Scots pine has a very wide range in Europe, from Scotland to the Lena valley in Siberia, and from Lapland to the Mediterranean. It is no longer a native tree of Ireland, although it was abundant in post-glacial periods when the climate was drier. It has also disappeared as a native tree from coastal regions of western Europe during the last few centuries. In Britain it is currently confined to the Scottish Highlands, and forms extensive pure woods in certain forests of central and eastern highlands. It is known to have covered more extensive areas in Scotland within recent history. Today the distribution it is more representative of planting, occurring in greatest abundance in the most continental regions (Tansley, 1939).

For a full article on Pinus sylvestris, including a map of its distribution, look in the Journal of Ecology, 1968, Volume 56 pp269-307