what do you expect?

[Colin]

I wasn't disappointed at all. I think it is a bit odd to expect people running around in kilts just because you are in Scotland. I haven't seen anyone wearing a fur trader outfit in downtown Vancouver lately either though.

I knew very little about Scotland when we went. I wanted to see Scotland for my side of the family and my wife wanted to see Ireland for her side.

What we found of both places is a welcoming people, beautiful countryside, an availability of adventure as well as history. The sad part was like everywhere else in the world, the MacDonalds and Burger kings were everywhere (Starbucks now too apparently).

I just enjoyed seeing everything I could take in. I knew very little about the Isle of Skye, but we stayed for 4 days and did some hiking and spent time with locals and tourists alike. Edinburgh is a beautiful capital city, but it sounds like the mass commercialism (tartan tat) is taking over like the plague did at one point.

Glasgow seems more modern of a city than Edinburgh (it could be the castle in the middle of the city though). We lucked out and found a BBC radio 1 series of concerts while we were there. Oban was a very pleasant suprise and one I suspect that gets over looked often.We really enjoyed a few days at Mr. Stewarts B&B over top of the pub.

Inverness was at a disadvantage in that we had partied pretty hard in Edinburgh, so our half day and night there were not too memorable, but Drumnadrochit is still one of my favourite names for a city Still it was a gateway to a fun time at Urquart castle and Loch Ness.

Stranraer was...well a ferry town. Nice for a night.

All in all it was a beautiful country. I hope to go back and see more of the north highlands and some of the islands next time.

[hallmarktex]

My wife and I did a 17 day tour of the British Isles seven years ago. Scotland was the most pleasant surprise of the the trip. We spent 5 days there and experienced everything from the Royal Mile and military tattoo in Edinburgh, to the quaint shops in St. Andrews and a highland hotel where the room key was an honest to goodness skeleton key that was easily older than anyone on our tour.

I live in Texas and have frequently entertained people who come here looking for the old west with cowboys herding longhorn cattle, oil fields, and JR Ewing (OK, some of the west is not so old). The thing is that, in a way, those things are still here in the midst of all the touristy garbage. I go to places almost daily where lots of people wear cowboy hats, boots and jeans for their daily wear; where there are oil fields and longhorns and people whose living is cattle and oil. These things are right along with the aerospace, telecommunications, and high finance industries.

Scotland was a lot like that. In Scotland we saw typical modern cities in Edinburgh and Glasgow. but we also saw the military guards in front of Edinburgh castle with their full dress uniforms that included kilts and M-16s. We walked to a local pub in a steady drizzling rain and found people that pretty much minded their own business, but were quite friendly to us when we were lost and needing directions. We visited the smallest operating distillery in the highlands where I found that single malt scotch was especially good when accompanied by stories of the area. We toured loch Lomond and saw (we were told) where Rob Roy hid out while he was on the run.

Scotland was a place we came home from and said we absolutely had to return to, taking our children with us to share the experience. We haven't made it back yet, but we still look forward to the day.

[Jock Scot]

I have read and re-read your replies.Thankyou for your compliments and one or two thought provoking comments.On the whole I think your answers were about what I had expected.If it is of any consolation to you,I have spent a whole lifetime,far too many years to count,in the UK in general and Scotland in particular and I still have not seen it all.Goodness only knows how you chaps from vast countries have time to visit our little bit of the world,when you have so much to see at home.Keep coming though,we are delighted to welcome you all.

[wscottmac]

-- Tennent's on Draught (it just doesn't taste the same over here)
-- Loch Fyne kippers
-- HAGGIS, NEEPS & TATTIES!
-- distillery tours
-- Skye, Ah... the Cullins...
-- BBC Radio Scotland
-- (listening, but not understanding BBC Radio Gaelic)
-- the great brogues/sayings/accents you hear over there.
-- the feeling of imminent death you get from driving on the left, in the rain, on a curvy road w/ no shoulder, coming around a corner to sheep in your lane, and a speeding, oncoming lorrie - Ah! makes ya feel ALIVE!
-- Tennent's on draught
-- bridies
-- visiting the areas where my ancestors lived -seeing/smelling/feeling what those areas are like (Argyll/Loch Awe/Loch Fyne (Dad) Selkirk, "H'owk" (Mum)
-- beautiful countryside -- between rain showers
-- Tennent's on draught.. have I mentioned that before?
-- the pub atmosphere: bars in the US are very different
-- the great, friendly, people.

[Darkislander]

Over the last couple of years I hae decided to holiday at home for a change. I have visited the Isle of Mull & Iona, and the Isle of Skye. What beautiful scenery it was but be prepared for the weather. Managed a bit of sun which really does show it off to it's advantage. Take a look at the visitscotland.com website for ideas. We look forward to your visit

[Riverkilt]

While I doubt I'll ever have the time, money, and inclination at the same time; if I did think I'd just go up to the Trotternish Peninsula of Skye and visit Uig and Staffin and try to soak up what my ancestors felt. Maybe look for some cousins and search some records to find more ancestors if that's possible.

Would also like to do all the regular tourist castle, battlefield, gravesite, monument stuff too...save the pubs and the distillaries. Maybe some professional snooping to see how Scots do alcohol detox and treatment facilities.

When I think about taking a tour I know I'd be chaffing at the bit saying, "No, no...I want to go to Skye!"

Ron

[Jock Scot]

Hello Ron,years ago we would have been "batting for different teams" on Skye!Thank goodness times have changed.You would love Skye and contrary to another thread on this site,it does not have to be a ruinously expensive exercise.The places you metioned that you wish to visit on Skye are superb.As to finding ancestors,I am told, that the church and parish records are pretty comprehensive,certainly for the last 150 years or so.Sadly your profesional skills would come in very handy over here, your subject is an under resourced problem over here.I will say no more on that! If you can, do come,you will love Scotland in general and Skye in particular.Apart from the midges!

[muirkirkca]

Visited Britain 2 or 3 years ago and it included visiting Scotland - Edinburgh, Glascow, St.Andrews, Culloden and the country side up to the Isle of Skye. I would like to go back and visit the ancestral area of Argylshire and specifically, Lochgilphead and Kilmartin were they left in 1830 and 1842 respectively. Also go over to Ireland to Leitrum and County Cork for the Irish connection. There were many who left Argylshire and settled in southern Ontario Canada. I am a McDonald with Gillies, Davidson and Campbell ancestry.

The countryside is very beautiful and not overbuilt like many parts of North America. We had good weather and we would go back again to concentrate on seeing more of the entire country and stay at some of the smaller places.