Tayside Region lies in eastern Scotland. It is dominated by the city of Dundee, where about half of the region’s people live. Dundee is an industrial town, but most of the region is rural. Tayside Region covers an area of 2,895 square miles (7,500 square kilometers).
Economy.
Dundee is one of Scotland’s most important manufacturing cities. Dundee’s leading industries are textiles and publishing. The jute industry dominated the town during the years between the end of World War I in 1918 and the beginning of World War II in 1939. In recent years, the industry has broadened its scope. It now makes many products in addition to traditional jute sacking. It also uses fibers other than jute, including such synthetic fibers as polypropylene.
The Dundee printing and publishing industry produces local newspapers and a wide range of popular national magazines. Dundee’s newer industries include engineering and the production of electronics goods, textiles, and tires. During the early 1970’s, Dundee became an important supply center for the North Sea oil industry.
Agriculture plays an important part in the region’s economy. The chief agricultural activity is the raising of beef and dairy cattle. Tayside Region also produces raspberries and similar soft fruits. Some soft fruit goes into making jams and preserves. Farmers also export much soft fruit to other parts of Europe. New crops grown in the region include vegetables and bulbs.
Tourism is important in the western part of the region. With the development of winter sports facilities, tourism has become an all-year industry. Facilities are also good for fishing, hill climbing, and water-skiing.
Land.
A major geological feature called the Highland Boundary Fault runs across Tayside Region. To the north and west of the fault line is a mountainous area with peaks reaching up to about 4,000 feet (1,200 meters). This area includes the Grampians. To the south and east of the fault line is lowland, with fertile soils. The lowland is broken by the Sidlaw and Ochil hills, which lie between a broad valley called Strathmore and the coast. These hills rise to a maximum height of 2,350 feet (716 meters).
Most of the region’s rivers are tributaries of the River Tay, which is the longest river in Scotland. The upper parts of the river are important for hydroelectric power generation. A dam at Pitlochry is a popular tourist attraction. It has a salmon ladder by which fish can go above the dam. The region has some picturesque lochs (lakes) among the mountains.
History.
The region was probably important during the Iron Age. A large number of carved stones, found in all parts of the region, indicate that it was a major trading and cultural center for an early people called the Picts.
At Scone, near Perth, Scottish kings were crowned on the Stone of Destiny until the reign of James IV. Perth was Scotland’s capital for a time. Both Perth and Dundee were involved in the Scottish wars of independence.
Perth and Dundee also became involved in warfare at the time of the English Civil War of the 1640’s. The Scots sided with Parliament against Charles I but rebelled after he was executed. Oliver Cromwell’s troops severely damaged both Perth and Dundee in 1651. Dundee suffered an economic disaster, and took more than a hundred years to recover.
In 1689, John Graham of Claverhouse, called “Bonnie Dundee,” defeated the army of William III at Killiecrankie, near Pitlochry. Perth and Dundee were both active during the Jacobite uprisings in 1715 and 1745. But during the 1745 Jacobite uprising, the people of Dundee feared another economic disaster and turned against the rising.
