Scotland Puzzle

The Common Riding, a Traditional Scottish Festival

By Kay Glasgow

From the Middle Ages the Common Riding or Riding of the Marches was an annual event among Scotland's royal burghs and Borders. Boundary markers were inspected thoroughly by a group on horseback to ensure that no encroachment had occurred. In keeping with the centuries old tradition, many towns have local holidays with specially chosen riders, costumes and pageantry. Some of these towns with common ridings chronicle their local history with photos on the Web. Enjoy June through August horsing around Scotland!

1 Lantern of the North IGLEN
2 Brus Stone returned in 1925 ANNNA
3 largest town of the Borders AHWICK
4Church of St Nicholas has oldest bell in Europe KARLAN
5 Neidpath Castle nearby BESLEEP
6 capital of Orkney LIRKWALK
7 Thirlestane Castle nearby ADLURE
8 home of "Braw Lads' Gathering" ALEGALHISS
9 Hugh MacDiarmid put its festival in poem HANGMOLL
10 Mary, Queen of Scots and James V birthplace OWLINLIGHT
11 location of Scott's novel "St Ronan's Well" THEREINLINEN
12 may be the largest mounted gathering in Europe ELKRISK
13 world's oldest working post office QUASHRAN

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More puzzles can be found at Scotland Puzzle in the archive.

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