Scotland

I'll give it under ten posts to turn into a you know what.

My partner is of Scottish descent so we decided to do a proper two week tour of Scotland last July (I had never been there before)

We started with Edinburgh, for a couple of days, then flew from there to Shetland for several days (which was amazing!), then flew back to Aberdeen, got a car and drove to the Royal Teeside and visited Balmoral. From there we drove to Skye via Inverness and Loch Ness and stayed here for a few days (also amazing but rather crowded with way too many tourists). Finally, we went to Glasgow just for a day, which was... interesting in a grim sort of way.

They say that in Scotland the sizemeat is measured by the foot...........

I loved it. Top 5 vacation of all time. I went to Edinburgh and the best part really was the highland day tours - look up "Heart of Scotland" and "Rabbies." call them if you need help deciding on tours that won't overlap. And take dramamine for the bus if you get motion sick! I went on 1 with each company and they were the best two days of the trip. In the city, I saw the castle (tourist festival - but everyone sees it - kinda dull actually) and then the palace of Holyroodhouse with the gardens where the Queen still visits once a year. Neither of those things were as good as the highland tours.

I think Scottish guys are pretty good looking... I hooked up with 2 back when people weren't total flakes. They were also much more friendly than guys here, I felt. One was super hot with a small dick - the other was average with a loch ness monster dick.

I don't remember too much about the food. (I actually remember having Chinese food one day). On the tours, they took us to butcher shops who had fresh meat pies in puff pastry - - those were really good.

I'd go back. I really want to see Skye - but I am afraid to spend a lot of time in the highlands during midge season (may-sep), so maybe I'll back after September - but then it's cold.

We went to Edinburgh for a bear run and had a great time! The guys were friendly and they did some fun things for the run like a scavenger hunt down the royal mile. The city itself is cool, especially the old part. We also did a Rabbies day trip to see Stirling Castle, Aberfoyle, and Loch Ness, which was cool, but we only had an hour at the castle which really wasn't enough time. But overall a great trip and would definitely do it again.

Don’t listen to Glasgow nay sayer. The restaurant and bar scene there is off the fucking hook. Seriously. I had some fabulous meals and hung out with really cool people.

I’m not saying that you should spend all your time there. But go for two nights. Check out the necropolis and the kelvingrove art museum. Have dinner/drinks at The Finneston, The Ox and Finch, Crabshakk.

The art scene is vibrant there too. There’s a massive exodus of people from London going up there to live because it’s way more affordable.

Also, go to the highlands.

Sucks

Glasgow does have some nice restaurants (The Ox and Finch was fabulous) and the art scene is good, but it's like Marseille: prostitutes outside what's supposed to be a nice hotel, sketchy characters who, when you see, you get to the other side of the street, really scuzzy in many ways. It's kind of fascinating in that sort of way.

You might get to meet some hot guys in kilts.

If wearing a kilt, make sure to tuck those neeps and tatties!

Love Scotland, the people there are so friendly. If you visit Stirling Castle eat at the pub restaurant next to it , The Portcullis. The staff are so nice, the food is great and I couldn't believe the prices, next to nothing. Book first though as it's very popular.

Come to Edinburgh. We have a castle, Holyrood Palace, loads of museums, the Royal Mile...

Scottish people are super nice to tourists, unless they're English.

I moved to Edinburgh (from London) about 3 years ago. Haven't regretted the move for a second. People are so much friendlier, the landscape is stunning, and life just seems so much more enjoyable.

Gay friendly (particularly Glasgow, not so much the Outer Hebrides), particularly as equality legislation was passed only comparatively recently. Partying - Glasgow. Culture -Edinburgh. Boring- Inverness. Castles (ruined and whole) - Everwhere. Scenery - Lomond, Trossachs, Glencoe, Inner Hebrides, Pitlochry Area. Guard against Midgies. Go to a day at a Highland Games for Pipes, Kilts, Tossing Cabers, Tug-o-War and Shot-Putting. It's rude to look up Kilts - unless invited!

For those of us who can get BBC Scotland. Tonight, 27 April at 21.00 - a programme called "Coming Oot! A fabulous history of gay Scotland".

Scotland is my favourite part of the world. Enjoy, OP!

Been there twice and loved it both times. The people are very warm. Did a Rabbie's tour of the whiskey distilleries on Islay and spent time in Edinburgh and Glasgow. didn't pay much attention to the gay scene but I would guess it's equally as warm as the Scots are.

