Going to Scotland and Barra

**DanNeil** · 7th July 14, 06:05 AM

Greetings X-ers, 
(I had trouble attaching my photos so they are 90 degrees off).

In just three weeks my wife and I will be packing our bags for a 17 day tour of Scotland (August 1-16). We are on the MacNeil Clan Tour that will take us all over including 3 days on the Island of Barra and an evening at the Edinburgh Military Tatoo on August. This is a retirement gift to ourselves. 
 
As a relative newbie to kilts, I have appreciated reading the forums and picture postings of various casual to formal attire. The X Marks site has given me insight and "courage" to take on a whole new wardrobe of my Scottish heritage from our here on the Great Plains of South Dakota. 
 
Attached are two photos of yours truly trying on some new combinations. 
 
 
So far I have purchased a modern MacNeil tartan kilt to wear on Barra and for various adventures on our travels. In one photo I am wearing the tartan and a ghille shirt. In the second photo I have the kilt with my old USAF blue shirt and tie. I appreciated the comments of many of you that said, "If you earned it, then wear it!" So, I will be looking like a Scot from the USAF Regiment on our jaunt through the Scottish Iles. 
 
EDINBURGH TATTOO (What to wear?) 
I am also in the process of putting together a more formal outfit for our evening at the Military Tattoo. (I will post a photo later). So for, I have ghille shoes with high laces, a white formal shirt, and black tie. I did not want to purchase a PC coat (another topic entirely), so I have modified a US Air Force blue mess dress jacket. I plan to wear my old Air Force medals, shoulder boards, and insignia. I have a MacNeil crest badge in cloth that I want to wear as well. 
 
I am very excited for this experience of Scotland, BUT until joining 
" X Marks the Scot" 
I never expected to be taking a kilt and combos for the different events. 
 
I welcome your thoughts and experiences. 
 
Dan Leininger

**Jock Scot** · 7th July 14, 06:49 AM

Hi Dan, we were on Barra a couple of weeks ago. This should whet your appetite!

I really dont know how to answer your questions kindly! Let me just say this. You are on a Clan tour, so tartan and kilts may be required for Clan events and most of your guests and fellow travellers will be from abroad too-------I imagine anyway. So most of you will be viewing your attire choices from a completely different direction from the locals. Perhaps the ghillie brogues, ghillie shirt might need a rethink for your trip to Barra?

For the Tattoo retired military gentlemen who are just spectating as members of the public do not wear shoulder boards, military insignia and medals. They may wear a Regimental tie and wear informal attire and are always prepared with a warm(it can get quite cold in the evening) and waterproof coat. It depends if you want to blend in----- just wearing the kilt shouts tourist, particularly with all the bells and whistles on-------or you want to be who you are doing your thing as a proud American. The choice is yours and whatever you decide I am quite sure that you will met with utmost courtesy by the locals. No doubt you have read the posts on the other thread that has been going at the moment about "wearing the kilt in Scotland?" Also in the "Kilt Advice" section

**Ron Abbott** · 7th July 14, 07:04 AM

I'd be very surprised if any local criticized you for wearing the kilt.....they'll just think, "look at the tourist, probably American" shrug their shoulders and go about their business with a wee smile.

Jock Scot's post above is spot on.

My own thoughts are much the same especially the bit about wearing military stuff to the tattoo. The regimental tie is fairly normal......possibly accompanied with a blazer bearing the regimental badge, but the medals and rank badges and all the regalia is just a tad unusual.....to put it mildly. You might even see the an old veteran wearing his glengarry and cap badge but it doesn't go much beyond that.

Even though it'll be August, up there on the esplanade it can get pretty damned cold at night.....a warm/waterproof jacket is excellent advice.

**cessna152towser** · 7th July 14, 08:33 AM

I agree with Jock and Ron.
Nobody will criticise you for wearing the kilt, though be prepared to be taken for an American tourist. There is a saying here in Scotalnd that a kilt is a garment which Scots only wear while visiting North America and North Americans only wear while visiting Scotland. As a Scot who often wears a kilt here in Scotland I have been asked more than a few times if I am an American.

There are very few people on Barra and a clan gathering will obviously be big news on the island and I would envisage the locals will be expecting the diaspora to be kilted up as is commonplace at clan gatherings.

