Rob Roy.

L Lowlands, lifts (elevators), links and long summer days - in our summer the daylight hours can last until 9.30 - 10pm, even longer on Orkney! LUGGAGE - for those on coach tours with mcleanscotland, can we ask you limit your luggage to one large piece (for the hold) and one small carry on (cabin), per person. For those of you who are travelling on after Scotland to another European country, please check with your flight provider the luggage allowance limits. Laundry; Hotels and other accommodations generally don’t provide this service so we advise you to either wash items by hand or bring clothing you can wear more than one day. Launderettes are only available in larger towns and cities.

Loch Lomond is the most accessible of the larger Scottish lochs being only twenty miles away from Glasgow. The loch also has some inhabited islands.

Loch Morar is deeper than the Atlantic shelf off the mainland, and like that other deep loch is reputed to have its own monster, Morag. Morag's sinister reputation is based on the belief that whenever she is sighted it heralds the death of a member of the local branch of the MacDonald clan.

In 1746, Prince Charles Edward Stewart wandered the shores of the loch after his defeat at Culloden and one of his followers, Lord Lovat, was captured on one the loch's islands, and later beheaded. Although very close to a fairly shallow sea, it is the deepest lake in Europe, reaching a depth of over 1000 feet.

Nessie. The first sighting of the monster was in the 6th century by St Columba but it wasn't until the 20th century that the legend resurfaced. The depth of the loch, which at its maximum is deeper than the North Sea and most of the Atlantic Ocean, has so far prevented the mystery being explained. Urquhart Castle near the home of the loch's "nessie" exhibitions, Drumnadrochit, is a popular spot for visitors

Although relatively small in population, the fishing port of Oban is an important gateway to many of the Scottish islands as well as being a pretty town in a location of great natural beauty. Above the town like a stone tiara sits McCaig's Folly, an unfinished building intended to be a museum or art gallery. Its construction however, rather than folly, was a constructive way of providing locals with work during lean periods. Near to the town is the ruin of the 12th century McDougall stronghold, Dunollie Castle

Perth, the capital of Scotland until the assassination of James I in 1437, Perth was once known as St Johnstoun, the name which the city's football team now bears. It was a focal point for many of Scotland's early historical events and has associations with Cromwell, John Knox and both Jacobite risings. Built on the River Tay, the city's central location gives it an unparalleled advantage as a base for tourists, a fact which perhaps explains the high number of antique and gift stores in the area.

Queensferry is a divided community with no longer a common purpose. On the South side is the famous Hawes Inn, mentioned in Sir Walter Scott's The Antiquary, and where Robert Louis Stevenson is said to have began Kidnapped in room 13. A recently opened aquarium also attracts visitors. However it is the view of the rail bridge from both North and South which most people stop to gaze at.

A very old Royal Burgh, Renfrew gives the Prince of Wales the title of Baron, and is considered to be the "cradle" of the Royal Stewarts. The nearby Inchinnan Church was once the property of the Knights Templar and there are graves from that order in the churchyard.

Stirling was formerly known as the gateway to the highlands as the last bridge crossing the Forth before it widens was here for many centuries. The castle, in which many Scottish royals were born, crowned and died, dominates the town, and the view from it across the large flat western glen is superb. The city retains much of its medieval shape although modern shopping areas make it a busy place to wander at the weekends. Nearby is the famous Wallace Monument.

T traffic lights, twin rooms, tipping, themed tours, tour itineraries, tour notes, toilets (rest rooms)

Troon is a tidy and affluent centre, and home of the Royal golf course where the British Open has been played many times. The beach is one of the biggest in Scotland with shallows which stretch far out. A new catamaran service to Ireland has recently been added to the harbour. Just off-shore is Lady Isle.

U underground ghost tours - Edinburgh is world famous for it's underground ghost tours!

Almost a Mull in minature the island of Ulva lies close to the larger island in its great western bay. Once with a population of 600 it was cleared of people like much of Scotland in the 19th century and now only has a dozen. Descended from those cleared were Andrew Macquarrie, often called "the father of Australia" and the explorer David Livingstone.

By the 1960s the island of Vatersay, the second biggest of the Barra group of islands, was a community in rapid decline. With a population of less than 100 (from 240 in the 1930s) it looked set to become what it once had been, an island farm run from Barra. However a causeway completed in 1991 now links the two islands, forming a permanent bond and making the two communities stronger.

W wonderful scenery, weekend tours and breaks, whisky not whiskey. WEATHER IN SCOTLAND www.bbc.co.uk/weather

A Royal Burgh and formerly the principal town of the old district of Wigtownshire, Wigtown is a village above a derelict pier on Wigtown Bay. In 1685 two women, Margaret McLauchlan and Margaret Wilson were drowned in the bay because of their covenanting beliefs and a stone commemorates their martyrdom on the shore. In 1858 a further memorial was erected on a hill above the town. In recent years the town has advertised itself as Scotland's Book Town

Y y not book now! y book with us rather than elsewhere? because we are the best!

mcleanscotland are local Scots who pride ourselves on showing you the nooks & crannies other tours companies pass on by. We can show you those hidden gems even Scots do not know!