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Move over Silicon Valley because Scotland has its own high tech sector. While not technically a glen as it covers a much wider area than just one valley, it is one of Scotland’s most bustling, technological advancement sectors covering anything from the manufacturing of semiconductors to research and development with wireless internet service providers.

Tracing its origins back to as early as 1943, Silicon Glen was home to plants for UK electrical engineering corporations like Ferranti but other corporations soon followed suit including popular computer company IBM, the Motorola multinational telecommunications company and even Rockstar North; developers of more than a few video games you or your children may be familiar with. Do the GTA or Lemmings franchises ring any bells? Today the area continues to grow with both companies and activity. Motorola, one of the leading providers of smartphone technology, cable television and wireless broadband networks, is no longer there but as the industry moves forward, the names and faces of companies are always changing.

Whether you’re a tourist or a citizen and whether your interests are in wireless internet or electronics in general; should you ever find yourself in Scotland then you really ought to give Edinburgh a try.

The first recorded history of Scotland began with the Roman Empire, who established the southern portion of Great Britain as the Roman province of Britannia. Eventually, the Romans abandoned Britannia, leaving at least two indigenous peoples behind: The Picts in the north east and the Celtic Britons in the south. The history of Scotland was a tumultuous one, beginning with the invasion of the Gaels, the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse in the 5th to 8th century. The Picts and Scots joined forces under the threat (…More…)

Scottish History Abounds In The Town Of Melrose

The Scottish town of Melrose is filled with both Celtic and Roman history. Roman and pre-Iron Age ruins are abundant in the Tweed Valley and near the River Tweed. In the north west of Melrose stands one of the unique Scottish dry-stone round towers, Torwoodlee. This land was inhabited by the broch-lairds who may have been put there by the Romans to watch over the sheep pastures. The historic Melrose Abbey also lies in this town. The heart of (…More…)

Scotland has almost 800 islands, only 130 of which have inhabitants on them. Scotland itself is actually very small, it has water on three sides and the only land border is with England. In the summer months, June through July, the sun can last past 9 p.m. During the summer Scotland has many festivals and sporting events. The Highland Games take place in August. There are many different events like kiddie rides, pipe bands, tug-of-warm, battle re-enactment, and much (…More…)

The Bridge of Don or The Brig o’ Balgownie Bridge was built in the 13Th century in Scotland. The arched bridge looks like a bishops miter with the conical center shape. The Bridge of Don was built to cross the River Don in Aberdeen, Scotland. Since Scotland was a Christian country at the time, the architecture chosen was not Roman but influenced by Christian symbolism and is said to have been designed by a bishop. The Bridge of Don was started by (…More…)

The area around Edinburgh has been settled at least since the Bronze Age. Later, when the Romans arrived, the Celts were already established in the vicinity. Over the following centuries, the Edinburgh area was influenced by Angles, Picts, and the Scots, who finally gained permanent control around AD 950. The town itself probably came into official existence some time in the 11th century, and King David I of Scotland granted land to a church there in 1124.

Edinburgh flourished under Scottish control, and became the capital of (…More…)