The very fact that you are in the audience at an Edinburgh Military Tattoo marks you out as a tourist. As a Scot living just 55 miles from Edinburgh, I personally would never wish to waste my own precious time and money attending the tattoo, but I appreciate that the tourists love it and it brings in a lot of trade into Scotland. Wear what you like, you will certainly be far from alone, there will be plenty of other kilted American tourists going to the tattoo.

**S Mitchell** · 7th July 14, 09:44 AM

I'm envious of your trip and, even though it'd mark me as a tourist, I think I'd want to wear my kilt at least once in Scotland were I to ever visit.

But, I'm not a fan of mixing rank and insignia with civilian attire. I agree entirely you've earned the right to wear the uniform, but, as much as I love wearing a kilt, it's not part of the uniform and you (most likely) wouldn't have been allowed to wear a kilt as part of your uniform while serving on active duty.

I do think the light blue, uniform shirt, without rank and insignia, would work pretty nicely with a kilt and now I'm going to have to dig out my uniforms
and see if my shirts still fit!

Also, I've worn an Air Force Mess jacket formally, with my kilt and a bow tie, but, again, I removed all military markings, and even swapped the pewter USAF buttons with formal, silk covered buttons.

In any case, you're certainly free to do as you'd like. Those are just my thoughts.

**Kanati** · 7th July 14, 10:11 AM

My wife is heading to Edinburgh for a little over three week visit with My Daughter and Son-in-Law (the scot).
She will be attending the Tattoo with a side trip the the Isle of Sky and Glasgow for a wedding.
I am recovering from back surgery and will not be going this year. I will going next year and I do plan on the Tattoo and a trip north to Aberdeen, Huntley and Culloden. I am also going to the Aboyne Games. I want to be kilted for the Tattoo and the games.

**Jock Scot** · 7th July 14, 10:53 AM

Originally Posted by Kanati

My wife is heading to Edinburgh for a little over three week visit with My Daughter and Son-in-Law (the scot).
She will be attending the Tattoo with a side trip the the Isle of Sky and Glasgow for a wedding.
I am recovering from back surgery and will not be going this year. I will going next year and I do plan on the Tattoo and a trip north to Aberdeen, Huntley and Culloden. I am also going to the Aboyne Games. I want to be kilted for the Tattoo and the games.

I hope you don't mind me asking, but why do you and it appears that so many other visitors do too, wish to go to the Edinburgh Tattoo kilted? Just wondering that's all.

**WillowEstate** · 7th July 14, 11:11 AM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

I hope you don't mind me asking, but why do you and it appears that so many other visitors do too, wish to go to the Edinburgh Tattoo kilted? Just wondering that's all.

Jock, I've only attended the Tattoo once, more years ago than I care to remember. At that time, the seats were made of a wire mesh and nobody had told me that hiring a cushion from one of the vendors outside was a good way to prevent a very sore mesh-patterned backside! A kilt would have served the same purpose. I understand that the seats are now smooth plastic-so this reason is defunct! The warm jacket advice, I would agree with - it can be a raw wind on the Esplanade.

**WillowEstate** · 7th July 14, 11:18 AM

Originally Posted by Kanati

My wife is heading to Edinburgh for a little over three week visit with My Daughter and Son-in-Law (the scot).
She will be attending the Tattoo with a side trip the the Isle of Sky and Glasgow for a wedding.
I am recovering from back surgery and will not be going this year. I will going next year and I do plan on the Tattoo and a trip north to Aberdeen, Huntley and Culloden. I am also going to the Aboyne Games. I want to be kilted for the Tattoo and the games.

When you visit the Aboyne games (great, by the way), The Huntly Arms by the village green is a great place to stay. The cocktail bar and grill room are not to be missed and will be a lifetime memory. When I stayed for the games a couple of years, it was a combination hotel, part "bus tour" and part private but I believe it is now part of a larger chain.

**Kanati** · 7th July 14, 11:28 AM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

I hope you don't mind me asking, but why do you and it appears that so many other visitors do too, wish to go to the Edinburgh Tattoo kilted? Just wondering that's all.

I have stunning knees