DK Travel : Scotland : History & Culture

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Gallery of Modern Art

Or, more correctly, a “Gallery of Astonishment”. Some works are awesome and immediately grab your attention, others are deviously clever and quite a few are outrageously funny. A modern collection, then, that positively begs for mass appeal. Exhibits change frequently, but the ethos remains essentially the same. Look out for Laurence Stephen Lowry’s Seascape , which although does not feature Lowry’s trademark “matchstick” people, it does symbolize his sense of complete despair and isolation.
Gig on the Green

All-day rock concert on Glasgow Green with a star-studded line up (mid/late-Aug).
Glamis Castle

This 17th-century fairytale castle is best known for its literary associations: Duncan’s Hall provided the setting for the King’s murder in Shakespeare’s Macbeth . It also has a famous secret chamber and was the childhood home of the late Queen Mother. Rooms represent different periods of history and contain fine collections of armour, furnishings and tapestries. There’s said to be a ghost about, too. The gardens were laid out by the great 18th-century landscape gardener “Capability” Brown.
Glamis Castle

A royal residence since 1372, this is a magical castle (see Glamis Castle) . A mass of towers and turrets, ancient treasures and a link with Shakespeare’s Macbeth – could you ask for any more in a castle?
Glasgay

One of the UK’s largest gay and lesbian festivals (1–14 Nov approx, Glasgow).
Glasgow Cathedral and Necropolis

Immense and ancient, this cathedral was ranked by the Pope in 1451 as equal in merit to Rome as a place of pilgrimage. Founded around 1250 and completed a century later, it has been in continuous use since then and can boast original roof timbers. The choir screen is unique in Scotland, and the stained glass exceptional. On a hill to the cathedral’s east looms the Necropolis, an extravagance of tombstones, crowned by a monument to John Knox (see John Knox’s House) .
Glasgow Jazz Festival

A jamboree that swamps the city with devotees of jazz and supplies top international musicians. Venues range from theatres to pubs, clubs and ad hoc stages.
Highland Dancing

Vital ingredients of any Highland Games are the young, kilted dancers competing on stage. They leap and turn, endeavouring to execute the varied steps perfectly in time to pipe music. Among the most common are the Sword Dance, performed over crossed blades, and the Highland Fling. Look out, too, for demonstrations of the ancient tradition of step dancing, now being revived.
Highland Games

These are great summer spectacles that take place in communities across the land. Most popular are the kilted strongmen in the “heavy events”, which include hurling monstrous hammers and tossing the caber. This is a tree trunk that must be lifted vertically, carried at a trot and tossed so that it turns end over end. Packed with bagpipes, dancers and athletes, these games are an essential part of any visit.
Hogmanay, Edinburgh

THE PARTY! Crowds pack Princes Street (ticket only) and the castle is lit up by fireworks (31 Dec).