The Scottish landscape makes up about one third of the United Kingdoms landmass although it only has around 10% of the population, around 5.2 millions.
The Scottish coastline is around 13,000 kilometres or over 8 thousand miles including the islands which number around 500 of which around 150 are lived on.
From the English border to the furthest point north on the mainland it is 570 km or 350 miles ( by road ).
Scotland had its own Reigning Monarchs until 1603 when James 6th of Scotland, son of Mary Queen of Scots, ascended the English throne on the death of his cousin, twice removed, Queen Elizabeth 1st. Although occupying both thrones it was to take another hundred years until both countries joined together with the Act of Union in 1707.
The current prime minister, Gordon Brown, is Scottish, his school is about a mile away from my house. His father was the local Baptist minister.
Edinburgh is our capital with about half a million population although Glasgow is our largest city with around 700,000.
Scottish paintings by Scottish artists in Scotland