Tartan Rules OK!

Published 15 Jun 2011 09:30 0 Comments

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WALTER Scott is perhaps the man most blamed for the romanticised image of Scotland which has served the tourist industry so well since he organised the visit of King George IV to Edinburgh in 1822.

The appearance of the King kitted out in a fantastic version of Highland dress complete with salmon-pink leggings resulted in a huge boom for the tartan industry with everything from tin trays to carpets appearing and it set a trend which Scotland has never been able to shake or and indeed has probably never really wanted to shake off.

Few tourists will leave Scotland for home without something tartan in their bags be it a twee tartan clad doll, a pack of playing cards, a tartan Nessie or even a full kilt outfit.

Tartan rules OK... But there is still room for souvenirs of a very different hue, beautiful, quaint, cute items which even the Scots would be proud to have in their homes!

Gift Wrapped and Gorgeous offer a stunning collection of landscape art photography which capture the breathtaking beauty of Scotland. Available as a mounted print, a canvas wrap or an amazing acrylic wall piece these prints would make a gorgeous focal point for any room.

Dear to the heart of many an exiled Scot is the memory of the Tunnocks Teacake. And now they can live the memory if not the taste every day with a funky pop-art inspired design based on the iconic Tunnocks teacake foil wrapper. Offered by hunkydory home and made of 100% cotton it was designed by Gillian Kyle and makes a tremendous souvenir.

Stags are an enduring image in people's minds when it come to Scotland and while stag horn bottle openers make functional mementoes there are other possibilities - like the stag mirror which would sit proudly above any mantle piece and replaces the conventional hunted stags heads, which adorn traditional stately homes. The mirror represents a modern twist on a traditional idea, providing a quirky yet sophisticated design, which fits into any home, classic or contemporary.

Or then there is the stag clock a very modern take on a traditional look. The black stag shaped clock with brass hands and pendulum movement is made in black powder coated steel. British designed. Little fashion statements in tartan never go amiss and scarves are always useful accessories. Take the Purple and pink check tartan designer ladies scarf. This eye catching scarf is designed and handmade in Scotland from merino wool and silk. There are 10 different colours available so that you can choose the colour to best match your style. Exclusive to Aye Do.

And finally - who could resist Scottish Rubber McDuck for the patriotic person who has everything!

This article appeared in Eastwood Mercury 15 Jun 11