I was born and raised in Scotland. Here are 5 amazing things about living here, and only 1 downside.

I was born and raised in Scotland, and have lived there for most of my life, with the exception of a university exchange semester in Pennsylvania and a short period in London, England for work.

Don't get me wrong, I love to travel, but returning home to Scotland is something I consider a privilege. From our beautiful landscape to unique traditions, there are so many amazing things about living in this country. And in my experience as a native, there's only one downside.

The natural landscape is truly beautiful, and you don't have to travel far to see it. There are incredible mountains in the north, rolling hills in the south, and sandy beaches scattered along the coast.

According to Visit Scotland, the country has a total of 282 munros, which is defined by the Collins Dictionary as a mountain that's more than 3,000 feet high.

Most people travel to the Scottish Highlands to see munros. And while the northern part of the country is bucket-list worthy, it's more remote and therefore more difficult to get to.

Thankfully, there are also plenty of munros next to the cities. Ben Lomond is one of the country's most popular munros, and it's only an hour and a half drive from Glasgow, Scotland's biggest city where I currently live.

Like all students who were born and raised in Scotland, I was entitled to government funding for my university degree. I studied journalism, creative writing, and English studies at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, and lived at home since my parents' house was only a 10-minute train ride to the city center.

I feel extremely privileged to have had a free education, as it meant I could focus on my studies without the stress and anxiety that could have come from struggling to pay for my course. The only fees I had to pay was for my semester abroad in Pennsylvania, and I had a student loan as well as a scholarship that partly helped to pay for that.

Glasgow's motto, "People Make Glasgow," is plastered across buildings and on souvenirs in tourist stores.

In my opinion, the motto applies to the entirety of Scotland. I've always found Scottish people to be warm and friendly, and it's always a big compliment when I hear someone visiting the country for the first time comment on this as well.

Whether I'm visiting a new town and need to ask a local for directions, or I'm in Glasgow and make small talk with a stranger on the bus, the people I meet are usually always chatty and welcoming.

Whether it's haggis, bagpipes, or ceilidhs, I'll always be proud of Scottish culture.

I particularly enjoy going to ceilidhs, which is a gathering involving traditional Scottish barn dancing. Scottish people often have ceilidhs as part of their weddings, but you can also attend ceilidhs at community halls or at a pub.

Scotland is known for its dreamy castles. Many of these are tourist attractions, while others have been transformed into hotels or Airbnbs. Some of my favorites, which are all open to the public, include Edinburgh Castle in Edinburgh (pictured); Stirling Castle in the city of Stirling; and Inveraray Castle in Argyll.

Of course, I wish there was a castle in Glasgow, but I don't have to travel far to see one. Depending on traffic, Edinburgh and Stirling can take less than an hour to drive to from where I live.

While I love living in Scotland, the one thing I would change is the weather. It's extremely unpredictable, and it's a running joke that we often experience four seasons in one day. Making outdoor plans with friends can often be difficult, because you never know what to expect — even in the summer months.

The above photo was taken during a walk close to my home in January. I'd started the walk in the blazing sunshine, and it was so warm that I had to take off my jacket. But the second after I removed it, heavy rain started falling and a beautiful rainbow soon appeared.

Of course, if this is the only downside to living in Scotland, I'll gladly accept it.