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AIBU?

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Original poster

To wonder why Scotland isn’t more popular as a holiday destination

669 replies

N0rdicStar · 23/02/2019 07:52

Just been watching that hidden Scotland programme. I promise you I don’t work for the tourist board.Grin

I lived there as a forces child for a few years and was born there previously. Loved it but my mother hated it and refused to ever go back so we never did. Know nobody else who has ever holidayed there but oh my goodness it’s beautiful and seems to have everything- history, beaches, mountains, wildlife.....

Why do we all flock to Cornwall and the Lake District?

Is it the weather? Can’t just be the distance as the above are long distances for many.

On the back of that can you give me the best bits.

OP posts:
Gth1234 · 23/02/2019 10:50

Cold unless you are lucky. Both Ng in Scotland you can't find in France. IMHO

FlorencesHunger · 23/02/2019 10:51

I live in Scotland and have holidayed here too as it is beautiful but yes the weather is unpredictable and 9/10 when I do it, it rains. I know alot of people that live here who have done the same. Edinburgh is packed with tourists in the summer months and the likes of skye and the western Isles has become a popular tourist destination of which they can't really cope with.

I've always wanted to holiday in the likes of Cornwall etc but the travel and planning/cost is too much for me to bother. Cheaper to holiday here and I still have places to see,.

QuestionableMouse · 23/02/2019 10:52

I bloody love Scotland. Booked to go back in may.

If you're anywhere near Edinburgh with kids, East Links Family Park is awesome. Can't wait to take the LOs back this year.

Redglitter · 23/02/2019 10:57

Got to laugh at the midgies & weather reasons

Ive lived in Scotland all my life and have never encountered midgies. Youd think there were clouds of them everywhere. If thats your only excuse for not coming its crazy. 9/10 folk visiting probably wont see any

As far as the weather goes it was absolutely fantastic last summer.

Quietrebel · 23/02/2019 10:58

And if you go to Edinburgh, try to drive up to Fife (East Neuk, Tentsmuir & St Andrews are all worth it).

0rangeB0ttle · 23/02/2019 11:01

I've been to Scotland on holiday loads of times. I've enjoyed walking holidays. One of my most memorable holidays was to the Outer Hebrides. I also have friends that live in Scotland that I visit regularly. However, the weather can be very wet and unpredictable. One of my friends prefers to travel south on holiday where the weather is predictably warmer.

Purplejay · 23/02/2019 11:01

I have only been once and it was to the Scottish Highlands. We stayed in the middle of nowehere in a cottage with a view of a loch. It was the most beautiful place.

We went in August arriving early evening. When we got out of the car we were engulfed by clouds of midges. It was horrific. The weather was warm but you couldn’t open a window or sit out especially in the evening. We were eaten alive. We bought smidge, skin so soft, midge nets and still got bitten to death.

We did have lots of days out to other areas which were not so bad. Particularly coastal (beaches were poor though and very windy) or hilly areas where it was breezy. The midges didn’t seem to be in towns or villages either, certainly not during the day. We did a lot of driving.

We had a lovely holiday. But none of us would go again in August unless staying coastal or in a town and if doing that we would probably look elsewhere. We chose Scotland for the away from it all, countryside holiday.

Would love to go again, maybe Easter (though weather is a concern) or May (but school hols only a week and its a long way for a short break). Might try the Scottish borders.

Petalflowers · 23/02/2019 11:02

Had a lovely weekend in Edinburgh last weekend. Beautiful citY. Well worth a visit.

No midges and a light rain shower on the Sunday morning.

We were also watching the numerous programmes about Scotland and planning our next visit.

Redglitter · 23/02/2019 11:03

Plus, I really really hate bagpipes

😂😂😂

Words just fail me

Petalflowers · 23/02/2019 11:04

Journey time was approx seven hours from south east. We stopped of near Leeds to break up the journey. It’s taking us longer to get to Cornwall in the past, and if we go to France on holiday, we drive longer distances.

MrsJayy · 23/02/2019 11:04

If you holiday in the western highlands or the Trossachs you will encounter midges from june onwards some places will be more infested than others

Muddysnowdrop · 23/02/2019 11:12

You can travel by motorway right up to Glasgow (or Edinburgh) not understanding the slow road post.
Distance is a funny thing, I’ve driven from Scotland to Cornwall a couple of time, down to the ferries in Portsmouth another couple - it was a long drive but got me where I wanted to go. Is it longer for people in south of England to go to Scotland than it is for Scottish people to go to South of England? (Perhaps it’s all uphill?)

RevealAll · 23/02/2019 11:19

Muddy I find it worse to drive back down from Scotland, The timing is all wrong as there is more traffic further south and you hit it in the afternoon.
Going up to Scotland if you leave early you can avoid the busiest times in the South.

Someone mentioned France. France is a million times easier than driving anywhere in the UK. And much closer to us in the SE.

Skyejuly · 23/02/2019 11:20

Take our 4 kids every year and have done since they were small. Last year we left 6pm with a 1yr old, 5 year old, 11 and 13 yr old. We got to Skye at about 8am next morning.. kids slept most of it apart from a few stops. It's part of the fun. It's a million times more fun than Cornwall!

Skyejuly · 23/02/2019 11:21

We did st kilda last year am so surprised not more people go!

0rangeB0ttle · 23/02/2019 11:31

St Kilda is on my to do list ! Smile

SleepOhHowIMissYou · 23/02/2019 11:35

I've had the anti-English experience myself in Glasgow, so know what other posters mean. It's a deep-rooted dislike and you only need to look at the continuing ginger racism to see it goes both ways.

I've visited Edinburgh and Glasgow and some of the Highland lochs. Next time we holiday in the Lake District we'll venture further North as it's a beautiful country.

SileneOliveira · 23/02/2019 11:43

Last year when it was getting up to 60 or 70 degrees Celsius down South

where do you live, the fiery pits of hell?

Whisky2014 · 23/02/2019 11:44

We had a great summer last year! was sunbathing in the garden from april to august :)

KeepCalm · 23/02/2019 11:45

We've had between 300-400k visitors to the new V&A alone since it opened. We're not exactly the worlds best kept secret Grin

Midges are mainly on the west coast and we've never been bothered by then other than 1 afternoon in 43yrs.

Lots of hidden gems that people miss and those only going Glasgow/Edinburgh and highlands are loosing out on some fabulous spots.

Villanellesproudmum · 23/02/2019 12:09

@barbarafromblackpool you could take the sleeper train from London

Petalflowers · 23/02/2019 12:16

Keep calm - tell al, what and where are these hidden gems?

Barbarafromblackpool · 23/02/2019 12:16

Yes! It's on the list for sure. Just need the baby a bit older. My aunt lives near Ullapool so it would be an adventure.

53rdWay · 23/02/2019 12:18

Skyejuly how did you get to St Kilda, and how long did the journey take? Always wanted to go.

Bagpuss5 · 23/02/2019 12:38

I said the roads weren't great peak season but are probably better than either Cornwall or the Lakes!