Agreed, the food in Glasgow is better than what you find in London.

[quote] I'll give it under ten posts to turn into a you know what.

Explain please.

I really wanted to go this year, but the prices for the airfare and most available hotels are more than double what they were when I went in 2012. I tried a lot of different date combos but nothing got the price down significantly. The airBnB accommodations are sometimes even more than mid-range hotels. I don't know why everything is so much more expensive.

I am wondering, OP, about your wording. You don't have vacation time EVERY year?

I'll listen to Penelope Kieth who's there right now on her "Coastal" travel program episode airing on PBS right now, and get back to you as soon as becomes possible!

How would you guys compare Scotland with Ireland (particularly the people)? Better, worse, hotter, uglier, etc.?

It's too hard to generalize. They're both kind of similar with regard to being friendly & attractiveness varies. I've met plenty of people in both countries (Dublin and Edinburgh) and some are hot, some are not, some are really friendly, some are not. I think both countries / cities are more friendly than most places in America...and a better sense of humor among both too, compared to American gays.

R25, you're right, I do think generalities can reveal a lot about a culture though. Were there any other differences you noticed between gays in those countries versus the ones in America?

Charm is not in short supply in Ireland.

I got a more serious, reserved vibe from Scotland. And more urbane - less rural than Ireland. I felt they were very different - though the landscapes had similarities. And Scotland has 2 major cities. Ireland has Dublin and than a lot of towns.

[quote] Charm is not in short supply in Ireland.

Is it lucky though?

[quote]ten posts to turn into a you know what.

if you're thinking leprechaun, um . . .

You forget Belfast, R28.

Belfast is pretty small.

I was actually surprised how much Scotland felt like an independent country: hardly any Union Jacks in sight but the St Andrew's Cross was *everywhere*.

Go to Inverness and hike the highlands, see Loch Ness and the castle on the Loch as well! Edinburgh is beautiful and a very old well-kept city with the age of their buildings. Lots of great architecture, even old roman architecture back when George IV was crazy about that shit. The men in Edinburgh are hot too--some very loose ;)

One of my favorite vacations, will have to go back. Was last there in 2017

I think Scotland definitely has the edge over Ireland in charm and friendliness.

I would agree with R36. On the shallow side, I also found the man to be somewhat hotter (at least to me): sure, there are good looking guys in Ireland but nothing you wouldn't see among the North American Irish; on the other hand, in Scotland, you'll see those sturdy, tall and burly Highlands specimens. The kind that should always be wearing kilts and showing off their muscular hairy legs. The look is generally completed by a beard which, on men like that, looks much better than on urban lumbersexual hipsters.

Concur, r37. Alternatively, in the many cool drinking establishments around Edinburgh and Glasgow you will find pocket sized perfection in the form of James McAvoy and Mark Bonnar lookalikes. Every pub features at least one as a regular (I believe it may be some form of licensing requirement). They have the gift of the gab too.

Got to go see Elian Donan.

Went to Scotland for the first time five years ago.

Have been back every year since.

Love love love love love love love Scotland.

The people are so friendly, and such great storytellers.

Enjoy your trip!

I was in Edinburgh but I didn't really do any gay scene things. I was only there during the week, so I just looked around that area - I guess by the Apex Waterloo Place? I wasn't exactly sure, but the highland tours picked up there, and someone said there were gay bars around there. I went just briefly during the week to see them & they were empty. I'm sure it's a different story on the weekend, but I still am not sure what to expect cuz sapps fucked up the gay scene in so many cities.

Dublin's gay scene used to be a lot more fun when the apps were in their infancy (and I would assume Scotland is the same way). Before the app era, anyone would talk to you in any bar forever - the "gift of gab" is right for Irish guys too. These days, it seems a lot different. Nobody really talks to people they don't know anymore it seems.

Bring a translator.

I went to Edinburgh Castle and the Queen showed up!

My boyfriend is Scottish. He lives in Edinburgh, which is a beautiful city.

Glasgow is great. Nice bars and culture too.

The countryside, island and lochs are beautiful.

In Glasgow, visit some of the sites designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Very modern looking and they were built at the turn of the 20th century. Very much worth your time.

Looks beautiful.

Go to Barra and land on the beach!

