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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
DisplayPurposesOnly · 23/02/2019 09:01

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?

I remember doing that as a kid (my dad was in the navy and we were travelling from Kent to Helensburgh) but, no, I don't think it exists now.

I have long fancied a trip on the sleeper train though, and I see they are getting shiny new carriages this spring, so this might be the year Smile. I bought a guide book last week to have a little think...

diplodocusinermine · 23/02/2019 09:03

We usually have 2 weeks on the west coast in May - we were in Kinlochewe last year and the midges arrived on 26th May.......... they stopped us sitting outside after about 7pm but weren’t a problem during the day. A weekend in Inveraray in July was about ruined by the bitey wee feckers! The east coast isn’t bothered by midges, or Orkney and Shetland.

longwayoff · 23/02/2019 09:04

Stunningly beautiful place. Lovely people. But rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. It's a bit too wet for regular visits from me.

IHopeYouUnderstandWeArePuppets · 23/02/2019 09:05

I have an English sounding husband and English in laws. My children sound English too. We have holidayed all over Scotland and I can honestly say I’ve never witnessed any hostility based on their accents.

—On the other hand I’ve been humiliated in an English shop when using Scottish money, which is legal tender in England too. Didn’t let it put me off holidaying there though, I love visiting England.—

morningconstitutional2017 · 23/02/2019 09:05

It's remote but so is Cornwall, so it's obviously the weather and the midges. The accent can be difficult to understand at speed and we feel awkward at having to repeat 'pardon' too often.

I hate to say this, but during the referendum for independence those pictures of bare-chested, aggressive, snarling Independents who give the impression that they hate we English and would like to skin us alive were off-putting. We know that you're friendly and welcoming but those images had a negative impact. And the bagpipes.

nonevernotever · 23/02/2019 09:05

I'm sure I'll regret recommending this but have a look at colonsay. Beautiful little island only 2 hours from oban on the ferry or you can fly. Its a proper little story book place. Fantastic beaches, always empty small enough to cycle all the way around in an hour, one brewery, one shop, one ice cream /cake shop and one bookshop. What more do you need? Its on a similar latitude to Edinburgh and often has stunning weather particularly April-June, and the spring festival is amazing. Lots of craft workshops taught by really high quality tutors with all your materials included and at ridiculous prices (£12-15for a half day session up to £25for a full day stained glass workshop)

Only other recommendation would be to say that it always seems to rain in Edinburgh in August. Best weather is earlier in the year

Yabbers · 23/02/2019 09:05

Oh the stereotypes are flowing.

There are not midges everywhere. I can’t remember the last time I was bitten. I assume people don’t avoid their beach holidays because of mosquitoes and cockroaches?

“Scotland” is a big place so it’s ridiculous to make sweeping statements about things like weather. Sure it rains on the west coast of Scotland, just as it does on the west coast of England. On the other hand, Aberdeenshire frequently has the one of the highest U.K. temperatures.

The roads are well able to cope with tourists.

I’d love to go but it’s just too far to drive with 3 kids.
Utter rubbish. It really isn’t that far, you’d be travelling for less time than your overseas trip if you factor in hours sitting in airports.

longwayoff · 23/02/2019 09:05

Oh . . . And the bloody midges

SeeMoreStars · 23/02/2019 09:05

I love Scitland. Interesting reading:

www.google.com/amp/s/www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/outlander-effect-drives-boom-in-visitors-1-4832143/amp

SeeMoreStars · 23/02/2019 09:06

Scotland even

BluebellCockleshell123 · 23/02/2019 09:07

I live in Scotland and have had loads of holidays on the west coast. Fantastic beaches, great cycling and hill walking. But when the weather is bad there's not much to do.

We are going to Yorkshire for our hols this year 😀

N0rdicStar · 23/02/2019 09:08

I remember Findhorn.SmileMorayshire was where we lived. Can see why I don’t remember midges now. I’d like to do that book town(Wigtown) and Edinburgh too as never been.Are there other recommended places to visit in that area?

