Scots Mile

Scotland’s own mile, running to about 1,976 yards, appreciably longer than the English statute mile.

Scotland kept its own system of measures for centuries, and its mile was built on the Scots ell and fall rather than the English yard and rod. The Parliament of Scotland formally abolished it in 1685 in favour of the English standard, though custom outlived legislation as it usually does, and the unit continued in casual use well into the eighteenth century. The difference of some 216 yards is quite enough to notice on foot, which is precisely why Scots proverbs about distance carry a note of warning that English ones do not.