Things those in England and beyond believe Scotland (light hearted).

[Cryofthecurlew]

Ive moved from England to Scotland and love it here it never ceases to amaze me how little others know or understand about Scotland here are some examples.

1. I think many think Scotland isn't much bigger than the Isle of Wight . E.G. A coupe of friends have come to stay: "I love the programme Shetland can we go to Shetland for the day?" "err no because it 450+ miles away" (I live in Dumfries and Galloway). Friends looks totally stunned. Another can we "pop" into Edinburgh to see the Castle? Again "not really its a 2 3/4 hour drive" Again friends looked totally stunned. One said does the Edinburgh Festival affect your parking? See previous comment.
2. On the other hand we may be the size of the Isle of Wight in many peoples eyes but our distance from the rest of England is huge. One friend happily drove to right down into Cornwall approx 300 miles but said she said as she didn't like "long distance driving' I live just over 300 miles from her she would come to see me on the train which involved 4 changes and someone driving her to a station and me picking her up and took well over 8 hours (we are just over 5 hours by car).

When I drive back to England many say how many stops do you take? Reply 'usually only 1" "Gosh you drive ALL that way and only stop once?" Same friend drove to London 157 miles does stoop at all fair enough but it only double the distance.

1. A very common heard comment: "Of course the Scots hate the English dont you find that difficult?" I have never met such a friendly bunch as the Scots in fact when I go back to England I now wonder what the hell is wrong with everyone because where I live you would always stop and talk to someone you meet. Even in a big city like Glasgow `I find many people smile and acknowledge you when you walk by them.
2. "Nicola Sturgeon is so awful I regularly hear this. I have no views either way and I don't constantly hear my Scottish friends say this even if they dont support independence so I always ask why they don't like her. Nobody seems to be able to explain why they say she's awful.
3. Finally why didn't you move to the Lake District or the Yorkshire Dales its sooo beautiful there? I have lived in many places and know both the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District I agree the scenery is beautiful but I think many Scotland is as beautiful if not more beautiful including where I live and its not heaving in tourists!!

@Tynesider007

That Hadrian's Wall is the boundary between Scotland and England, it's not and it never has been.

Yet thousands of us were taught that in Primary School history... hopefully the education about Scottish history is better in Scotland

Talking if which... the complete confusion that many English people show about the major differences between the two school systems and that it is different in other places...

Spoiler... NI and Wales have different set ups too!

people can be ludicrously ignorant! Day trip to Shetland lol.

We live in the NW and have beautiful countryside within 20 minutes. So many people say "oh you are so close to the lakes, how lovely!" when we'd avoid the Lakes during busy times like the plague, plus it's at least an hour, I guess it looks close on the map!

@drspouse

people can be ludicrously ignorant! Day trip to Shetland lol.

We live in the NW and have beautiful countryside within 20 minutes. So many people say "oh you are so close to the lakes, how lovely!" when we'd avoid the Lakes during busy times like the plague, plus it's at least an hour, I guess it looks close on the map!

I live in the NW too - of England, that is. Very near the centre of the U.K./GB - people are sometimes quite confused if I point this out.

@anothername007

The Scottish do hate the English. Not on a one to one level but on a nation to nation. The most confusing Scottish to English thing I find is how posh Scottish sound English and my OH can tell they they're Scottish! (OH is Scottish)

Do we? Hate the English?

Ah well, your Birmingham update makes it clear that you are talking to people who think anything north of the M25 is the barbarian wilderness.

@ItsCanardBruv

Everyone who lives north of Inverness is thick, racist, uneducated and never been south of Inverness.

I have never met anyone anywhere who thinks that.

I'm English living in England but with a Scottish DH . His family live in the central belt with a few living on on of the hebridean islands.
Friends are always amazed at how long it takes to get to Mull from Bristol. "Why don't you fly up?" is the usual question. Erm, because Mull doesn't have an airport. So we would have to fly to Glasgow, pick up a hire car and then drive the remaining 5 or 6 hours then make the ferry crossing and finally drive up the island from the ferry port to Tobermory on roads that have passing places.

And don't get me started on the people who think that the Mull of Kintyre and the Isle of Mull are one and the same. Paul McCartney you have a lot to answer for

@anothername007

The Scottish do hate the English. Not on a one to one level but on a nation to nation. The most confusing Scottish to English thing I find is how posh Scottish sound English and my OH can tell they they're Scottish! (OH is Scottish)

Is that right?

The English think there's no vegetables in Scotland. As if the English don't have shit diets.

@NightmareSlashDelightful

I'm in a similar position to you; English now living in Scotland. I agree with all of your observations!

