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.

There used to be a rail service where you could drive your car onto the train in London, and off again in Edinburgh. I'm assuming this doesn't exist any more?

The Scottish hate the English- complete tosh! Don't be ridiculous. Let's present a huge stereotype. Unless you've met every Scot you CANNOT say this. I live in Glasgow and it's hands down the friendliest city I have ever known- people tell you their life story at bus stops, there's humour in every corner. Ffs.

So many wonderful places. Particular favourites: The Borders; Arisaig and the Sands of Morar ( Google it, you will be blown away); Dornoch; North Berwick; Shetland.

I think I can explain it.

I love Scotland and believe passionately in independence. So it’s not like me to knock the place. However, even though the further north you go the more beautiful Scotland is, sadly the level of service and standard of facilities for tourists decreases exponentially.

Glasgow is a friendly city. So is Dundee. Both pro-independence cities but I digress.

Edinburgh and Aberdeen aren’t very friendly places. If you’re not talking Gleneagles or 5 star then hotels and restaurants in the highlands are mostly absolute amateur hour and there is a lack of interest in the customer experience. Going north is like going back in time.

The tourist board does its best to promote Scotland to tourists but it needs more. Like say a CenteParcs or something equivalent to create competition and drive standards up.

However, I would far rather holiday in the Scottish Borders or Dumfries and Galloway than the Lake District. Both are like Northumberland. Lake District without the masses.

yes- the weather is the main issue

The weather! I’ve been twice, once in August and once in October and it literally didn’t stop raining for a minute and was freezing cold. Lovely place but I swore I’d never go back for a holiday. I do go to Edinburgh and Glasgow for work and I like both cities but the highlands and the islands, no way.

Yeah I don't do Cornwall for the same reason Maybelline. In the NW of England, if you want a UK beach holiday then Wales is only down the road, and so beautiful too. You can be in places like Pwllheli and Anglesey in two hours, so it's the easier option. I like reading all the Welsh signs too! Cornwall is beautiful but I feel like it's hard to justify the extra trek and cost.

However, I would far rather holiday in the Scottish Borders or Dumfries and Galloway

Hmmm... talk to me about some good places guys. I have a holiday addiction and will store any recommendations away for when the kids are bigger!

Oops posted on wrong thread!

“Unfriendly people (if you’re English)”

Absolute rubbish. There is virtually none of that mindset in Scotland. There is an unfriendliness to anyone and poor us mindset/chips on shoulders the further north you go.

I can only speak to my own experience, but I have found people in Glasgow in particular to be friendly.

@iampicklerick

Here are some amazing holiday cottages in the Borders and over the border in Northumberland.

Classy, well priced accommodation with lots to do all around.

www.crabtreeandcrabtree.com

For those that say distance - I say LMFAO . It’s always so funny to hear/read the Brit thing re ‘distance’.

My children really want to go! One is excited about Edinburgh zoo and highland wildlife park and the other is hoping to see the lochness monster. I’m more than happy to take them.

I personally don’t like Cornwall much the Lake District is nice though when I’ve passed through it.

I get what your saying op. I don't know many people from my neck of the woods who go anywhere past Yorkshire for a holiday in the U.K. I think it's probably the distance and the weather. Wales, Devon & Cornwall are more doable when you only have a week off work.

Its cold, wet, miserable, full of midgies and the Scots don't like the English ?

can any Scottish mums netters please recommend places to go/stay in Scotland that aren't a crazy long journey from London? I want to go but all the places we've looked at involve a 7/10 hour journey one way!

We visited Scotland 2 years ago. We rented a cottage in the remote Highlands and had the most wonderful week away. Dd was able to go skiing on the Lecht and DS who has SN got to visit Fort George and Culloden (he is fascinated with military things.)
We went on various (easy) hikes through the Highlands and tbh I was blown away by the scenery. I actually shed a few tears at the sheer beauty of it.
Hoping to go back soon. I'd recommend it to everyone.

Yeah LMAO, 9 hours with 3 kids screaming, fighting and throwing missiles is so hilarious at 70mph LOLZ

Will check out that recommendation, thank you Streetwise

I used to go to the West Highlands/ Cairgorms for hiking before DCs. Stunningly beautiful. In no rush to take the DCs though.

If I'm doing battle with the M6, then fortunately for me, the Lake District is halfway up.
It generally gets milder as you go south. As a rough trend, I'd say Cornwall is quite reliably about 5oC warmer than Scotland. As campers, that makes a heck of a difference. It's enough to make beaches a look, but don't touch experience, well paddling in the sea anyway.
Midgies.
Once you're there after a very long drive, the attractions are also sparsly distributed, so every day involves hours in the car. We do repeat visits to Cornwall because we can do a different combination each time and get great value out of NT membership

Scotland is a fabulous holiday destination, and gets loads of tourists. Even loads of Scottish people holiday in Scotland during the summer, because its amazing then - off they go away its usually sept/oct/march/April time. Of course that might also be because we can't cope with hot weather...

There's loads of folk from Scotland on this thread disputing the 'don't like the English' notion.

My partner's English and moved up in the summer. She's had one teenager mock her accent but to be fair she works in schools so they've got to mock something.

We have family on Mull. It's a 12 hour drive and includes either one longer ferry from Oban or 2 shorter ferry trips (one across the loch at Fort William and another across the Sound of Mull at Lochaline).
There's no airport on Mull either so even if we fly up to Glasgow, Edinburgh or Inverness we would still need to hire a car.

I've had a few holidays in Scotland and have never had a problem with midges. I work on the basis that I'm not expecting good weather so I'm never disappointed by it, and in fact have sometimes deliberately gone in the autumn or early spring so that we can rent a cottage with an open fire. It really is spectacularly beautiful - in fact a friend of mine who has travelled all over the world reckons Scotland is the most beautiful place she's visited.

Lottie, how far is Moffat from you?
It's just off the road that the M6 becomes after Carlisle.