It's fair to say that Scotland is loved around the world, with its breathtaking scenery, rich history and colourful characters there are plenty of reasons to.
Though most people will know all about our national food, our famous monster and our love of tartan, there are plenty of other intriguing facts waiting to be discovered.
Did you know we have a very fascinating creature as our national animal or that we invented one of the world's most famous sports?
From Nessie's lesser-known cousin to the real Braveheart, here are some quirky facts and insights that will make Scotland even more appealing.
1. The Scots language has a word for when you are introduced to someone whose name you can't recall
That awkward moment has a name - tartle.
2. Scotland is home to some very strange names for meals including crappit heid and festy cock
The former is a dish made using the heads of cods steamed in seawater and the second is a type of pancake that was originally made by Scots monks to mark Shrove Tuesday.
3. The world’s first colour photograph was taken in Scotland
Taken by Scottish scientist James Clerk Maxwell in 1861, it was perhaps suitably, a picture of a tartan ribbon.
4. The coastline of Mainland Scotland is 6,160 miles long
This is three times longer than England's, and would increase to over 10,250 miles if you included all of the islands.
5. The inspiration behind Rap battles originated in Scotland
The medieval art of 'flyting', the exchange of insults between two individuals or parties using verse, was said to have travelled to the US via Scots immigrants.
6. The world's only knighted penguin lives at Edinburgh Zoo
Sir Nils Olav, a king penguin, is named after Major Nils Egelien, who organised the original adoption back in 1972. Originally a mascot for the Norwegian Guard, he has since climbed up the ranks to become a Brigadier.
7. King James I of Scotland reportedly died due to his love of tennis
The King loved to play tennis so much that he blocked the drains near to the court to stop his balls from dropping down them. The only problem was, this then left him stuck when he later tried to flee from assassins by escaping through the sewers, leading to them catching and killing him.
8. Both the electric toaster and the fridge were invented by Scots
Scots engineer Alan MacMasters developed the idea for the toaster in 1893, while Hamilton-born Scots scientist William Cullen was credited with the invention of the fridge way back in 1748.
9. Scotland once tried to establish a colony in Panama - in the hopes of building a precursor to the Panama Canal and linking the Atlantic and Pacific
The Darien project, which took place in the late 1690s, was such a spectacular failure that it almost bankrupted the entire country.
10. The world's first televised 'actor' was a ventriloquist dummy called 'Stooky Bill'
Due to John Logie Baird's earliest television system being unable to televise human faces due to the lack of contrast, the Scots inventor hit upon the ingenious idea of using 'Stooky Bill', whose brightly painted dummy features had greater contrast.
11. Batman's alter ego was named after Robert the Bruce
Co-creator and co-writer, Milton "Bill" Finger, stated that Bruce Wayne took his first name from "Robert Bruce, the Scottish patriot."
12. The oldest business in the UK can be found in northeast Scotland
The Aberdeen Harbour Board was established in 1136 and is the oldest company in Britain according to the Guinness book of records.
13. Nessie has. a cousin called Morag, that is the monster of Loch Morar
This large and elusive creature is said to have attacked two fishermen in August 1969. They saw a creature described as around 30ft long with rough brown skin, three large humps and a snake-like head. Loch Morar is even deeper than Loch Ness, more than 1000ft in places.
14. 'Braveheart' was actually the nickname of Robert the Bruce and not William Wallace
Despite what Mel Gibson's film may say, it was actually Robert the Bruce who was Braveheart. His heart is now buried at Melrose Abbey.
15. The Scots have their own Nostradamus in a figure known as the Brahan Seer
Kenneth MacKenzie is claimed to have prophesied the Battle of Culloden, the Highland Clearances and the discovery of North Sea oil.
16. Scotland's motto is 'Nemo me impune lacessit'
Which roughly translates as 'No one provokes me with impunity' - or 'Do it and see what happens to you'
17. Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital, was the first city in the world to have its own fire brigade
The city has always been lauded as one of the most forward-thinking in the world.
18. A beer-drinking elephant once lived in Edinburgh Castle
A mascot brought home by the 78th Highlanders after they returned in 1838 from a post in what is now modern-day Sri Lanka, the elephant lived in the castle's stables where it became fond of beer.
19. The first recorded sighting of the Loch Ness Monster was in 565 A.D.
The first written account of a monster in the loch appears in a biography of St. Columba from 565 AD.
20. The country's highest village is home to not only Scotland's highest pub but also some of the world's purest gold
The mines at Wanlockhead in Dumfries and Galloway produce the precious metal at 22.8 carats.
21. Chicken Tikka Masala originated in Glasgow
This world-famous dish was reportedly invented in Glasgow with chef, Ali Ahmed Aslam, claiming the credit for adding tomato soup and additional spices to a combination of yogurt, cream and spices, after a customer complained that his food was too dry.
22. Irn-Bru contains alcohol
Well, really small amounts. AG Barr confirmed the fact after concerns were raised by the Muslim community in Scotland, however, the amounts are so small as to be virtually negligible meaning everyone could continue to enjoy Scotland's national drink.
23. Robert Burns was the first person to appear on a coke bottle
When Burns' wee face appeared upon special bottles of Cola Cola in 2009, he became the first person to ever appear on them.
Over one million were made to support the Scottish Executive's Homecoming initiative, celebrating 250th anniversary of Burns' birth.
24. The world's oldest football was found wedged in the rafters at Stirling Castle
Found by renovation workers in 1981, it was made from pig bladder covered in leather and is now on display in the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum. The football is thought to date back to somewhere between 1540–1570 and rumours even point to the idea it could have belonged to Mary Queen of Scots.
25. A Scotsman invented basketball
Scots- Canadian Dr James Naismith invented the game in the 1890s while teaching in Massachusetts.
26. Scotland is home to the highest hedge in the world
The Meikleour Beech Hedge was planted near Meikleour in Perthshire in 1745 and is one third of a mile long and 100ft (30m) high.
27. King James IV of Scotland was a keen dentist
During his reign 1473-1513, the inquisitive monarch reportedly paid people to allow him to remove their teeth.
28. The world's shortest scheduled flight is between the islands of Westray and Papa Westray in Orkney
People flying are officially in the air for one and a half minutes, with the flight sometimes taking even less time.
29. Scotland is home to the oldest tree in Europe
The Fortingall Yew is an ancient European yew found in the churchyard of the village of Fortingall in Perthshire, which has been around for 3,000 years.
30. Scottish people are most likely to have blue eyes than any other people in the UK
A recent study found that blue eyes, along with red (ginger) are most common in Scotland.
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