The Story Behind The Scottish National Flag

Consisting of two white lines that create a cross against a backdrop of blue, the Scottish national flag is the pride and joy of Scotland. It is a symbol of a country with a wealth of history, culture and heritage, as well as breath-taking scenery and places to visit.

If you are thinking of visiting Scotland, it is worth learning some of the history, starting with the national flag, which is known as the Saltire, literally meaning ‘a cross with diagonal bars of equal length’.

Believed to have first flown in 1512, the Saltire is said to be one of the oldest flags in Europe. However, it has been traced back to long before that with connections to Saint Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland, who is believed to have been one of Jesus’s apostles. Saint Andrew was crucified, and, according to the folklore, he felt unworthy of being crucified on a cross as Jesus was and instead chose the white saltire, a diagonal cross.

This miracle sighting prompted the Scottish troops to victory, and the white Saltire on the Scottish flag found its place in Scottish history as a symbol of the country and its rich heritage.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.