Edinburgh is lovely, but the whole Royal Mile at any time of year is now a sea of tourists. I mean, absolutely insane numbers. You can eat very well there. It's a city that's always been very conscious of its status. You can see it in the way that, with the exception of the Scottish parliament, even shithouse modern architects reign in their egos here. The gay sauna is hidden down a side street, and is not much chop.

Glasgow: what can one say. Everyone looks like they were battered round the head at some stage of their life. You have to remember that even in the 1980s it was a desperately poor place. It does have a decent gay sauna, which is a refreshing change. But don't go looking for beauties. When exiting the city the public housing and slums go on for ever. FOR EVER. No wonder it's socialist. The only surprise is that's it not communist.

The Highlands live up to every expectation. Just ravishing.

R2, I’m surprised you don’t know it’s Royal Deeside. Teesside (double ‘s’) is in England.

Bring a raincoat, wellies, and long sleeves.

[quote]Bring a raincoat, wellies, and long sleeves.

Everything has changed due to the climate change.

I was in the Highlands in November in a t-shirt, and could have sunbaked nude.

Our family was originally Scottish but, being devout Catholics, they fled to Ireland during the religious persecutias of the 16th century.

[quote]Our family was originally Scottish but, being devout Catholics, they fled to Ireland during the religious persecutias of the 16th century.

How absolutely unfascinating and off-topic. Do bore us more.

What's festival season like in August in Edinburgh? Is it a good time to go or just way too packed? Any particularly good festivals?

I just saw the weather last year in June and July going up to 70-80 (21.1-26.6). That's crazy. Nobody has air conditioning either for obvious reasons, but damn - it gets really hot inside and I don't think I could sleep in 80. I am a baby with hot weather. That's one reason I love Ireland, Scotland and other countries in Northern Europe...you can actually go outside in the summer without sweating.

I visited Doune Castle (from Outlander, Game of Thrones, Monty Python) a couple of weeks ago. It's really small, but it was a fun use of an hour, so it's worth a visit if you're nearby - the audio tour is groovy.

Festival season is packed R54. The population of the city doubles. The international Festival is the biggest arts festival in the world. Music, theatre, dance, opera etc. The Fringe is the biggest of its kind in the world. Comedy, theatre, music etc. Literally dozens and dozens and dozens of events all day every day from 8am til 3am. There are half price and free events too. The book festival is great as well. . It’s fantastic if crowded. But accommodation will likely be very expensive. .

Ask ayb

R51, that's not typical Scotland weather. Last summer was unusually hot.

Why do they hate anyone named Campbell?

They don’t. The MacDonalds hate the Clan Campbell - allegedly - because of the Glencoe Massacre. . Other than that I’m not aware there are any issues with Campbell.

Unless you’re going specifically for the festival, stay away from Edinburgh in August. It’s a shitshow.

I concur with r45.

r61 With sky high hotel prices too at that time of year!

For the festival, best advice is to stay out of town and get the train in. Scotland has a great rail service linking all cities. Glasgow, for example, is just an hour away by train and Waverley Station in Edinburgh is magically placed below the castle, smack in the middle of everything.

Absolutely loved my travels in Scotland & nearly all of the information being provided seems true to point. The train ride from Glasgow to Edinburgh is the way I have traveled as well. I found staying in Glasgow and traveling by train was a cost & time effective way of moving about without a vehicle. Royal Mile was a tourist haven but the shops and the whiskey museum were a fun diversion during a wet November visit. Also, tremendously enjoyed visiting Rosslyn Chapel. Ventured into a few gay bars in Glasgow and none were disappointing. Having traveled about Europe a good amout, Scotland was a breath of fresh air and a surprisingly fun time. While you are there, if you like single malt whiskey, pick up one of the rare bottles and enjoy - slowly.

Yes if you're going to the festival stay over in Fife or East Lothian and get the train in.

Obviously watch out for the midges in the countryside. Take insect repellant.

There is a very, very good golf course.

What do you want to see and do OP?

[quote] How would you guys compare Scotland with Ireland (particularly the people)?

Scots are tops. Irish are bottoms.

R64 forget Festival unless, as others have said, you stay outside of the city. Hotels that are shitholes are tripling at least. This problem is getting worse. Wall to wall tourists too if that’s your thing. We locals get pissed off regularly!

Stay in Glasgow (an hour away and Scotland’s friendliest City) or Linlithgow which is nearby and has its very own palace where the doomed Mary! Queen of Scots was born. It’s 20min to Edinburgh by train. Go after 9.15am tickets are much cheaper then.

