Obviously Derek's public relations efforts are bearing fruit: for I visited the above on Friday to see the castle-for background information wearing a Highland Granite - Hill-walker.

First the ticket staff at the castle were overjoyed at the sight of a kilt-and were loud in their admiration.

Then at a pub [I forget the name-but first on right up hill from Castle car park]-I was engaged in conversation about the tartan I was wearing, for it had not been seen before. Then I was shown a picture of the landlord kilted for his wedding.

So it appears that the kilt is an object of admiration in that part of the Principality.

The next day I visited Bath-and in a shop I'd only visited about once a year ago-my kilt was recognised, and I was greeted like a long lost friend.

However -herself brought things back to normal with: 'It's odd how you keep bumping into short sighted people with no better taste than yourself'!

James