Wearing a Kilt while Touring Scotland?

**imrichmond** · 26th June 13, 02:40 PM

Touring Scotland for three weeks as a member of a pipe band last summer, I was kilted most of the time, along with my bandmates (mostly from Canada, but with some from the U.S.). Since the band performed every day but five, and often in a couple of venues some distance apart, it was not feasible to change on performance days. We were generally very well received by the locals, but the band's presence and performances were well advertised and it was obvious that we were pipers and drummers, even when we roamed around the various towns before or after our performances. I received many compliments on my appearance from locals. Outside of our band members and a couple of other pipe bands that we ran into or performed with, I didn't see many kilted men, though. There were some, of course, in wedding parties, of which I saw three or four. About half of these were wearing those horrible, but apparently popular, saltire kilts. For those unfamiliar with them, these are a blue fashion tartan kilt with a huge, white saltire visible on the pleats. One local fellow, who represented the Dunfermline tourist office, was wearing a very smart tweed kilt with matching jacket and vest. Otherwise, the only kilts I saw were on busking pipers and on a few Italian kids staying at the University of Edinburgh residences who had bought "kilts" from the tartan tat shops on the Royal Mile and wore them mid-calf length with no sporran. The sight of these latter in the cafeteria every morning was almost enough to put me off my full Scottish breakfasts... but not quite.

**tpa** · 26th June 13, 02:41 PM

Wear your kilt, travel in your kilt (trust me it is really comfortable), leave your trousers at home. Sure you will stand out, but if you are not bothered, no one else will be. If you don't and you do happen to chance upon someone else wearing a kilt, won't you feel a little envious? Chances are that is how some may feel if you are wearing yours.

It is not customary day wear in Scotland, last time I was there, I was the only one I encountered, even in kilt sales shops. True I don't have an American accent, but for the most part my Scottish accent is not very obvious and, by those who speak to you, you will be regarded as a tourist whatever you wear.

**John_Carrick** · 26th June 13, 02:57 PM

Wearing a kilt in Skye right now. Only one other seen on the island, but a few in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

I do think Mr Salmond should give me grant in respect of my contribution to tourism - I have been in so many visitor photos and Facebook pages now.

John

**McClef** · 26th June 13, 03:16 PM

Originally Posted by hector

To enlarge on this topic: I'm just back from two weeks in Wales. I drove some 2.200 km (1350 miles) throughout the whole country. Kilts? Not one!

Was this Wales or Scotland?

**Pipersson** · 26th June 13, 04:05 PM

I am planning a trip to Scotland and of course I will wear my kilt. Why not be recognisable as a tourist...

Tom

**Steve Ashton** · 26th June 13, 04:07 PM

I say wear your kilt!!

I spent two weeks driving around the country. Other than for other X Marks members I saw a total of 1 other kilt. (On another kiltmaker!)

It seems that the prevalent reaction you will get, spoken or not, is what I ran into when I walked into one of the largest and most respected kilt shops. The only sales person was in a suit and in the far back of the shop as the door chime sounded. I was able to walk the entire length of the shop before he even turned around to see who had entered.

The first, and only, words out of his mouth were "Oh, I see another American came to Scotland and bought himself a kilt." My response was "Well sir, I'm a kiltmaker. In my shop the staff are proud to show off our product. I wear the kilt every single day. And you just lost a sale."

On the other hand, if in Edinburgh, go to the castle and stand just at the entrance in your kilt. Put a hat on the ground in front of you. You will just about be able to pay for the trip by posing for tourist photos. Everyone seems to expect and want to see kilts on their Scottish holiday. You will be photographed and hugged and kissed by more women than you have ever seen before.

Wear your kilt. You won't regret it. Sure you will stand out as a tourist and you will meet some locals who will stare and/or laugh, but you didn't start wearing the kilt because you wanted to blend into the sidewalk now did you?

**gwynng** · 26th June 13, 04:14 PM

I am glad this thread is happening. I'm headed to England and Scotland for a driving trip on Aug. 25 for my 50th. (Hit Scotland about Sept. 3) I was wanting to ask the same thing. Already decided to take a kilt, but hadn't decided which one. Figured I'd stand out as a tourist, but then again, when I wear a kilt here in San Diego, I get asked if I am from Scotland, so no biggie.

The question is, which kilt? I've narrowed it down to my Ramsay red modern (13 oz, the Clan tartan) or Isle of Skye (16 oz, so a little warmer and am visiting Skye for a few days). I would love to represent the clan, but the Skye is a little easier to match with other clothes AND the BIG question is the weather. From what I've looked up it will be a bit chilly, so will the 16 oz kilt be better? As far as weight goes, they are both 7 yards or so and the weight difference in the suitcase is about a pound or so.

Advice?

Also any flea markets or other place you'd recommend for picking up a vintage sporran (dream on) or some good tartan yardage to take home? I think we are driving past Lochcarron.

cheers all,
Gwynn

**ThistleDown** · 26th June 13, 05:13 PM

Wear your kilt. Don't expect to see many natives doing the same if you restrict yourself to Lowland cities, but don't let that stop you.

**cck** · 26th June 13, 05:30 PM

In the past year I have made 2 trips to Scotland. If I exclude the people who were performing or wearing a kilt as part of their job, I could count only 2 occasions seeing a kilt worn. (That is twice more than I would see one worn in this country.) On one of the trips I was traveling with a group, wore my kilt, and influenced at least one other man in the group to buy one. So I feel rather good about having taken the trouble to bring the kilt. Now I must admit that the times I was kilted, were both at Scottish themed events and I had expected to see more kilt wearers. If the locals were laughing at me, they were polite enough not to show it. Go ahead. Take your kilt and wear it. It is always an opportunity to start a conversation.