OP posts:
diplodocusinermine · 23/02/2019 09:09

Ah, yes, the Scottish money thing. We were on holiday in Cornwall one year and were wandering round Truro when DH announced he’d like an ice cream. I paid with a Scottish tenner - had got the holiday spends out the bank at home - and the ice cream parlour owner refused to accept it. Luckily DH had already licked his ice cream so I told shop owner he could have the tenner, or the ice cream back!

However - have you ever tried to use a bank note from Northern Ireland in Scotland? An even more dramatic reaction than a Scottish tenner in Truro!

frasersmummy · 23/02/2019 09:09

I don't buy the weather argument. There is not that big a difference in the climate across the UK for it to be a deciding factor surely. You can't guarantee the weather anywhere in the UK.
I have just checked and its currently 10 degrees in Glasgow and only 8 in London

TheWernethWife · 23/02/2019 09:10

We have family who live just north of Inverness. Visit twice a year and love it, never seen midges (I believe they are on the west coast). Love Cromarty (could live there) and around the Moray coast towards Elgin. The beach at Lossiemouth is gorgeous and we have walked on Findhorn Beach on New Years Day where the weather was gorgeous, sunny and not too cold.

MrsJayy · 23/02/2019 09:11

I live in an historical tourist area there is always tourists here it is a popular holiday destinations. The midges are not really an issue in the lowlands.

Laterthanyouthink · 23/02/2019 09:11

@MrsMoastyToasty you can fly from Glasgow to Mull via seaplane

www.lochlomondseaplanes.com

HoraceCope · 23/02/2019 09:11

weather
distance

LellowYedbetter · 23/02/2019 09:11

Never been and never fancied it. You hear the scenery is nice but I can’t inagine it compares to the USA in that regard

Loopytiles · 23/02/2019 09:11

Weather etc is an issue UK wide (although south is a bit warmer). It’s distance IMO.

LellowYedbetter · 23/02/2019 09:11

*I hear the scenery is nice

Jaggypinecone · 23/02/2019 09:13

I live here and consider myself to be the luckiest person in the world every time I wake up and look out my window.

We don’t hate the English, this is nonsense. However we have an inbred dislike of assholes and tend not to suffer fools gladly. So if you have a chip on your shoulder about something, it’ll be spotted and dislodged before you can say haggis, especially more in the West than the east.

Weather tends to be drier and sunnier in the east but often colder but less midges in the east. West milder, wetter but beautiful nonetheless.

Midges like damp, still conditions so prevail in the wilder places with such conditions. Not apparent in the cities. They don’t like wind and strong sunlight. Rannoch Moor is where they are most fierce from Late June to September if the conditions are right, and parts of Skye.

Scotland is heaving with tourists but they all seem to congregate around places that feature on bucket lists. So Edinburgh, Inverness, Loch Ness, Skye, NC500 are mobbed.

I was born here and have lived here all my 50 years in various parts and would say that there are so many more tourists now than years ago. Places I used to go that would have a car park for a dozen vehicles (which would never be full) now have parking for the masses and it’s still nigh on impossible to find a space. This is a good thing though coz we depend so much on tourism.

But you can still go off the beaten track and meet no-one. But I’m not telling you where on a public forum. Go dig out a map and look for the roads less travelled for there will be a view round every corner.

I’ve lived in the west and the east and travelled extensively to every part of Scotland. There’s no place like it and yes Glasgow is the friendliest City. You’ll make three new pals just going for a piss in a pub.

And to repeat, we don’t hate the English or anyone else, just assholes. Where you’re from is interesting but once you’re here you’re one of us, that’s how we role.

BooksAreMyOnlyFriends · 23/02/2019 09:14

Lellow

Scotland is more like Canada than the USA.

sulflower · 23/02/2019 09:14

It's true about the Outlander effect. We went to Doune Castle last year, had no idea about it's connection with Outlander and GoT and got chatting to a lady from Historic Scotland who worked there. She told us they'd had 6,000 visitors the day before. We went first thing and there were coachloads arriving when we left. We also visited Culross, Blackness Castle and a few other places on the same trip and kept hearing about Outlander everywhere we visited so decided to watch it. Got addicted and binge watched all 4 seasons Grin.

HoraceCope · 23/02/2019 09:15

I live closer to Luxembourg than Glasgow

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