When you take a really in-depth look at a map of Europe, you'll notice that there are many great countries littered around the continent. However, one that we personally believe doesn't get enough credit or recognition is good old Scotland.

It's one of those nations that hold a lot of stereotypes in the eyes of travelers both young and old, and to be honest, a lot of them ring true. Alas, while some may choose to see that as a negative, we're here to celebrate the positive side of Scotland — regardless of whether or not they're considered to be common knowledge.

10 Food

From neeps and tatties to the famous haggis, the one thing that you can never accuse Scotland of (at least when it comes to their cuisine) is being boring. They just know what it means to be proactive and different, which is why the food up there is so controversial.

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Haggis, in particular, sounds like a dish that just shouldn’t work and should be thrown into the trash without a second thought. Upon trying it out, however, the majority of people soon realize the error of their ways.

Don’t worry, it gets us all in the end.

9 The Locals

The locals in any given holiday location possess the power to make or break any given trip, and thankfully, the Scots are fantastic. They have the kind of wit and comedic timing that always makes you crack a smile, regardless of how strong the accent is.

They may come across as being a little bit scary, but in our eyes, that’s just part of their charm. They speak their minds, they protect the ones that they love, and they’re always up for a quick drink and a fun night out at the pub.

8 Whiskey

Scotch whiskey is, in the eyes of many, the main form of whiskey around the world. Hell, even Americans drink Scotch like it’s going out of fashion, and yet, many of them forget to even acknowledge that it originates from Scotland itself.

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There are so many different variations that it’s kind of hard to keep track, so if you’re a fan of the beverage, we can’t think of many better holiday destinations on the face of the planet for you to visit.

Honestly, there’s enough whiskey to last you ten lifetimes.

7 Close To Northern England

Rail connections and travel connections, in general, are incredibly important regardless of where you may be situated. As such, it’s a big bonus for travelers to know that the North of England is located right next door to Scotland – depending on where you are in the country, of course.

You can easily kill two birds with one stone when making your way up or down, with places like Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle being really easy to visit if you so desire.

If you don’t, then that’s fine, but the option is always there.

6 Edinburgh

Glasgow is okay and Dundee is alright, but no Scottish city can even come close to matching the beauty of Edinburgh. The castle alone is enough of a reason to make the trip up there, but beyond that, there’s just so much to love.

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It’s a lot safer than most Scottish cities, the architecture is phenomenal, the tourist destinations are endless, and it’s just generally really chilled out.

If you want the best representation of what it’s like to live up there, then Edinburgh is your best bet by a million miles.

5 Scottish Pride

From bagpipes to kilts and beyond, the Scots make no apologies whatsoever in regards to how they celebrate their culture. They are more than willing to throw their name into the hat when it comes to any kind of Scottish-based activity, and the reason for that is simple: they’re proud of where they come from.

That kind of energy is really intoxicating, especially if you’ve come from places like England or America where the sense of patriotism isn’t really too evident anymore.

They love their home, and god bless them for that.

4 Loch Ness

You may not be interested in finding the Loch Ness Monster, or Nessie as she is more affectionately known, but none of that matters. Loch Ness, in itself, deserves to be visited, in order for you to get a different look at what Scotland has to offer.

It’s so peaceful and seemingly so endless, to the point where you feel like you’re on the edge of the world.

That’s a powerful thing to experience, and when you combine that with the tourism figures that Nessie brings in every year, you’re on to a winner every single time.

3 Highland Cattle

Highland cattle originate in Scotland, with some suggesting that they date back as far as 6th century AD. They were bred in order to withstand the harsh weather of the Highlands, so as you can probably expect, they aren’t the kind of animal you want to mess with.

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They aren’t really overly aggressive which is always nice to see, and from a beauty standpoint, you only need to take one glance in order to really soak in and appreciate these magnificent creatures.

They’re just so special, and they keep the theme of Scottish pride running strong.

2 The Highlands

While the Lowlands tend to be the most populated area of Scotland and are therefore more familiar in pop culture, the Highlands are so unbelievably stunning that we’re surprised half of the planet doesn’t want to pack up their bags and move there.

Perhaps they do, but either way, there isn’t all too much you can fault here. From a natural standpoint, there’s so much to see and take in, and we just think it’s one of those areas that are great for your mental health.

If you get the chance, don’t miss out on heading here.

1 Golf History

We aren’t going to sit here and pretend like everyone reading this is a big fan of golf, but you don’t need to be in order to celebrate the history of something so special. The game dates back to the 15th century in Scotland, which is considered to be the birthplace of the sport.

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Golf has evolved ever since then in more ways than one, but even now, some of the courses that can be found in the country are utterly iconic.

Golf has become a universal sport in every single corner of the planet, and it is certainly interesting to know where all of that began.