The previous night as the Picts and Scots prepared for battle they prayed with thoughts of St Andrew who was martyred on a saltire-shaped cross and in the morning before the battle when they saw a white cloud formation of a St Andrews Cross against the blue of the sky. They believed that their prayers for victory had been answered. And were so fearless and inspired that the Angels fled from the scene of the battle and ever since then the Saltire has been displayed as Scotland's sovereign flag.
Royal Aberdeen has two golf courses. The championship course called Balgownie has one of the toughest front-nine holes in golf and gives rise to the question, "Why isn't Royal Aberdeen on the Open Championship rota?"
There's a golf course on the other side of Scotland that most definitely will NEVER be on the Open Championship rota but it's most definitely a must play.
The Jacobite steam train which runs from Fort William to Mallaig, stopping at Glenfinnan and crossing the Glenfinnan viaduct which featured in the Harry Potter movies
It's around here where there is the Glenfinnan Monument which marks the place where in 1745, Bonnie Prince Charlie raised his standard, marking the beginning of the Jacobite Rising.
Traigh is truly one of Scotland's hidden gems which The Scotsman newspaper described as, "Probably the most beautifully sited nine-hole golf course in the world." And it's a bonus that it's on The Road to the Isles and the Mallaig car and passenger ferry which sails to the Isle of Skye.
Going over the sea to Skye takes longer than going by the road bridge however there's the upside of a quick nine holes at Traigh and still time to catch the afternoon ferry. And since by now it may appear that I'm a slightly biased Scotsman I'll leave it to an American to relate the joys of playing Traigh.
Bill Ellis from Alabama in an article called, ‘The Sports Ticket’ writes, "When I die I hope heaven is like Traigh. You would never get bored. Each change in wind and weather makes this nine-hole course a new challenge."