Things to bring back form Scotland?

[TrueBlueBabyILoveYou]

We have a 2-week trip to Scotland. I am planning on spending some money up there on ourselves and Christmas shopping (apologies!)

We are going to Edinburgh, the west coast, and isles and Pitlochry.

What is good to bring back from Scotland in terms of clothing, other stuff, and food? I am not looking for souveneirs.

When are you coming?

You need to be more specific what you are looking for I am assuming you live in the UK so probably be able to get stuff at home.

Pitlochry has 2 distilleries the islands have distilleries.

I’d bring back a lovely Scotsman in a kilt

July

All that kinda stuff has a huge mark up for the tourists. It’s just tat.
It depends on what it is you’re actually looking for.

I stock up on lovely pinhead oats when we go north.

Honestly, I'm not sure what you could buy here that you can't get elsewhere (except certain foods maybe).

Hopefully we've actually opened up by July. At the end of April we'll be going back into levels and the central belt will likely be level 3 or 4.

I think I would want to look at cashmere for us all, knitwear, consumable goods like local whiskeys that I can get for Christmas.

Edinburgh Rock 😋

I'm sure there are independent craftspeople in the western isles making all sorts - you can probably narrow down some on etsy.

Well there is that maybe places won't be open by July so you might be limited.

Decent Square sausage

Square sausage, potato scones and black pudding!

If you're going as far as Skye, Misty Isle vodka and gin is very nice.

In the novel “The Windsor Knot”, Prince Philip, off on a trip to Scotland, asks the Queen what she’d like him to bring back, then suggests “Nichola Sturgeon’s head on a platter”!

Consumables won't last until Christmas for the good stuff like shortbread however tablet and whisky will. As for cashmere and wool don't be sucked in my Edinburgh woollen mill as you can get that stuff anywhere even garden centres in UK. Anything you can buy in Edinburgh centre such as the Royal Mile won't be worth what you pay. But check out the salmon run and distillery in Pitlochry. Gorgeous.

The clothes shops on the Royal Mile is a tourist trap just expensive tweed tatt

Potato scones, some independent small still gin!

*09:14RaisinforBeing

Edinburgh Rock 😋*

Oo yes

Rowies!

Aka butteries/ Aberdeen rolls.

Are you in England? Can you bring some back for me please.

Lorne sausage and morning rolls is what we always brought back. And proper bacon.

There's a theme there.

Also eat all the sea food you can - particularly the langoustines.

Scotch pies from a proper butcher.

@MaggieFS

Rowies!

Aka butteries/ Aberdeen rolls.

Are you in England? Can you bring some back for me please.

I got butteries in Sainsbury’s in Nottingham city centre a few years ago! I was delighted.

There are lots of local craftspeople who make beautiful things that are not tat but genuine keepsakes and I would like as a present.

I particularly like island art/craft studios in peoples homes where meeting the crafts person is part of the experience. The small traditional houses and the beaches etc are so beautiful. There are many Scottish jewellery makers too who make beautiful things.

I like the mini (6”) paintings of windswept landscapes and wild flowers, stained glass, hand blown glass bowls, stunning photos of places like Glencoe, which can be so bleak, or the Harry Potter viaduct (you can do a steam train ride over that).

Hire a car and travel, and read up about the history of any places you are interested in so you can see if anything catches your eye and you can tell people the story behind it.

If you trace your ancestors back to Scotland prior (popular just now for those in lockdown staying in more) or have a Scottish surname you can look up something about your clan. It will have its own tartan. I personally love tartan so I don’t think it’s tat but some people hate it. I’d personally get something tartan but not from a tat shop!

If you want a kilt they are very expensive £350 upwards as handmade and made to measure is available so allow time for that)) but hire shops sometimes sell ex hires if they change their kilt ranges, which will be clean, cheaper and look/feel the part.

If you are going to the island of Harris pick up something Harris tweed. (Book any bookable ferries as soon as the dates are released for booking ahead as they will be booked up in days for many months ahead by U.K. staycationers) I’d get a Harris tweed purse or handbag. I also like Ness handbags but you can buy them anywhere, they arent island specific.

Basically read history info and do research first and see what jumps out at you. There’s something for everyone.

Enjoy your holiday but we are still in full lockdown here and don’t expect to be back to anything like normality for a few months yet, so I’d suggest come a bit later in the year.

Home-made 'tablet'.
You'll find it in village shops, or you'll see signs by the roadside.

Most of the towns areas will have specialist off licences . All you can do is mooch around and see what you fancy. The House of Bruar which is just outside Pitlochry has a food hall clothes shop etc etc all under the same roof and sells what you might be looking for.