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

[N0rdicStar]

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

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.

I think Scotland is the most magical place I have ever been. It feels like the past is very close. It has its own soul.

The stone circles and ancient burial sites - absolutely magic. Often you are one of just a handful of people and can actually touch the stones and the carvings. Really amazing.

Remind me never to go on holiday to England as it's so remote and I hate Morris dancing.

Someone upthread asked about skiing. It can be great, I’ve had some bluebird days in Scottish resorts but it’s very hit and miss. 30 years ago snow was virtually guaranteed but not so now. Not skied yet this year and with the recent mild temperatures all the snow has gone. But if the snow is good then the skiing can be great. I live about 50 mins from one of the resorts so it’s easy for me to grab a day when I can. There are five resorts. Glenshee has most runs. The Lecht is pretty small but very high up so snow more likely. Glen Coe is simply stunning as is Aonach Mor. Cairngorm was always too busy for me and can get hampered by the wind. Also problematic that the Cairngorm funicular is out of commission so uplift is crap. But there is so much to do around Aviemore anyway if you’re outdoorsy that it’s never boring. Some great ski mountaineering to be had anywhere but this is one thing Cairngorm is great for. Once you’ve skinned up and then leave the hordes on the piste to ski backcountry with nothing but views and silence and swish. Lordy, it’s just magical

My area of the Highlands got pretty anti-English around the time of the referendum. I'm English married to a Scot and suddenly my Facebook feed was filling up with pretty nasty stuff about wall jumpers and white settlers and Westmonster and reclaiming the Highlands from the English clearances. Did make me look at some of my friends and neighbours in a slightly different light, although none of it was ever said to my face (apart from one woman overhearing me say I was thinking of applying for a job that I'd seen re-advertised in the local paper and telling me that it should go to a local person, not an incomer). It all seems to have settled down again now though.

Just finished watching Susans programme she is just amazed by everything 😁

I love Scotland, we make the 6 hour journey there every year for our anniversary. Excellent mountain biking and walking!

Every time I've been it's rained every day. Even in the middle of August. Add to that the midges ...

Also, not everyone loves looking at hills and greenery. I for one find looking at mountains incredibly dull. And particularly in the drizzle/fog.

I expect it puts a lot of people off. For what it's worth, I've no desire to visit the Lake District either. Or Wales. Or Ireland. For exactly the same reasons.

So Scotland is anti-immigrant. Really? We're not the ones who voted for Brexit.

The referendum brought out the very worst in people such a shame neighbours thought it was totally fine to treat you like that VeryLittleOwl

Wow, Sherlock. With your hatred of scenery I'm just astonished you visited more than once.

I honeymooned in a folding caravan in Glencoe in February in 1982. Stunning scenery and on the last night on the deserted campsite a group of Glasgow bikers turned up. On hearing that we wouldn't be going to the local pub (as we had no money left) they insisted on taking us with them as we were just married. The hospitality was wonderful. I have since been up the West Coast, through the Highlands and over to Harris and have felt welcomed everywhere. This Easter we are planning a motorhome trip to Northumberland and the East Coast of Scotland. Any suggestions gratefully received

Icnanotremember - The beach at Gullane is called the Bents. So if you are coming from the Edinburgh direction through the village look out for signs to your left. We used to own the bakery there but I don't remember many rock pools on the beach. I wonder if they took you to Dirleton, you walk through sand dunes and come to the beach which is more rocky.

North Berwick and Coldingham are lovely grannycake.

It wasn't by choice, LJ. Visited twice on family holidays, then went to Glasgow with an ex-boyfriend whose family lived there.

Then DH wanted to visit friends, so we decided to make a week of it.

Glencoe was a particular low-point, which was a shame as it's one of DH's favourite places. He used to live in Scotland and loves grey/bleak/wet places. I just don't.

Grannycake, Are you looking for sites for your Motorhome? Or just generally places to go?

Remind me never to go on holiday to England as it's so remote and I hate Morris dancing. No it's an amazing 'place'

Glencoe's particular low point was in 1692.

Yes, but that’s the difference between 33 degrees and 27. It’s not as if you need your big jacket. 🙄 And since everyone in London agrees it’s just too hot, surely 6 degrees cooler with a lovely breeze is an improvement?

Erm no, average. We are talking the difference between 17 and 23. It's 17 today where I am, and although it's been a beautiful day it isn't beach weather.

Places to visit Granny cake - St Abbs, watch all the divers coming and going and go up to St Abbs Head. If you can park up in Cove village, just after Coburnspath on the A1 and then walk down to the harbour you are in for a surprise, try going through the tunnel to the beach!
Places on the Northumberland coast - Bambrugh, Holy Island - watch for the tides - no camping on the island allowed. and Berwick upon Tweed for the town walls and the old Napoleonic battements and garrison.

Scotland is a stunning, amazing country and when global warming kicks in I’ll never holiday anywhere else.

Yes indeed derxa. Despite its remote location I've been to hundreds of places in England from Berwick on Tweed to St Ives over the years and have found those locations to be quite diverse, with a wide variety of different accents (all reasonably intelligible with a bit of effort). Most people have been friendly, a few have been arses. The weather has often been mixed.

I took a break from my haggis farming, bagpipe playing and English people crucifying to see which good old MN stereotypes would be wheeled out for this thread, and I was not disappointed.

BTW, we have train stations and airports here now, so no need to drive for 6 weeks to get here...

i have lived here 25 years not really ever come across any anti-English thing about from around the referendum when there were a few adverse comments
Scotland is very different just like Yorkshire Moors are different to Norfolk Broads or the Jurassic coast or the orchards of Evesham or the ancient streets in York or Canary Wharf
so the Hebrides are different to Edinburgh which has a different vibe to Glasgow,, Aberdeen is different to the Solway Firth, even all the islands are different Orkney is different to Mull and Iona
Scotland has a lot more space, it is 32% of the land mass of UK but has only 8% of the population ( most of which is in the central belt between Glasgow and Edinburgh) in contrast England is 53% of the land mass with 84% of the population
population in the highlands is 9 per square kilometre, in Glasgow it is 3554 which is actually more like Greater london which depends on site varies between 1500 and 5000, though Tower hamlets is more than 15,000 the less dense area of England is Northumberland at just over 100

LOL @UsedtobeFeckless.

(And all you people talking publicly about how lovely Northumberland beaches are can stop that as well.)