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.

Scotland is fabulous and lots of places don't get midges at all.

We've had about 8 holidays there and the weather was only crap on 2. When I retire I plan to tour as much as I can, including some islands.

I'm really enjoying the programme too, Susan Calman is wonderful in it.

Ah, I’ve nerver been to Canada either although I’d like to. Every year I say I’m going to go somewhere different but I’m always drawn back to America. Can’t beat it

rain, midges.
Most my trips are combined with seeing family & we don't have any in Scotland.
Almost takes longer to get there than it does to get to California.

The accent can be difficult to understand at speed and we feel awkward at having to repeat 'pardon' too often.
But the accent of, say, a Spanish person speaking English is so much easier? Believe it or not, Scottish people work with English people all the time. None of my conference calls need subtitles.

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.
WTF? This is hyperbole to say the least. I never once ran across this during the referendum. This stereotype is as ridiculous as it is damaging.

We know that you're friendly and welcoming but those images had a negative impact
You know Scotland is friendly but a picture you saw will keep you away? Do you always over-react so?

And the bagpipes.
Yep, can’t get moved for fucking bagpipes. 🙄

I watched 'on the basis of sex' yesterday.

For a couple of years I've been trying to work out why I felt I recognized the Grampian foothills you can see from the Sidlaws or the north of Angus - they actually remind me of my view of the Rockies from the south of Colorado.

sites.warnercnr.colostate.edu/pathways/registration/2265175851_e88f4019ab/

Except here they're just as pretty but you can drive right into them, pick one and climb it. No mountain lions giving you dirty looks either.

I love Scotland and have had great holidays there. It's bloody cold though. And remote. Several friends of ours have moved from London or the Home Counties to Scotland in recent years and I've thought "Great, they'll be nearer to us then!" (We live in Cumbria.) Then I look on Google maps and realise that nope, they'll be the same distance away or more!

"I don't buy the weather argument."

First time I went to Edinburgh it dropped to - 5, in November. At the time, in Liverpool, it was 10. We really enjoyed it, though. So much that Edinburgh inspired a tattoo for my DD. Later on we found out that we had a Family connection to what she picked, which was spooky.

I would love to go for my Birthday, at the end of March, but every year, its been snowy and really cold. The wind seems more chilling.

I think because Wales is so close, we've stuck to that.

However, I want to go again and I want to do the Cairngorms. A Friend went to the Isle of Mull and it looked stunning.

Aberdeenshire frequently has the one of the highest U.K. temperatures.

18.3C in Aboyne (Aberdeenshire) last week.

@sulflower

I went to school there, Aboyne seems to have its own micro climate!

I do understand why people are reluctant to drive quite so far. We feel the same about going to Cornwall from the Highlands. The drive is just so long that it puts us off.

I live in the area of Scotland that gets the most midges and they are a pain but you get used to them. Smidge is fantastic, Skin so Soft has a different formula now so is useless. I can see why some people get put off though.

We have lots of people from the UK holidaying here too, camper vans are everywhere in summer and winter. We're a very outdoorsy area and if you have active kids there is nowhere better to be in the UK. It's not a place to come if you like being indoors though.

As for the anti English nonsense, I have no doubt that there are individuals who are racist and unplesant but it is far from the majority. Lots of people move up here from the South to start lifestyle businesses, and I don't know anyone who has faced any issues because they are English.

I’m English and have lived all over Britain. I now live on the west coast of Scotland - very near Arran.

Really like it here but it’s cold and autumn starts in August. It was very noticeable this year when It was warm in the rest of the country until late September.

What is it like as a winter autumn destination too?

DH regularly takes the DC to visit family in Edinburgh in Feb half term because the weather doesn't affect the kind of things you go to Edinburgh for (culture). Same would be true for Glasgow, it's an excellent city break with lots of good museums. If you want outdoor pursuits go to the Cairngorns.

I e been to Edinburgh, great city. A flying visit to Inverness, which was beautiful.

Come for your Birthday Birds it was 12 degrees here yesterday i had to take the big coat off! Although winter isn't over so we could have snow next week.

We were wondering the same thing. Went to the Glens for the first time in Oct/November and it’s gorgeous. Hardly anyone there though tourist wise, maybe we went at an odd time of year?

I’d like to visit Scotland again but I just don’t fancy fighting our way all the way up there on congested aggressive English motorways.

We live in Cornwall, so I’d sooner riddle across the Tamar Bridge to Plymouth and hop on a ferry to France where it’s warmer and better driving / camping facilities for a family in a camper van.

Plus, I really really hate bagpipes. And we’ve had some truly appalling customer service issues in Scotland in expensive places which were very offputting.

The midges are getting a really bad press here! We go to Scitland every year, often more than once, largely for holidays or weekends away rather than for work. It is considerably closer than Cornwall for many people! (I live in West Yorkshire. 5 mins from the MN favourite place to break a long journey north in the M1, the Yorkshire Sculpture Park).

We’ve been winter mountaineering in the highlands, mountain biking in Dumfries and Galloway, to the Edinburgh festival, amazing deserted beaches on both coasts. We’ve had isolated rural solitude and urban excitement, and one of the best meals I have ever eaten inAberdeen. Admittedly the skiing is a bit hit and miss. I’ve celebrated Hogmanay and Burns Night in style, and watched the sun go down on the longest day in the Hebredies, and then come up again 3 hours later. I’ve ceilidh’ed, swum in the sea, climbed mountains and danced in the rain.

The midges are not the defining feature of Scotland! I’ll leave you to Cornwall* and the inevitable M5 summer gridlock. I’m heading up the M74.

*I have also been to Cornwall a few times, and had some great holidays there. Also rain and midges!

And we had our honeymoon camping on Skye. Got sunburnt the first week of May.

We are going to Corwall for the first time ever this year it is soo far away but making the trek Do it orangesamphire

Midges

It’s absolutely mikes away

Unreliable weather

According to Little Britain Every year tens of people flock to Scotland for their holidays

Tens of people

Plus, I really really hate bagpipes. And we’ve had some truly appalling customer service issues in Scotland in expensive places which were very offputting.

Can't remember the last time I heard bagpipes... oh wait, it was last night, on the telly in the Grand Tour. Before that I have no idea. So you had customer service issues in every expensive establishment you visited?

For those of you who haven't visited, we really don't run about in kilts blawin' the bagpipes at every opportunity. We can also speak very good English.

I love bagpipes and kilts. My uncles all turn up for weddings and such in full kit. Sadly there’s two fiddlers, four amazing dancers and not a piper amongst them.

MIDGES

That's why.