Mile (Scots)

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The Royal Mile in Edinburgh was used as the standard for a Scottish mile

A Scottish mile was the same length as the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, i.e. from the castle down to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. English miles were imposed in 1824 by an act of parliament.

Equivalent to -

Robert Burns spoke of Scottish miles in the first verse of Tam O' Shanter

"While we sit bousing at the nappy,

An' getting fou and unco happy,

We think na on the lang Scots miles,

The mosses, waters, slaps and stiles,

That lie between us and our hame,

Where sits our sulky, sullen dame,

Gathering her brows like gathering storm,

Nursing her wrath to keep it warm."

See also