Living in Scotland it's easy to take a lot of the things it offers for granted.
From spectacular scenery and captivating wildlife to the freshest seafood and stunning spirits, it's easy to forget just how good we've got it.
During lockdown many of us rediscovered this with staycations and day trips replacing travel abroad as we uncovered all the things that make Scotland great.
Interestingly, a recent thread on Reddit by u/ChipsNoSalad has also shed some light on some things that Scots and honorary Scots from around the world think are some of the most underrated things about this wonderful wee country we live in.
The outdoors
It's no surprise that our spectacular scenery was top of the agenda.
Reddit user Alasdair91 wrote: "The fact true nature is about 15 minutes away from basically everywhere."
Sausagedogknows added: "Couldn’t agree more. Just spent a week at some cabins in Newton Stewart. I literally had to stop in a lay-by to just look at the scenery.
"Just driving along when all of a sudden the world around just looked so... good I had to stop and just look at it.
"Took a day trip to Galloway forest and honestly, it is absolutely incredible.
"My wife saw the Milky Way for the first time and was blown away, I haven’t seen skies that clear since the desert. F*cking love Scotland."
Access to the outdoors
Being able to enjoy the aforementioned beauty of the outdoors was also pointed out.
u/dazabhoy67 posted: "Being able to go camping wherever. The outdoor access code is absolute gold. It's honestly so valuable."
Free entry to museums and galleries
The fact that museums and galleries in Scotland are free was another point in the country's favour.
U/ChipsNoSalad wrote: "This was one thing that helped entertain the kids during the school holidays.
"When I worked in hospitality there seemed to be a never-ending supply of tourists who couldn’t believe that all the museums were free and not just some small one that you wouldn’t want to see."
u/Moistly-Harmless added: "My wife was aghast that museums charge admission in Canada.
"I was equally amazed they don't in Scotland. I think the Scottish way is superior."
Dark winters and light summers
Scotland's close adherence to the seasons was another thing people loved.
u/TheNervous_socialist posted: "I love how you can feel the seasons changing by how long the evenings are. you can be out with a bonfire all night and it never gets dark properly in June.
"Then in December you get to all huddle round the fire and be warm when it gets dark at 16:00."
To which u/ki5aca reponded: "I absolutely love that, too. My SAD does not, however."
Scottish food
And before anyone tries to mention deep-fried mars bars it's important to remember that Scotland has access to one of the best natural larders in the world.
Speaking about Scottish cuisine, u/Nipinapi wrote: "I love cooking so when I moved to Scotland I bought a Scottish cookbook and there are a lot of really lovely stuff. Still, haven't see a lot of restaurants which concentrate on Scottish food, and it doesn't get showcased at all which makes me sad.
"Pretty much only thing I see always mentioned is haggis (which I love) but there's so much more!"
u/aightshiplords added: "To dig into this one a bit more specifically; one thing Scots don't necessarily realise is exceptional is the quality of Scottish beef products. And I'm not just taking about steaks and roasting joints.
"Steak pies and pastries here are a tangible cut above anything you get in England or Wales. Butchers shop steak pies, bakery pies, bridies, they are all richer, meatier and more delicious than the equivalent products down south.
"Before I moved up here I'd managed to mostly eradicate beef from my diet but the quality of baked beef products blew my mind and now I end up having a pie or a bridie at least once most weeks. Woops."
Everyone is welcome
Another point raised was that you don't have to be born here to be considered a Scot.
u/geeohgeegeeoh wrote: "You can come from anywhere if you declare your abiding love of Scotland and settle, then aside from a tiny cohort of no-true-Scotsman, you're a Scot.
"You may not be Scottish, and you may not have a Scots accent, but you're 'one of us' far more than not.
u/JediSpectre117 joined in with: "To be fair this is cause of how mad we consider ourselves.
"Ye want to live here, where it's wet, damp, and people are f**king nuts. Clearly ye'r nuts. Ye'll fit right in! Welcome tae Scotland."
The weather
Not one we were expecting to see, but it seems more than a few people appreciate it.
u/SinnerStar posted: "The weather, does it rain a lot? Yes, but that makes us appreciate the sunny days.
"If it was sunny all the time we wouldn't go to Spain or Greece etc. Could you imagine how annoying it would be at 30+ every day!!
"That rain makes our land green, next time your [sic] in Greece look around its [sic] like a desert."
To which u/tiny-robot responded: "Agree with this. It means we can go anywhere else on the planet for a holiday - and be guaranteed better weather!"
The people
As the saying goes, "People Make Glasgow", but this seems to be true of the rest of Scotland too.
u/Financial-Cobbler-77 wrote: "The fact that Scottish people don't think they're the best, or best country in the world.
"Trust me this modesty is refreshing when you see it in other countries if you've spent time significant time there or with their people.
"Proud to be from a pretty alright country with generally alright folk."
u/peeko59 also wanted to big up the people: "It's the banter. You can have a laugh with most folk you meet."
u/anon012333 agreed: "I love how the people (in the majority of cases) will essentially adopt solo travellers...
"Like I went to a football match alone and the people around me essentially adopted me for the night, never felt so safe in my life."
Undiscovered locations
It's probably true that most people overlook places like the Borders, Dumfries and Galloway, and the North east in favour of the central belt, the Highlands and the islands, but people were keen to advise people to check out these undiscovered locations for themselves.
u/PeterPawlettsBaby wrote: "The North East and South West.
"Tourists go straight for the big hits: Edinburgh, Loch Ness, Skye. The North East has some beautiful countryside, and something like Dunottar - a ruined castle on a craggy clifftop - probably conforms to a lot of what tourists see as 'typically Scottish'.
"The South West is also largely untouched by international tourism, but has some lovely wee villages, nice beaches and some quite impressive wilderness up in the Galloway Forest."
u/sg3tom also wanted to big up the south west, they added: "I’ve lived in Scotland for 8 years now and managed to see a fair bit of it, but I regret having only been to Galloway/the south west for the first time last month because it is glorious.
"The Southern Uplands are amazing, but never seem to get much attention."
The Tap Water
Well I mean this one is obvious surely?
LapsangSouchdong wrote: "The gloriously cold, clear, clean and delicious water that runs straight from the tap.
"I don't even want to wash in the muck they have down south."
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