1. Edinburgh was the first city in the history of the world to have its own fire brigade. It’s also home to more listed buildings than anywhere else in the world.
2. A motto of Scotland is ‘Nemo me impune lacessit’ which means “No one cuts me with impunity.” The motto is used in conjunction with the national flower, the thistle, indicating that anyone who tries to attack or ‘cut’ it will get a handful of spiky, painful barbs.
3. Sightings of the Loch Ness Monster, or ‘Nessie’ can be traced back to 565 CE, when one of St Columba’s followers was attacked by a ‘water beast.’
4. Greyfriars Bobby, a Skye terrier, reportedly spent 14 years guarding the grave of his owner in Edinburgh. Several films, books and even a statue have been based on the tale.
5.Scotland is home to one of the oldest trees in Europe, the Fortingall Yew, which is estimated to be between 2,000 and 3,000 years old.
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