Upcoming Holiday in Scotland and England

[frankreid]

I was born in Coatbridge in 57, my mum and dad moved us as a family down to Hartlepool in 68.
I bought my first kilt for my eldest daughters wedding in 09. I now am the proud owner of 4 Robertson Kilts.
I travel the sort distance to Edinburgh 6 times or so a year. I park in one of the city centre covered car parks. Then get changed into my Kils. I wear it with pride, I wear it well.
Take your kilt with you, wear it as and when you can. dress it as you feel, it is your kilt to feel comfortable in.
Enjoy your stay, remember to post a few photographs during your vist.

Have Fun
FrankFRANK-KILT005A.jpg

[Batfink]

Raf, Tuppence worth from a Weegie, just do it. You will have a ball. I often wear the kilt in my home town of Glasgow. I have never had any dramas. People love seeing them and you will see other kilts. Derek is right when he says that you may get comments good or bad but so what? Its about you having an experience that you won't forget and as Grizzly says, you will get tourists demanding photos. There must be pictures of me all over the world! I even got mobbed once by japanese tourists when I went kilted to Llangollen in Wales. As long as you are dressed with pride and respect for the kilt and not like something from Brigadoon, you will be fine.
Scots tend to wear the kilt travelling in aircraft abroad in order to save luggage weight and space.
As for being American, If i saw you kilted in 'the dear green place' and discovered that you are american, then I would be proud to shake your hand then take you for a dram to welcome you home.

And by the way, wise advice from Jock. I served with the Army and the Royal Air Force. I didnt go anywhere in out in the cuds without Avon skin so soft. Its the only thing that works on the dreaded midge plague.

[Jordan]

I have to confess that I did forget the TA! OK, how could I!!

Actually and to be clear, I was not thinking tweeds etc. although that might be nice to do, on occasion. I was thinking of kilt(tartan) at about top of the knee height, no flat cap, hose pulled up, sensible shoes and no T shirts. More like, pullovers(sweaters) and midge repellent perhaps?

Jock's pretty on the ball here, I would only disagree about t shirts though, I wear mine with my kilts without any problem so I dont think its a no no. I wouldnt reccomend it if you're trying to look smart though for obvious reasons.

[GG]

I'm comfortable wearing my kilt to work and about town (Boston and Cape Cod,) but am now realizing, ironically, that I feel conflicted about kilting in the UK. Weird.

Hi RAF,

You feel a little bit concerned about wearing a kilt in UK, even if you are comfortable wearing it in Boston. And you think it’s somehow weird.

Yes, it is. But when reading the above comments, even if they in general are positive and saying “do it (if you want to)” I do also recognize some few reservations and warnings, and therefore I do understand your concern about wearing a kilt in Scotland.

Of course you want to go to Scotland. The nature is really beautiful. But you also have a lot of rain, midgets and you yourself feeling not really at easy wearing a kilt in the homeland of kilts.

If it, after all, should be more a case of seeing Europe than UK, including Scotland, and you should like to wear your kilt without fearing to be stared at, smirked at and even being subject to negative comments, you perhaps might consider changing your travel plans.

I’m sure you could really enjoy your kilt wearing in European countries like Denmark and Sweden, Germany, Holland, France, Switzerland, Italy – Rome is a fantastic city – and Spain. From all of them I have plenty of good experiences – and absolutely no bad ones. And I feel pretty sure, that it should be the same in Norway, Finland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Austria and Portugal.

But don’t think of going to Poland or the Czech Republic wearing a kilt. In these countries Scotsmen wearing the kilt according to their very own (Scottish) codex might forever have destroyed its otherwise good reputation. (Their governments have tried to have the kilt banned!).

Whatever you decide I wish you and your family a nice trip!

[BCAC]

Hi RAF,

You feel a little bit concerned about wearing a kilt in UK, even if you are comfortable wearing it in Boston. And you think it’s somehow weird.

Yes, it is. But when reading the above comments, even if they in general are positive and saying “do it (if you want to)” I do also recognize some few reservations and warnings, and therefore I do understand your concern about wearing a kilt in Scotland.

Of course you want to go to Scotland. The nature is really beautiful. But you also have a lot of rain, midgets and you yourself feeling not really at easy wearing a kilt in the homeland of kilts.

If it, after all, should be more a case of seeing Europe than UK, including Scotland, and you should like to wear your kilt without fearing to be stared at, smirked at and even being subject to negative comments, you perhaps might consider changing your travel plans.

I’m sure you could really enjoy your kilt wearing in European countries like Denmark and Sweden, Germany, Holland, France, Switzerland, Italy – Rome is a fantastic city – and Spain. From all of them I have plenty of good experiences – and absolutely no bad ones. And I feel pretty sure, that it should be the same in Norway, Finland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Austria and Portugal.

But don’t think of going to Poland or the Czech Republic wearing a kilt. In these countries Scotsmen wearing the kilt according to their very own (Scottish) codex might forever have destroyed its otherwise good reputation. (Their governments have tried to have the kilt banned!).

Whatever you decide I wish you and your family a nice trip!

Greg, While I understand that English is not your native language, you should note that there are not really very many MIDGETS in Scotland!

[GG]

Thank you so much, BCAC for correcting me. According to my dictionary small moscitos are called midgets. So I ask you and everybody else to forgive me. It was in no way my intention to refer to a certain group of people.
And you are certainly right in your assumption that English is not my native language. That I cannot help, however, even if I should like to.

[Jock Scot]

Rest assured Greg, your English is better by far, than my Danish!

[GG]

I think I take it as a compliment, Jock.

[BCAC]

Rest assured Greg, your English is better by far, than my Danish!

Better than mine, too, Greg as I have none.

In fact I only commented because it made me smile. FYI, the name midgets is colloquially given to very small people.

Edited to add: I have never seen or heard the word used to describe small mosquitos. The small flying biting insects that plague Scotland are called midges (no t in the word). Maybe just a small printing error in your dictionary? (which would be amazing in a dictionary!).

This is from the area of the internet that knows absolutely everything and is never, never, never, never, never ever wrong!

[GG]

Better than mine, too, Greg as I have none.

FYI, the name midgets is colloquially given to very small people.

That I found out by searching the net (Wikepedia).