Around The Coast of Britain, Part Three Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. As we travel west along the Solway Firth, away from Gretna Green, we pass the Mull of Galloway, the most southerly point of Scotland. Here, we begin to travel north. Out in the Firth of Clyde is a small volcanic island. What is it called?

Answer: Ailsa Craig

Ailsa Craig is a volcanic island two miles in circumference and approximately 338m high. The island was famed as a place where granite was quarried to make curling stones. There is a lighthouse on the eastern side and a ruined tower of unknown origins on the top. The rock is a plug of an extinct volcano that is thought to have been active some 500 million years ago.

2. We travel up the Firth of Clyde, and we come to a town that was a Royal burgh from 1205 until 1975. Just to the north is one of Glasgow's two airports, and the town looks out across to the Isle of Arran. Where are we?

Answer: Ayr

When Ayr was first settled is not certain, but a castle was built there in 1197. According to legend, in the 13th century, William Wallace burned some English soldiers to death in barns where they were staying. Ayr was occupied by the English between 1301 and 1312. In the middle ages Ayr was a busy port, and despite the plague striking the town seven times in one hundred years from 1545, the population continued to grow and prosper.
The airport, just to the north, is Glasgow Prestwick.

3. The Firth of Clyde, eventually turns into the River Clyde and heads towards Glasgow. This part of Scotland is synonymous with a particular industry. Which one?

Answer: Shipbuilding

There have been many shipyards along the banks of the Clyde, and many famous vessels have been built there. The main towns involved in the industry were Glasgow, Clydebank and Dumbarton, there was also a yard at Greenock which built the SS Persia. Other famous vessels which were 'Clydebuilt' were the Lusitania, the Cutty Sark and the first three of the 'Queens'. Mary, Elizabeth and Elizabeth II.

4. Much of the western, Atlantic, coast of Scotland is rugged and sparsely populated. Off this coast are many islands including Jura, Islay and Mull where some of the best single malt whisky is produced. Our destination, however is even further north, and farther out into the Atlantic Ocean. We are in the Western Isles. What is the other name for this group of islands?

Answer: Outer Hebrides

The main islands comprising this group are, from north to south, Lewis and Harris, North Uist, Benbecula, South Uist and Barra. They are separated from the mainland by a stretch of turbulent water called The Minch. The main industry of the islands is fish farming.

5. On the very far north coast of Scotland we pass the most north westerly point of Britain at Cape Wrath and continue heading east. Just before the town of Thurso, which is the northernmost town on the mainland, we arrive at the home of a nuclear research establishment. Which of the listed facilities is it?

Answer: Dounreay

Dounreay is home to a number of research reactors, some owned and operated by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, and some by the Ministry of Defence. The first reactor was commissioned in 1955. Within the grounds are the ruined remains of Dounreay Castle. It was in existence in 1614, and still occupied in 1863, but was derelict by 1889.
The nuclear facility is part of a scheduled decommissioning programme, and is expected to be returned to a 'brown field' site by the year 2336.

6. Just across the Pentland Firth from Thurso and John O'Groats, are the Orkney Islands. This is a small group of islands, and contains a 137m tall sea stack called The Old Man of Hoy. It is also the location of a famous natural anchorage that has been is use for over 1000 years. What is the name of this stretch of water?

Answer: Scapa Flow

At over 140 square miles, Scapa Flow is one of the great natural anchorages in the world. It was used by the Vikings and was the northern home of the Royal Navy during both World Wars. The British Grand Fleet first moved to Scapa Flow shortly before World War I in response to a build up of the German Imperial High Seas Fleet.
It closed as a naval base in 1956.

7. We enter the Moray Firth, which is the largest firth in Scotland. At the far end lies a city which gives us access to the northern end of Loch Ness. It was near to this city that the Battle of Culloden took place in 1746 during the Jacobite Rising of 1745/6. What is the name of this city?

Answer: Inverness

The name Inverness literally means 'mouth of the River Ness'. It was a Pictish stronghold and was visited by St Colomba in AD565 with the intention of converting the Pictish king Brude to Christianity. In September of 1921 Inverness hosted the only UK Government Cabinet meeting to be held outside of London. David Lloyd George, the then prime minister, was on holiday, and called the meeting to discuss the situation in Ireland at the time.

It was shortly after this meeting the the Irish Free State came into being in 1922.

8. We leave the Moray Firth and for a short time head east, at the town of Fraserburgh we turn the corner and begin to go south. We pass the easternmost town in mainland Scotland, Peterhead, and the early 19th century lighthouse at Buchan Ness. We arrive at our destination, which is Scotland's third largest city. Where have we landed?

Answer: Aberdeen

Aberdeen, nicknamed the Granite City, has, since the 1970s, and the discovery of North Sea oil, been heavily involved in that industry. There is evidence that the area has been inhabited for at least 8000 years. This is probably because of its proximity to the rivers Dee and Don. In the late 13th and early 14th Centuries, Aberdeen was under English rule until it was besieged by Robert the Bruce in 1308.
Until the discovery of oil in the North Sea, Aberdeen relied on its traditional 18th Century industries, including paper making which was first started in 1694.

9. As we continue to travel south from the easternmost town in mainland Scotland, Peterhead, we cross the Tay Firth, site of a famous railway disaster close to Dundee in 1879, when a bridge collapsed, with the loss of 75 lives. The famous golf course of St Andrews is also on this coast. We finally arrive at the last major city on the east coast of Scotland, Perth.

Answer: False

Where we arrive at is Edinburgh, Scotland's capital. Perth lies at the end of the Firth of Tay. Edinburgh is on the the southern banks of the Firth of Forth. It became the capital of Scotland in 1437 when it replaced Scone. In August of each year it is host to a major arts festival that is known the world over.

A popular part of the festival is the Military Tattoo which attracts bands and display teams from all around the world.

10. We have completed our trip around the coastline of Britain, which has taken us on a journey of around 12,000km. We have re-entered England at the town of Berwick-on-Tweed, a town which has changed hands between England and Scotland on numerous occasions. Not far to the south, and just off the coast, lies a small island, one of several with the name of Holy Island. This one gave its name to a folk group that started in 1969, and was still recording in the early part of the 21st century. What is the name of this island?

Answer: Lindisfarne

Lindisfarne is one of the very early centres of Christianity in the north of England. The monastery was founded by St Aidan around AD 635. Aidan had been sent to the northeast of England by King Oswald. At the time he was living on Iona, an island off the west coast of Scotland. Late in the 8th Century there was a Viking raid on the island, and this is seen to be the start of the Norse invasion of Britain.

Source: Author romeomikegolf

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

This third, and final, part will be concerned with Scotland. It will begin on the west coast and take us all the way round until we, finally, get back to England.

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>