An additional thing that has struck me is how so many people (particularly those in the south east of England) seem to think of Scotland like it's a county, just tacked onto the top of Cumbria. So people talk about moving to Cumbria, Lancashire, Northumberland... and 'Scotland'. Seemingly not realising or appreciating that Scotland is a country, and has its own council areas (admittedly they're not called counties here, but it's the same principle).

Yes

I'm really trying hard not to be so touchy but this one does annoy me

On here you get posters wanting to move to "Scotland" as if it is a village in the north.

I hate on tv and radio where they have callers and competitors like Rick from Villageton-on-sea, Mary from Townsville and Jenny from Scotland

I need to get over it

@MrsMoastyToasty

I'm English living in England but with a Scottish DH . His family live in the central belt with a few living on on of the hebridean islands. Friends are always amazed at how long it takes to get to Mull from Bristol. "Why don't you fly up?" is the usual question. Erm, because Mull doesn't have an airport. So we would have to fly to Glasgow, pick up a hire car and then drive the remaining 5 or 6 hours then make the ferry crossing and finally drive up the island from the ferry port to Tobermory on roads that have passing places.

I suppose you could fly Bristol-Glasgow-Oban.

The drive there is even longer if, like last time we went the A85 is completely shut. Longest but most scenic diversion ever via Glen Coe... this is why an overnight stay in Oban should be factored in !

Do we? Hate the English?

I was a student in Scotland in the 80s and there was a bit of comedy "Scotland and whoever's playing England" but there was also a group of young men who clearly thought so much of themselves and that they could be choosy about whoever they dated - and wouldn't date English young women "because I'm not going to marry one". One of those round-the-pub-table discussions, rather than an excuse for not dating me, in case that occurs to you.

Though at the time we did joke that all the Tory MPs could share a taxi to Westminster and the SNP guy would be the driver - in fact it was two taxis full.

On here you get posters wanting to move to "Scotland" as if it is a village in the north.

Mind you, you do sometimes get similar with posters re 'the north' (of England). Someone holidaying anywhere north of the Humber/Merseyside line being recommended day trips in all counties north of there.

Sounds like you have pretty ignorant or dim friends than a generalisation that most English people have those assumptions about Scotland

@Crowdfundingforcake and yet here you are on mumsnet of all places - where out with the M25 everyone is xenophobic and uneducated.

I disagree on midges only being west coast in summer! I grew up in Fife and got eaten by them plenty of times. Admittedly you’re pretty safe October to April but outside then it’s open season for the little critters. Luckily I built up a tolerance to them as a child so now just get tiny little red dots that don’t itch from the bites. I have taken several English boyfriends to Scotland (West coast, central and North) and they unfailingly come up in itchy hard lumps.
But yes to Scotland being seen as one tiny community. When I moved to England I repeatedly had people ask ‘do you know Freddy MacDonald (or whatever name)’ ‘no, are they from the same place as me?’ ‘I’m not sure, they’re from somewhere in north Scotland, like Glasgow’

Canard, tbh I don't really know what you're on about.....

@ItsCanardBruv

Everyone who lives north of Inverness is thick, racist, uneducated and never been south of Inverness.

I've never come across anything remotely like this.

@RoseAndRose

"Storm Dudley batters Scotland"

"My goodness, they'll deep fry anything!"

So we will!

To be honest, I think people are generally ignorant of UK geography be it England, Wales or Scotland (and I'd have to confess to knowing nothing of NI).

Colleagues in the central belt think a 9am meeting in the central belt is fine even if you're travelling from Aberdeen and seem to forget that there's a bloody great mountain range that makes east to west difficult. I could probably travel from Manchester to the west coast quicker than I can from n-e Scotland.

I've had a whole range of the daft questions from people in England about Scotland but just as many the other way round. My colleagues consider Yorkshire and Lancashire to be the same county for example.
Covid has also demonstrated a real lack of understanding of our differing population sizes with some of the ludicrous comments that seem unable to grasp you need to divide figures by 10

I suspect that even within Scotland you'll find more people that have been to the Costa Dell Sol than Thurso or Shetland

^Storm Dudley batters Scotland"

"My goodness, they'll deep fry anything!"^

That made me laugh, because its true!! Deep fried creme eggs anyone?!!!

I've never tried them as that sounds rank, but battered deep-fried pigs and blankets are great!

My husband and his family are English, they have come out with some crackers over the years. I do hate them encouraging my 8 year old niece to do a Scottish accent, they think its funny, but I hate it with a passion and endure it through gritted teeth!

@ItsCanardBruv

Everyone who lives north of Inverness is thick, racist, uneducated and never been south of Inverness.

Who thinks that?

Everyone who lives north of Inverness is thick, racist, uneducated and never been south of Inverness.

There's hardly anyone north of Inverness - can't imagine who you're talking about.