Wearing a Kilt while Touring Scotland?

[andycwb]

I have seen a kilt described as a garment worn by Americans in Scotland, and Scotsman in the rest of the world. Wear it properly, or not at all.

[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!

[cessna152towser]

Go for it, bring your kilt and wear it while you are in Scotland. You may be taken for a tourist but your kilt will be a good conversation starter. I often wear a kilt here in Scotland. Some days I don't see any other kilt wearers, other days, particularly Saturdays when there are weddings or sporting fixtures taking place there are lots of kilts being worn.

[Steve Ashton]

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?

[Liam]

I say wear your kilt!!

You will be photographed and hugged and kissed by more women than you have ever seen before.

My experience exactly on my kilted vacations to both Japan and Mexico! Make sure you hand your camera to the photographer so you will have a record of the occasion too.

[cck]

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.

[Mael Coluim]

Looking forward to a third kilted vacation in Scotland!

Kilted fortnight holiday in scotland & france

Kilted Fortnight Scotland Holiday – 2011

[tulloch]

In 39 days my daughter and I go to Glasgow. I do not trust others to handle my baggage. I will travel light: Kilt, sweater, three pair hose, three tshirts, three underpants, sweater, rain cape, sun hat and sundries. I will be a shameless tourist visiting with other X-markers I have met or have yet to meet. I will be the guy in the kilt with the indelible smile proud of his daughter who will compete in several locations on snare.

[Jock Scot]

In 39 days my daughter and I go to Glasgow. I do not trust others to handle my baggage. I will travel light: Kilt, sweater, three pair hose, three tshirts, three underpants, sweater, rain cape, sun hat and sundries. I will be a shameless tourist visiting with other X-markers I have met or have yet to meet. I will be the guy in the kilt with the indelible smile proud of his daughter who will compete in several locations on snare.

Sun hat!!!!!! What is this sun hat idea??

Well I suppose it could keep off the rain. Joking apart, if the sun does put in a rare appearance then with the little or no air pollution(even in Glasgow ), then the suns rays can be powerful.

[Manxstralian]

if the sun does put in a rare appearance then with the little or no air pollution, then the suns rays can be powerful.

I can vouch for this, I got terribly burned in the Hebrides this time last year....