OK, so I'm no expert on Scotland, but two things come to mind. First, Edinburgh at 55°57′N is farther north than Moscow at 55°41′N. So, climate. read more
The majority of Scotland's population is located in the south and central belt areas where it is relatively flat, climactically habitable, and fertile. The rest live round the coast and on islands. Those on the islands only had (historically) access to resources for a small population. read more