Well this is exactly surprising news to me. But it’s lovely that a new report confirms all that I go on and on about. Scotland is a fantastic place to enjoy the great outdoors – and ever more people are discovering this.

According to a Scottish Recreational Survey, 48 per cent of Scottish adults visited the outdoors for leisure or recreation at least once a week in 2010. This is up two per cent on 2009 and four per cent on 2006.

Walking is the most popular outdoor activity, representing 73 per cent of visits, followed by family outings (eight per cent) and cycling/mountain biking (five per cent).

In total it’s reckoned that visits to Scotland’s great outdoors were worth £2.5 billion to the Scottish economy last year.

Sometimes I hope that no-one else finds out about the wonders of Scotland, but that I feel mean for thinking so!