Going to Scotland and Barra

[Jock Scot]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[DanNeil]

Thanks for all the responses. I am hearing 1) do what you want, 2) a kilt will spell 'tourist' in Scotland, and 3) enjoy the experiences.

I now am thinking I will reconsider my use of military insignia. I DO still plan to wear my kilt at the Tattoo as an audience member, but I will tone down the military paraphernalia. I will chose to be the tourist with a Clan MacNeil look, even if the only one. Though in a crowd of 8000, I doubt if I am the Lone Kilter. Even if I am, I will smile and enjoy being there.

THAT SAID, I do find myself quite SURPRISED by the flowing stream of stereotypes I seem to have waded into. I truly am blind-sided by some of the comments about tourists, American military, and Americans in general. WOW! I appreciate the honesty, but did not expect the sharp edges, though I admit they were said with SOME balance as well.

Part of my thinking before my first post this morning was based on attending the Estes Park Scottish Highland Fest in September 2013. I saw many military shirts and insignia worn by kilted attendees. They were present at informal and formal events. I really did like the look. I liked the pride. I liked the kilts. Then I found X-marks the Scot and found more pride that I identified with.

I asked for comments and I got them. So I will continue processing my kilt plans for the trip. I am glad I am thinking through this ahead of time rather than later.

Re-thinking in South Dakota.
Dan

[Father Bill]

Dan, you're taking the first steps - getting to know that other countries don't necessarily do things the same way. Now travel and experience it and enjoy!

[S Mitchell]

THAT SAID, I do find myself quite SURPRISED by the flowing stream of stereotypes I seem to have waded into. I truly am blind-sided by some of the comments about tourists, American military, and Americans in general. WOW! I appreciate the honesty, but did not expect the sharp edges, though I admit they were said with SOME balance as well.

Hi Dan, yeah, it's one of the trickier aspects of this forum. There's strong feelings on both sides of the pond and sometimes folks on both sides feel under attack by the strongly held views of those on the other. The lack of nuance found in face to face conversation surely doesn't help.

But, then, I guess, we're on the same side of the pond and we don't necessarily agree on the use of uniform items with civilian attire, and that's okay. I don't take your views as a personal attack and I hope you don't view mine as such.

We all agree we enjoy wearing the kilt and we all want to wear it to best effect while staying true to ourselves.

[Derek]

From the kilt perspective only and in my own opinion ... just strap your kilt on (and one of your everyday shirts/pullovers n shoes etc) when you leave the house and enjoy your holiday. You will have a fab time and any worries that you have about the kilt will soon disappear.
Iechyd Da
Derek