An American, a Munro, and a Kilt: Planning a visit to Scotland

[CypherMagnum]

Dear Rabble,

Fortune has been kind to me this last year, and I find myself planning a trip to Scotland this October. It will be my first in 43 years of life on this amazing spinning ball of surprises. I have a number of stops planned in the itinerary - from visiting the Edinburgh & Glasgow for the city scenery, to the ancestral Graham holdings, to Braemar in the Cairngorms, to Shetland (wife and I have been wanting to see it for years). But one in particular I want to mention - and get some opinion on, particularly from those that live there, or have lived, or know it well.

We're spending three days in the Trossachs, on the north coast of Loch Lomond (Inverbeg area), in late October. I've got it in my head to climb Ben Lomond. I've always wanted to. My question, then, it this: I've now got it in my head to climb Ben Lomond - in a kilt. As hokey or trite as it may be, this idiot thinks it's a grand idea. Ultimately, at the end of the day, I just want to say I've done it.

So, here's my concerns.

One - Practicality. I know it's going to be cold at that time of year, but I'm pretty resilient and know how to dress for weather. Provided some good hiking boots, a thick wool jumper and a rainshell, I'm hoping to be fine. That being said, I've never hiked a Munro before, so I'm not 100% sure. Anyone done so before? Anyone done so in a kilt?

Two - Propriety. Aside from the usual - occasional odd looks and questions (Been wearing THCD for some years now, I'm used to those) - am I setting myself up for any grief? I've been made to understand there's some eye-rolling amongst the Scots about tourists wearing kilts and such, but I'm hoping it's not much more that that. Bottom line, I don't want to cause a scene or make trouble in the country that's graciously hosting me - I dread being the "Ugly American". I have read some perspectives that have made me somewhat skittish on the idea. On the scale of "Perfectly Acceptable" to "Call in the Marines", where does this lie?

Thanks in advance for any advice or anecdotes you can provide.

Also, If there's anything you know of in Scotland that you think we shouldn't miss - Please let me know! We'll be primarily in the Midlands (around the Forth / Edinburgh / Glasgow area) to start, then to the Trossachs, with a swing up through the Cairngorms, then on to Montrose and the coast, with a final stop at Shetland before heading back to Edinburgh for to catch our flight home. Timeline is the last two weeks of October, and the first week of November.

Best Regards,

Caleb Graham