Weather, midges and ‘taps aff ’ – our least favourite things about Scotland

● NTS survey finds landscapes are the most loved feature of our country

Midges, potholes, and temperatures just into double figures yet high enough to elicit over-excited shouts of “taps aff!” have been unveiled as the things Scots hate most about their country.

The Yougov survey commissioned by the National Trust for Scotland also revealed that the country’s biggest loves are the breathtaking landscapes and the people.

The poll is part of the heritage charity’s “For the Love of Scotland” campaign which asks people both what they love and hate about the country.

More than a third of people (35 per cent) cited the country’s landscapes as their number one love in Scotland, while 19 per cent claimed it to be the people and 9 per cent the “banter”.

The country’s history and heritage was voted as the number one love by 13 per cent, the coastline was chosen by 7 per cent, the mountains by 4 per cent, wildlife by 3 per cent and the country’s arts and culture by 2 per cent.

The weather came out top as the most hated thing about Scotland, with 18 per cent citing it. Potholes and midges were joint second on the most hated list, with 16 per cent.

Dark winters were also unpopular, with 10 per cent or people claiming to hate them the most, followed by litter on the beach which was voted for by 7 per cent.

Fivepercentclaimtohatethe phrase “taps aff” heard at the first hint of summer as their

0 Midges and shouts of ‘taps aff!’ as soon as the weather is slightly warmer are among pet hates about Scotland most hated thing about Scotland. But “Glorious Defeat” for national sporting teams is only cited as the number one hate by 2 per cent of Scots surveyed, as was poor mobile phone signals.

The survey comes on the back of a new three-minute film by the National Trust for Scotland which features some of Scotland’s most recognisable public figures including Gerard Butler, Judy Murray and Sir Chris Hoy talking about what they love and hate about the country.

For the Love of Scotland is the charity’s most ambitious campaign to date and aims to boost member numbers by more than a third to 500,000, double paid visits to one million and increase regu- lar donors and member visits over the next five years.

Mark Bishop, director of customer and cause at the Trust, said: “It didn’t come as a huge surprise to us to see the country’s breathtaking landscapes and our history and heritage as some of the most loved things about Scotland, and that’s exactly why the work we do in caring for some of Scotland’s most significant natural and cultural heritage is so crucial.

“Our new campaign has certainly stimulated plenty of debate around our loves and hates for Scotland, but above all, it’s making people appreciate what makes Scotland, Scotland.”