UK
US'Bonnie' Scotland: 5 reasons to LOVE our Country
Posted by Michael Mortimer on 26th Jul 2017
Home of ‘The World’s Finest Shortbread’! Picture taken at The Queens View, Aberlour.
Can we start by saying that Scotland has got way more going for it than just kilts and bagpipes! Everyday, across the world, people enjoy a proud Scottish achievement.
From our rich history, iconic inventions (i.e. the telephone!) and natural wonders, to our traditional celebrations and of course our pure butter shortbread! There are many reasons why people love Scotland.
Year after year, more people visit our ‘Bonnie’ country, to see firsthand our stunning landscape and its people (including our accents!).
Have we convinced you to visit ‘Bonnie Scotland’ yet?
Well let’s see if we can convince you more by taking a few minutes to bask in Scotland’s greatness with five things that remind us of our country.
Highland Cows
I think a lot of people would agree in saying that Highland Cows (locally pronounced Heilan Coos) are Scotland’s cutest ever export!
Did you know that this fluffy highland animal was originally from the Scottish Highlands and Western Isles of Scotland?
Highland Cows have since been established in many countries and in countries where winters are colder than our own (which is hard to beat!), such as in central Europe and Canada.
And now it seems our beloved Highland Cow has a whole new set of fans, as families stateside in America are increasingly buying them as pets!
SCOTTISH TARTAN
Tartan is a huge part of our country’s history and heritage, and here at Walkers Shortbread we take great pride in showcasing our country’s heritage at the forefront of our brand.
Embroidered in our logo, and across most of our product packaging, we are proud to resemble ‘The World’s Finest Shortbread’ alongside Scottish Tartan.
And who could forget about the knee-length skirt-type garment with pleats... that’s right, a tartan kilt.
It is to our knowledge that Kilts first came about back in the 16th century within the Highlands of Scotland and since the 19th century, they have fast become associated with the wider culture of Scotland. Although there are people who like to wear a kilt daily, it is generally worn at weddings or other formal occasions and may be worn by anyone regardless of nationality or descent.
BAGPIPES (OF COURSE!)
The musical sound that makes you proud to be associated with Scotland…
I think regardless of where you are situated in Scotland, the iconic bagpipe sound will not be too far away, and it's likely you'll hear a parade of pipers before you see them!
Pipers are heavily involved in many Scottish events and celebrations, such as our famous Highland Games. And who could forget… when a piper brings in the New Year with Auld Lang Syne, it sends goose bumps down your body!
From its rich harmonics, to that soaring loving sound that moves people, there are not many reasons not to love bagpipes.
Did you know we have our own piper, in wobbly form containing shortbread?! Well now you do: Walkers Shortbread Wobbly Piper Tin.
LANDSCAPES
When many visitors come to Scotland, the first thing they are taken aback by is our scenery and landscapes.
From towering mountains to beautiful lochs, it really does take your breath away. And we are very fortunate at Walkers Shortbread to be situated in the heart of beautiful Speyside, in the village of Aberlour where we are surrounded by stunning scenery. Take a look at some snap shots of our local area below...
HOME TO 'THE WORLD'S FINEST SHORTBREAD'!
It all began in 1898 when twenty-one year old Joseph Walker opened the doors of his own bakery with a loan of £50 and the ambition to bake 'The World's Finest Shortbread'.
And as the years went by, we continued adding to our line of recipes, producing more than 80 products by the mid-1990s.
Now our founder’s grandchildren and great grandchildren continue the tradition of fine baking that he started all those years ago.
Though since then we have added many new products to our range, each and every product holds the original values of quality and natural goodness.
We take pride in baking the most extensive selection of pure butter shortbreads available – with many varieties and sizes to choose from.
Whether it be the familiar fingers, rounds and petticoat tails or something a little more unusual... have you seen our ‘Scottie Dog’ shortbread or ‘Highland Cow’ shortbread?
We must not forget though that we also bake a range of Scottish delicacies. Our traditional oatcakes, biscuits and cakes and tarts also use only the finest of ingredients and are all packed with Scottish character, both inside and out.
So we close this blog off with one more message… if you haven’t already visited Scotland, we seriously recommend that you do (and take your camera!).
