Scotlandisauniqueandaustereplace，ladenwithhistory，whereyoucanfindaristocraticpalacesandcastles，aswellasthetraditionalparadesinnationalcostumes.IthassomeofthemostbeautifulcitiesinEurope，alivingtestimonyofaproudandsplendidpast.InordertoseeanddiscoverthetruesoulofScotlandtoday，whatforgedthecharacterofthissplendidregion，wehavetogotowardsthenorthernregions，totheGrampianMountains.Beautifulandunspoiled，itwasdifficulttofarm.TheScotssubduedtheenvironmentwithsimplespadesandstrongarms.Thehistoryofthisancientstruggle，anditspeople’Sancientloveaf-fairwiththehardland，isenclosedwithinthewallsoftheAhgusFolkMuseum.Youareabletogetafeelofthetypicalruralatmosphereoftimespastfromtheeverydayartifactsdisplayedhere.FromcoastalAber—deenintowardstheinterioroftheGrampianMountmnsthererunstheCastleTrail，aroadthattouchesonmanyfortresses，whicharewitnessesofcontinualrevoltsagainstthedominionofneighboringEnglandinScot—tishhistory.PerhapsthemostupliftingmomentforScottishautonomyistheoneexperiencedinsidethisancientabbeyofArbroath，where，in1320；theDeclarationofIndependencewascelebrated，attheinstigationofKingRoberttheBruce.HecarriedouttheplanforautonomydrawnupbythegreatpopularheroWilliamWallace，towhomcinemahasdedicatedwonderfulfilm“BraveHeart”，thewinneroffiveOscars.ThisisGlamisCastle.ItisoftenrememberedforbeingtheresidenceofKingMacbethandQueenElizabethinherchildhood.Amongthemostassiduousguestsherearetheinevitableghosts，whicharenourished，ifnotactuallycreated，byancientpopularbeliefs.Thesehavebeenhandeddownoverthecenturiesbyapeopleinclinedtolivewithmystery，withtheforcesofthesupernatural.Anotherattractionhereisalegendarymort-ster：theLochNessMonster.Isitrealorimaginary，thismons~r，whichhasbeennicknamedNessie，hascollectedagood3000sightingsoverthelast50years.Tofuelthedebateaboutthemonster，andperhapsalsocuri—osityaboutthelake，apriceof500，000poundssterlinghasbeenputonNessie’Shead.ThetrueflagofScotland，tartan，isrecognisablefromthebrightlycolouredplaidpatternswhichareusedtodistinguishthevariousclans.O—verthelastfewdecadesthisfabrichasmadeacomebackandispartofthedailylifeofthiscountry.ThetypicalScottishgarment，thekilt，isderigeurwhentheScotsplaytheGreatHighlandbagpipes，especiallywhentheymarchinpa—rades.Bagpipesanddancingopenthecompetitionsoflocalsportinge—vents，whicharecalledHighlandGatherings.Thegames，whichhavestrangerules，involveaspiritthathasmoretodowithbruteforcethanWithathletjcsari