Kilts in Scotland.

[beloitpiper]

So the Scot in my pipeband (he's a native of Glasgow) told me that his uncle (a former Black-Watchman) wears a kilt everyday, which got me to thinking: are kilts really that common in Scotland? I've, sadly never been to Scotland...yet...and am wondering if they are commonplace on the street.

I have this picture in my head of me going to Scotland in a kilt and the people there laughing at me for being a silly American tourist... Is this unfounded? Are kilts a normal, everyday sight in my ancestral land?

[cavscout]

Here's a thread you might find interesting. Unfortunately it got political, but there is some good stuff upfront.

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...kilts+scotland

This one made it a good bit further

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...kilts+scotland

[Monkey@Arms]

During the two years I lived there (85-87), it was rare to see a person going about their daily business in a kilt (although the gentleman who ran the local shoe repair shop did.) As mentioned elsewhere wearing a kilt was generally treated the same way we in the U.S treat wearing a tuxedo. (On the other hand students at St. Andrews University did wear really cool red robes on and off campus, sought of like a Harry Potter movie.)

Best regards,

Argyll

[highlandcelt]

My cousin and his partner go to the UK quite regularly, and they have told me that the Scots don't wear kilts very much, but, in some of the small towns and country side in the highlands, the kilt is worn more, and alot of gaelic is spoken in the pubs. P1M can answer for sure.
I am saving my money to go over to Scotland when my cousin goes next February. I missed the trip this year.

[Pour1Malt]

search fair auld threids oan this topic-

been discussed befair...

but basically- roon here the kilt is often worn tae weddings, hogmanay, an formal settings (like a tux as Monkey said)

also it is often worn casual tae Scotland National sport events... rugby an fitba maistly...

but ai've seen many kilts a curlin an hockey events tae....

very uncommon tae wear it daily....

[Mike1]

If you want to see kilts in Scotland, head for the Royal Mile.

Historical commemorations will bring out a lot of belted plaids (anybody going to Killiecrankie tomorrow?). Again, these are special events and the fellows you see in a plaid at a commemoration today will like as not be in jeans tomorrow.

For the biggest part, on a day-to-day basis, the kilt is the exception and not the rule. It isn't as if you won't see any, but you won't see many.

[arrogcow]

If you want to see kilts in Scotland, head for the Royal Mile.

I spent three days in Edinburgh (during fringe) and saw exactly 2 kilted guys. Both were on the Royal Mile, one was piping on a corner, one was carrying pipes and waiting for a bus.

I bought my first kilt (not counting my great kilt) two days later in Glasgow, so I wasn't kilted either.

Adam

[Lee]

Having just returned home from a 3 week vacation in Scotland, I can confirm, as P1M says, that it is very uncommon to see the kilt worn as 'everyday' attire - I think I noticed only 3 others.

I received many positive comments, only one nasty one.
I lost count of how many times I was asked if I was a true Scotsman.
Safe answer - 'No, I am Canadian'.

My visit to Edinburgh Castle took a bit longer than expected, since a crowd would gather 'round me, waiting for the guided tour to begin.

Lee

[Moose McLennan]

When I lived in Scotland (up until the late 80s), you would only ever see the occasional very elderly gentleman off the beaten track wearing highland dress as everyday wear.

My great-uncle Tommy owned nine kilts, and wore them often - he lived in quite a remote area though.

On the way to my sister's wedding last year I did see a portly thirty to fortyish aged bloke in a very striking black kilt. Again, out in the countryside.
But then again I did also see a field full of llamas on that short drive, so perhaps it was just one of those days for seeing unusual things...

If you ever go kilted, keep it smart and casual (no fly-plaids, no dirks, go easy on the hats) and I'm sure any attention you'd get would be positive. I think kilts are more seen now than 20 years ago.

M.

[Graham]

In a 1000 miles of driving all round Scotland I only saw one other man wearing a kilt casually and it turned out he managed a Scottish goods shop in Fort Augustus, all other sightings were pipers busking or otherwise playing in public places.

Yes I too got lots of tourists wanting to photograph me. I guess that's why Scots don't wear the kilt - to keep tourists from bothering them!