Isle of Lewis

[beloitpiper]

I've been told by many people on the forums that kilts are not seen everyday in Scotland, although the more northern you go, the more you'll see. I was wondering about the Isle of Lewis? They have the highest concentration of Gaelic speakers (almost 75%!!!) and was wondering if you're more likely to see traditionalists. I know the Isle of Lewis isn't the most visited place in Scotland, but if you've been there, tell me what it was like/what you saw please!

Many thanks.

[McClef]

The language and the dress don't always go together and I would be surprised if the kilts came out any more regularly than they do on the mainland.

In July I spent a week in Ullapool which is where the Stornoway ferry sails from and only saw two other guys wearing kilts besides myself.

On my next visit I intend to take the ferry, kilted of course, and my eyes will be on the lookout for kilts on arrival in Stornoway

The general view appears to be that whilst many people own kilts they tend be be kept for special occasions rather than everyday wear so they will come out for church, weddings, dinner dances, mods, highland games and tattoos and rugby matches but be as rare as rocking horse poo the rest of the time.

Would love to be proved wrong though in the case of Lewis but I'm not hopeful!

[Tattoo Bradley]

be as rare as rocking horse poo

That is AWESOME!

[Graham]

I nearly got to Lewis last time over there, the cost of the ferry with our car put me off, pity tho' I'd love to go there. My forbears (Morrisons) hail from the north tip of Lewis.

I doubt too whether there is a greater concentration of kiltwearers there.

I am trying to find out more about Seaton Gordon, a naturalist from Skye. He is reported to have been a kitl wearer full time.

[Mike1]

I've an acquaintance that stays in Stornoway. When he shows up at commemorations where all his pals are kilted, he still wears trousers. And he's a quite fluent Gaelic speaker, so I don't think there's a connection.

[McClef]

I nearly got to Lewis last time over there, the cost of the ferry with our car put me off, pity tho' I'd love to go there. My forbears (Morrisons) hail from the north tip of Lewis.

In the summer it is possible to do a day trip as a foot passenger which includes a coach trip on Lewis including a visit to the Callanish Standing Stones and allowing time to be spent in Stornoway.

I expect the cost would be a lot less than taking a car.

You should be able to get details from the Caledonian MacBrayne website.

[Scott Gilmore]

I've been given to understand from my Morrison, Brieve and Gilmore cousins that Outer Hebrideans are not typically kilt wearing folk. Haven't been there yet myself though, so I can't say from first hand experience, but it isn't surprising.

One way or the other, it's no matter. When we finally do visit, I think we'll be more focused on how welcoming the locals are than what they wear. And come to think of it, ironically perhaps, Lewis would probably be the last place I would wear a kilt casually (formally is another matter altogether).

I'll let you know after we visit.

Regards,
Scott Gilmore

[glengall1]

The language and the dress don't always go together and I would be surprised if the kilts came out any more regularly than they do on the mainland.

I

I suspect that you are quite right here. It is almost like saying that if you have a Texan accent (and I really love Texas, have fond memories of watching the Aggies play Ohio State and eating a humoungous pretzel and drinking Bud Lite) that you should be wearing jeans and a cowboy hat.

As you can all obviously see where I am from this forum has NEARLY convinced me to wera a kilt a lot more of the time but it would lead to weird looks and people thinking I am some sort of eegit. If I walked down the high street weraing the kilt I would get funny looks. It appears that the rest of the world is more tolerant of kilt wearing than we are ourselves.

There is a Glaswegian celebrity designer that wears one alot of the time, John Amabile. He tends though to wear the Dark Island variety but it is still high profile kilt wearing.

[McClef]

As you can all obviously see where I am from this forum has NEARLY convinced me to wera a kilt a lot more of the time but it would lead to weird looks and people thinking I am some sort of eegit. If I walked down the high street weraing the kilt I would get funny looks. It appears that the rest of the world is more tolerant of kilt wearing than we are ourselves.

It isn't always easy to get over the looks, especially when you are local and not a tourist and the local culture sees kilt-wearing only in defined circumstances.

I am always kilted now when visiting Scotland and I guess they probably think "another tourist" and the ones who get most excited are other tourists who have been scouring for a kilt in vain

I guess it comes down to enthusiasm and self-confidence and the first time is always the worst in terms of what you anticipate the reaction would be. I wore my new kilt when out shopping here in Wales and found most people took the sight very well and a couple of people even struck up conversations.

I then found it easier to do it again the next time and so on. Looking at some of the sartorial offerings of others made me feel that I am looking smart in comparison. If anyone has a problem it is theirs not mine and the more often they see me in it the less it bothers them.

Sure it's a way of challenging assumptions but I also look upon it as a bold witness to others to try for themselves and to take up the wearing of the kilt on a more regular basis.

Each of us has to decide for ourselves about when and where we wear a kilt when it's not been decided for us by work etc. Toleration begins with visibility.

[Graham]

Yes McClef, I am sure that would have been cheaper, but we were committed to a hire car and didn't want to leave it sitting around for a time.

Next time, next time!