Miles of miles

by - 11:11 on 27 February 2007

Anyone who knows their ‘Tam o Shanter’ – that great narrative poem by Robert Burns – will remember the phrase ‘the lang Scots miles’. This refers to the fact that before the days of standardisation, a Scots mile was longer than an English mile. Some say it was on average 224 yards (205m) longer than the English mile which replaced it gradually during the 18th century. You might say that a Scots mile, by its very nature, is a kind of an extra mile. And if you go down to the promenade at Ayr, you’ll find that South Ayrshire Council have measured one out specially with a signpost at either end, in a nifty tie-up linking our national poet to a health campaign – as the seafront is just the place for a brisk walk.

There are lots of other miles associated with Scotland. For example, the Dark Mile, marked in Gaelic Mile Dorcha on Ordnance Survey maps, is a thickly forested and mossy section of the B8006 which runs west from Loch Lochy in the Great Glen towards Loch Arkaig. Spectacular waterfalls make it a worthwhile diversion from the main glen. Bonnie Prince Charlie hid nearby and real Scottish ‘anoraks’ will know the name from one of the Jacobite trilogy of novels by DK Broster.

There is also another famous mile in the Great Glen. This is the measured mile, marked by concrete posts on Loch Ness, which was used in John Cobb’s fatal attempt on the world water speed record in 1952. His jet-boat blew up after it hit a mysterious swell or wave on the loch - almost certainly a boat’s wake reflected off the shore. (The Loch Ness Monster? Now, don’t be silly.) A loch-side memorial was later erected nearby.

Anyway, I’m sure you can think of a few more Scots miles, perhaps starting with ‘The Road and the Miles to Dundee’, that sentimental Scots folk song. Let me know!

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