Better together! So here are ten things we love about Scotland

Hurrah, the union is saved. We salute our Northern neighbour with a top ten of everything CW loves about her, writes Flora Hughes-Onslow

1. Glasgow's ever-blossoming creative scene

Though perhaps in the past overlooked in favour of its attractive and imposing sister, Edinburgh, Glasgow has blossomed into a creative cultural hub in its own right. The city is brimming with cultural initiatives, including independent curatorial practice Panel and innovative arts resource Trongate 103, the latter housed in a six-storey former Edwardian warehouse, and showcasing everything from kinetic theatre to an authentic Russian restaurant. Then there's Words Per Minute, a spoken word, music, film, and performance forum for both established figures and emerging talent,and exciting creative venue The Glue Factory, which hosts club nights, theatre shows, and exhibitions. Crafting cafés are also popular in Glasgow, and there's a plethora of quirky projects, festivals, and first-rate eateries, such as Crabshakk and The Hanoi Bike Shop. So there's a lot more reason to visit the city that has spawned almost a quarter of all Turner Prize winners than just the Commonwealth Games.

2. The James Plays

Coming to the National Theatre on the 25th September 2014, this thrilling new theatrical trilogy tracks the lives of three Scottish Kings in the fifteenth century, and was a huge hit at this year's Edinburgh Festival. As the first co-production between the National Theatre of Scotland and London's NT, the timing of these three stand-alone works is somewhat ironic, given the raging Independence debate. Boldly written by the ground-breaking Rona Munro, The James Plays promise to be a rich and arresting historical exploration of the lives of James I, II, and III. Read our preview here.

3. The Cairngorms

The mindbogglingly beautiful Cairngorms National Park is a firm bucket list contender, with its dramatic and stark landscape filled with rugged cliff faces, placid lakes and towering mountains. The area has inspired myriad writers and artists, including Scottish novelist and poet Nan Shepherd, and most recently, Sophie Gerrard and her photographic collective Document Scotland, who aim to explore and witness life in Scotland, considering Scottish art and the land that cultivates it.

4. Edinburgh Festival

The world's biggest arts event, Edinburgh Festival brings together and celebrates creativity in all spheres, from experimental dance and theatre, to art and of course comedy at the Fringe. A consistently impressive and thoroughly enjoyable cultural extravaganza, The Edinburgh festival scene should be a highlight on any arts enthusiasts calendar.

5. Food and drink

Though perhaps many of us have felt that enjoying haggis is more a case of grinning and bearing it, Scottish cuisine is famed for its neeps, tatties, shortbread, and of course the delicacy deep fried Mars Bars. Not to mention the world-renowned Scotch whisky (essentially Scotland's national drink), which, having been brewed there for centuries, is more or less unparalleled in quality. The Scottish restaurant scene is equally impressive, with Michelin stars dotted all over the country, and establishments such as The Kitchin in Edinburgh regularly showcasing menus of remarkable and inventive dishes. And this month the Scots are hosting their first ever Terra Madre Scotland event; a celebration of the best artisan food from the Highlands and Islands, all aiming to promote the concept of homegrown 'slow food'. 

6. The golf courses, most especially scenic St Andrews

As home to some of the world's finest golf courses, golf (and the traditional argyle golfer's jumper) are synonymous with Scotland. With countless immaculate and expansive courses, Scotland frequently plays host to international championships such as the Ryder Cup and the Open Championship. And one course that ought to be mentioned is that of the charming seaside town of St Andrews, which also provided the setting for classic historical drama Chariots of Fire .

7. Music

Bringing us endless musical talent including Belle & Sebastian, Emile Sande, Simple Minds, The Jesus & Mary Chain, The Proclaimers, Mogwai, Paolo Nutini, and lest we forget, Susan Boyle, Scotland has long had a thriving music scene. Another important cultural export is the prolific independent singer-songwriter Kenny Anderson, known primarily by his stage name King Creosote, who has just announced an upcoming gig at Islington's Union Chapel.

8. James McAvoy and the Scottish acting diaspora

National treasure James McAvoy is a shining example of modern Scottish talent. Living in London, McAvoy and his wife are National Theatre regulars, and ever since his breakthrough role opposite Forest Whitaker's Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland, he has been routinely inspiring and impressing the industry. Other Scottish names of considerable note are Tilda Swinton, Robbie Coltrane, Ewan McGregor, David Tennant, and Robert Carlyle.

9. The castles

With a landscape littered with epic castles and crumbling ruins, Scotland's grand buildings boast magnificent architecture and unrivalled views, serving as the setting for hundreds of films from parts of the Bond franchise to Four Weddings and a Funeral . These iconic treasures all have a fascinating history dating as far back as the eleventh century, and will transport you back in time with their towering turrets, often gruesome defence mechanisms, and plush interiors. Edinburgh Castle, overlooking the city from an extinct volcano, is well worth a visit for the nation's crown jewels alone, as is Dunnottar Castle – a fortress perched on a cliff-top, James V's Stirling Castle, and Craigievar for its fine baronial architecture.

10. Robert Burns, poetry & literature

Celebrated Scottish poet and lyricist Robert Burns – celebrated to the point that the annual Burns Night is held in his honour – is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland but is just one of a vast swathe of fine Scottish wordsmiths. Counting Robert Louis Stevenson, A. A. Milne, and Carol Ann Duffy among them, Scotland's contributions to literature demonstrate extraordinary quantity as well as quality.

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