Wearing a Kilt while Touring Scotland?

**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

**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

**Urbane Guerrilla** · 27th June 13, 10:05 PM

Originally Posted by 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.

Well... it'll go superbly with playing the pipes at significant locations. Or dual carriageway interchanges if you can find no other and you want to work on your musical expression. Or places with fairly bright acoustics. Pipe music carries very well across still water -- you can hear echoes come back from a quarter mile off. Maybe half a mile. But this would be a program for two to seven years from today.

**JohntheBiker** · 28th June 13, 05:42 AM

So Noah, have you made up your mind yet? Lots of encouragement to wear a kilt.

**Bigbadbob** · 29th June 13, 12:59 PM

I lived in Glasgow for five years, and saw someone kilted on the street maybe once a month.

The kilted folk I saw most were the waiters at The Bothy resataurant in the West End, although they were often a terrible fit

(fantastic food though).

But find the right event and everyone will be kilted. Any kind of vaguely formal social event we had through work was so much nicer than when I worked in England as the kilt looks much better than a suit,

**nh_maclean** · 2nd July 13, 09:03 AM

Originally Posted by StevieR

(I did have the pleasure of meeting Sir Lachlan MacLean at Duart castle on Mull, but he wore tartan trews!) and an American lad in Portree, who was very well turned out.

I hope I get to meet Sir Lachlan MacLean too! My mother would just about die

My sister and a Scottish cousin are compiling the family tree so anything "MacLean" is a Big Deal at the moment so they'd be jealous!

**StevieR** · 2nd July 13, 12:22 PM

Originally Posted by nh_maclean

I hope I get to meet Sir Lachlan MacLean too! My mother would just about die

My sister and a Scottish cousin are compiling the family tree so anything "MacLean" is a Big Deal at the moment so they'd be jealous!

If you visit Duart Castle on Mull you might well. He's pretty hands on!

. . .and if you get a chance, have something to eat at the Craignure Inn - the haggis lasagne. Don't ask, just trust me - it works!