Things you didn't know about... Kinross-shire

A different kind of tea party in Kinross-shire
In July Kinross-shire pays host to the biggest music festival in Scotland, T in the Park. The event now attracts 70,000 people who party for three days while seeing some of the best music acts in the world.

Mary Queen of Scots was held here under loch and key
In 1567 Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned in Kinross-shire, at Leven Castle on Loch Leven, after the Scottish nobility turned against her. The following year she escaped and fled to England, but was jailed there too, before finally being executed in 1587.

Kinross-shire—a master of reinvention
Administratively, Kinross-shire has gone through many changes. It was the second smallest county of Scotland until 1975, when it became part of the Tayside region. In 1996 things changed again, and it became part of Perth and Kinross.

Water, water, everywhere water...
Kinross-shire is dominated by Lock Leven. The freshwater loch is the largest in lowland Scotland. As it is nutrient-rich it attracts all sorts of wildlife, but it's only 4m deep on average, so it's not a good place for a monster to hide!

Curling history was made in Kinross-shire
Kinross curling club is thought to be the oldest curling club in the world, having been founded in 1668. Furthermore, Kinross-shire has played host to a "Grand Match", also known as a "bonspiel". In 1959 this famous curling event, which traditionally pits the north and south of Scotland against each other, was held on Loch Leven. Since that date only two other Grand Matches have been held—neither of which took place in Kinross-shire, as weather conditions have not been sufficiently cold to freeze the loch.

You should duck for cover when in Kinross-shire
Loch Leven has the highest concentration of breeding ducks in the UK. Migratory geese and swans also come here each winter.

Kinross-shire used to have just half a politician
Between 1708 and 1832, Kinross-shire and Clackmannanshire took turns to return a member to the UK parliament, as both counties were considered too small to each have a permanent MP.