Wearing a Kilt while Touring Scotland?

[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?