Scotland has an exceptionally rich and diverse linguistic heritage, and much of that heritage is preserved in place-names. This SCOTNOTE Study Guide will help students and teachers to unfankle the place-names of Scotland, and to develop an understanding of not only where we live but also a sense of where we have come from, who was here before us, and how they left their mark. Place-names provide an accessible historical, environmental and linguistic resource for students at all levels.

As well as discovering Scotland’s rich multilingual and multicultural past, learning about place-names will also enhance language skills, including the skills for learning other languages. With additional cross-curricular links to History and Geography, the study of Scottish place-names is an ideal topic for interdisciplinary learning.