An unusual but light hearted addition to your Wee Piece of Scotland collection. Scottish people, have their one of a kind sense of humour.  Edinburgh has the Castle and Glasgow has a statue with a traffic cone on its head directly outside the Gallery of Modern Art.   For over 140 years the statue of the Duke of Wellingstone  was just another statue. Until one evening in 1980’s, a traffic cone mysteriously appeared on top of his head. Despite continuous  efforts to remove the cone by the local Council, the cone has remained in place for over 30 years. If the cone is removed it’s only a matter of days until a new one appears.

The term ‘Caber’ derives from the Gaelic word cabar. It is thought the caber toss originated in the Scottish highlands, where large tree beams were tossed across ice-cold streams to provide a temporary bridge. The sport of caber tossing evolved to be a favourite event of the Highland Games held across Scotland. In Scotland, the caber was typically made Larch tree or other softwood trunks.  It measures an impressive  16-20 feet and can weigh a staggering  90-150 pounds. From times gone by, to the present day, the caber toss is a test of strength, endurance, skill, ingenuity, determination and friendly gamesmanship.

Scottish oats are whole oat groats which have been simply harvested in August, cleaned and the oat berry removed from its inedible outer husk. Scottish oat groats are not steamed, rolled or cut like other types of oats, but rather ground.

Oat Groats remain the healthiest way to enjoy oats in your diet because they’re the purest form of the whole oat you can eat. Oat groats can be used in breakfast bowls, mixed with fresh fruits and sweet spreads, added to salads, or savoury dishes, but it’s fair to say the humble bowl of Porridge is what we picture first when talking about Scottish oats.

Scottish parritch (porridge) is synonymous with our country and has been for many a century. Since late medieval times oats have been part of the Scot’s staple diet.

With its many traditions and superstitions Scottish porridge should be made stirred with a wooden stick (known a Spurtle).  In times gone by oat groats would be made into porridge cooked up in a big pot, stirred with a spurtle then poured into ‘drawers’ and allowed to cool, then sliced so it could be eaten throughout the day.  It could be said it was the Scots who invented the first ever take away meal! If you disagree ‘save yer breath tae cool yer parritch’ (hold your tongue or simply say nothing)

Since the days of eloping to Gretna Green, Scotland has been synonymous with romance.  Young couples slipping away together, crossing the Scottish border, where the convenient Blacksmith Shop offered the perfect wedding venue for love struck runaways. The hammering of the ‘Old Smithy’s’ anvil  romantically signifies the forging of couples together in the heat of the moment, binding them together for eternity.    With its historic romantic tales, together with a wealth of ancient  castles, remote wilderness, dramatic landscapes and warm welcomes,  Scotland truly does capture romance in its very own uniquely magical way.

The majestic stag standing proud and strong amounts the hills of Scotland is one of the most commonly associated symbols of Scotland. The mighty stag epitomises power, nobility, freedom and purity and for this reason is a popular motif found on many Scottish clan crests.

Averaging at an impressive 2metres tall the stage is one creature you don’t want to mess with. Although generally a docile and peaceful creatures, during the rutting season a stag with its monumental antlers will quiet happily show us humans who’s the boss.

Stage antlers are the fastest growing animal tissue known in the world and each year the stag grows antlers in the spring then naturally sheds them come winter. Making a day out ‘antler hunting’ a fun past time for the keen eyed rambler.

Malt whisky, Scotch or as it’s more poetically know as ‘The Water of Life’ is one of Scotland’s proudest, pungent and popular crafted products.  Beginning in the early 15^th century, the distillation of Whisky, soon sparked interest from the government through tax collection. Robert Burns, not only was the famous Scottish Bard, but who was also a tax collectors of his day. wrote “Scotch Drink – an ode to whisky and the nature of happiness – of community, cooperation, warmth and a friendly welcome.”  Capturing the true spirit of Scotland in his whiskey inspired words.  The characteristics of every growing Scottish Malt Whisky family, with their deep, smoky, peaty aromas to their more delicate floral and fruit overtones are as captivating and varied as the Scot’s people who produce them.