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.

Because it’s cold I guess?

I agree that Scottish beaches are stunning. I need the sunshine though. I want it to be about 25 degrees to totally enjoy a beach holiday.

The weather in NZ is pretty mixed, but it can be very lovely in the summer and it’s definitely a good deal hotter than Scotland.

I’ve spent loads of time in Scotland, I love it. Edinburgh is one of my favourite places in the world. I would move there in a heartbeat if it was a bit warmer.

@Lord it was like that for us at the top of Snowdon I have the funniest photos of us all. Must print them off!

I dont like Cornwall it's no way as exciting as Scotland. We usually have nicer weather in the highlands and I am a Dorset girl x

I’ve never been to Scotland but I would definitely love to go. UK holidays can be expensive if the weather isn’t great as you tend to pay more for indoor activities

I've had a few holidays in Cornwall and have had enough now. A bit dark and damp in the little valleys, and the towns seem to be either dominated by rich holidaymakers with second or holiday homes, or quite bleak. Great beaches though.

"Anything on the west coast that I mustn’t miss???"

Go to Eilean Donan Castle. I'm not the castly type but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I'm pretty sure a trip over the mountain to Applecross is kinda within reach too if my memory serves me correct and the Inn does a lovely afternoon bbq on the waters edge with picnic tables etc(width of the road outside the Inn to get there)
Catch a day like we did and I guarantee you will not find anywhere better.
Memories of that afternoon will never fade. Awesome.

Scotland is hands down my favourite place to go on holiday! Perfect walking weather for the pale of complexion. Beautiful wild beaches on the West Coast. Lovely people.

West coast.

Kilda from Uig
Fairy Glen on Skye
Falloch falls
Fort Augustus
Dinosaur footprints on skye

For us it's the cost and travel time. We are in the SE and every time I've looked at travelling to Scotland we could fly to somewhere in Europe quicker than the train to Scotland or cheaper than the train/flight to Scotland. The cost factor is likely to change with Brexit so that might change things.

Just an observation but if you include the journey as being part of the holiday you can lose the 'can get to here in that time's mind frame.

Stunningly beautiful country that varies from region to region. Lovely people, lots of open spaces but unpredictable weather and it can take as long to get there (or longer) as it can to get to Europe. A Scot once told me when I was in the Alps (Chamonix) that Scotland would be just the same if it could be towed 800 miles further South

You have to drive the Bealach na pa! If a confident driver, and let the locals pass by.

I've been booking hotels for the second week in May and many are booked up already. This is Skye and NW coast.

Midges

So I posted midges somewhat as a joke, but do bring some sort of spray.

However, on a more sensible note, I live in Shetland. And we definitely have fewer midges here, mostly because we have more wind. Also we have Jimmy Perez, and puffins. I am tour guide, mates rates Shetland is truly beautiful, much less grey than the Shetland series shows. If you can afford to come, come.

Do not go in the midge season, it's ok in towns but a nightmare in the country side, you have been warned!!!.

Midges are no joke. People have died because of midges!

Oh, wait, that never happened.

Grab a citronella candle from Lidl and you’re good to go.

Luskentyre beach is mind blowingly stunning. It should be on everyone's bucket list of places to go

I found out i was allergic to midge bites on a weekend campingon Loch lomond the wee bastards ate me alive and i ended up in A&E out of my tree on painkillers and piriton. But come to Scotland is fiiinnnee

BlackForestCake
“Most hospitality establishments are between mediocre and dreadful
Public transport is poor
Outside of Glasgow and Edinburgh there is bugger all culture”.

None of the above is true, and actually makes me quite annoyed that you think that. If you’ve been absolutely everywhere in Scotland and think this, fine, if not you’re just plain wrong.

Whoever said the further north you get the worse the customer service is? Have you been to Shetland? If not, you’re opinion makes no sense.

Is Shetland dog friendly, pubs and cafes etc?

When DH was a student he had a job as a water baillif for the summer, part of his beat was Luskentyre beach, he lived in a tiny wee hut in the middle of nowhere and I used to trail up by train bus and ferry to visit him, twas very romantic, especially patrolling Luskentyre beach in the summer dim. By the end of the summer cabin fever set in but we have some interesting memories. Must go back, can't believe it's been 30 years, not very many tourists in those days!

Villanellesproudmum
I can’t comment on every cafe/pub in Shetland, but some are dog friendly yes! And you’ll definitely find pet friendly accommodation.

I’ve lived in Shetland, Glasgow, Nottingham, Illinois, and Michigan. In all of these places I’ve found lovely lovely people, and I’ve also found numpties.

I was told to speak the Queen’s English by someone in Nottingham, and asked by a colleague in Glasgow if we had electricity in Shetland

I’ve had Americans tell me that everyone all over the world should be grateful that the US looks after everyone else so well

And I’ve had Shetlanders get their knickers in a knot about English people.

The Queen’s English person turned out to be nice too, just a bit full on. My Glasgow plonker is probably still a plonker and goes out at the weekend and causes Glaswegian style trouble.

The Shetland numpties are still numpties. And the Americans, well we know what happened there.

But overall, I’ve met lovely people in all these places.