But Scotland's iconography is composed of negative stereotypes, too - heavy drinking, violence, deprivation and heart disease, all rooted in social problems no Scot would pretend didn't exist, despite our self-image as more egalitarian than our southern neighbours.
Epidemiological data suggests a clear link between smoking, heavy drinking and deprivation and the onset of mouth cancer.
It is instead induced in different normal cell types (leukocytes, epithelial and glial cells, retinal cells) by a variety of stressors, such as oxidants, high temperature, serum deprivation, heavy metals, HIV-1 infELFion, exposuresurelectrophileile stress, hemodialysis treatment, pulsed ultrasound, retinal light damage, kanaic acid-induced seizure and transient forebrain ischemia.
The distress sales of livestock, the heavy migration and the deprivation the country suffered in the early 1970s have all revisited it again this year.
As in many of the south Wales valleys, the loss of heavy industry in the late 20th century led to poverty, deprivation and a loss of a sense of identity.
Meanwhile, there's evidence that other kinds of deprivation have a heavy social cost as well.
Although the borough has some areas of outstanding natural beauty there is a legacy of heavy industry and socio-economic deprivation.
Just as I don't want someone driving a car or operating heavy machinery while impaired by sleep deprivation, I similarly don't want them treating me in a hospital.
Above all, despite the collapse of its heavy industry and high levels of deprivation, it has kept its dark-hued sense of humour.
But in urban areas, with deprivation and where the loss of heavy industry has left a heavy legacy, the rate was below 10%, including West Dunbartonshire and Inverclyde.