Book Festival is full of white snobs.

There’s so much to see and do but save time to see some of our stunning lochs or countryside.

They say that in Scotland the sizemeat is measured not by the inch but by the foot!

How about late July in Edinburgh and the Highlands - and then train to London for early August? Festival sounds like way too much to deal with & the prices jump way too high to be stuck in a mob scene.

Would you advise Edinburgh is best visited on the weekends or weekdays? I am not really that into bars, so I usually visit places during the week & it's a little less touristy anyway. But who knows. Maybe Edinburgh guys are more friendly & worth visiting on the weekend.

Totally agree R72 - weekdays are the way to go. Not so crowded, sometimes cheaper. Though anytime in July and August will be relatively crowded and expansive. But love the summer weather in Scotland

Thank you. Prices have increased roughly 25% since 2012, when I last stayed there. It's a bit of a surprise. I looked up my old receipt and the dates to match to the 2019 dates and it's truly that much more. I guess a lot more people are traveling these days. Maybe I'll do the highlands on the weekend and go to london for weekdays again.

Does anyone know the deal with the train between Edinburgh and London? A friend of mine said "there's a really nice train - they serve you full meals and everything" - but he's given me totally inaccurate advice in the past.

Train travel in the UK can be a bit pricey. You may as well fly from Edinburgh to London City Airport on one of those BA subsidiaries for possibly even less money.

Edinburgh is perfectly fine on weekends. Yes, it'll be touristy, but along the Royal Mile and around the Castle, they would be there regardless of the day of the week. Just go and enjoy it, it's a lovely city!

Glasgow and Glasweigans, a ton of fun! Vibrant city and excellent nights out its come a long way since the 80s/90s.

Don't forget to try Kilted Yoga.

We shall Vote VOX!

R74, the train is lovely and takes about as long as flying when you add in the time to get to the airport. As another poster said, flying is usually cheaper than the train, but it depends. Your best bet is to get the train tickets as close to 90 days ahead of time as possible.

Keep in mind when pricing things out that you won't have to pay for extra luggage with the train.

R77 that kilted yogi is an insufferable cunt

R74 flights on BA are too expensive, train much better.

If you go to Edinburgh leave from King’s Cross on a very scenic route. Take the quickest train - around 4.5 hours. Book first class, it’s worth it. Weekday (not Friday) you can usually get deals using best fare finder Book on liner.co.uk First class includes booze and food.

The train to Glasgow leaves from Euston. Also under 4.5 hours but beware some cheaper journeys take an hour plus longer. Book on virgin trains.co.uk Again they have best fare finder First class on weekends has poor service unlike LNER

It is hands down the most stunningly beautiful country I have ever seen. A miniature gem. The mountains are breathtaking but on a smaller scale. A geologist friend explained it to me that the Scottish Highlands are among the oldest land formations on earth and he put it poetically that they are "the weathered, gnarled stumps of the highest mountains the world has ever seen".

The cities all have their charms, Edinburgh is scenic and cultured, Glasgow is vibrant with amazing Victorian architecture, Dundee is small and friendly and a bit mad, Inverness is lovely but very tourist-oriented. The thing that unites them all is you don't have to travel more than 45 minutes - an hour from any city center to be in stunning countryside.

If you're a surfer it's worth a visit too.

Linlithgow is a fun day out if you stay in Edinburgh.

Scotrail is great even though the locals grumble about it, but they’d explode without something to complain about. (Trust me, my partner is Scottish.)

Scotrail are shit

Love, Scottish people

Scottish resident here, the rest of Scotrail may be shite but the every 15 minutes Edinburgh to Glasgow service is great.

Be prepared to be called a cunt, especially if you are in Glasgow. It’s a term of endearment most times. Scottish people have the best sense of humor and are incredibly friendly. If in Glasgow, go to The Two Fat Ladies at the Buttery for a great meal lots of traditional food. Rogano’s is an incredible oyster bar. It’s near Buchanan street which has tons of shops and restaurants.

Once when in London I took a two day side trip up to Inverness just to see Loch Ness (I had a childhood fascination with the monster).

I stayed in Edinburgh. I was so glad I did. The terrain was gorgeous. The city is a lovely place to wander. All peaceful, all beautiful. This was in June I believe.

Better like the great outdoors, OP. Loooong stretches of it.

Been to Glasgow, Edinburgh during the Festival, Loch Ness, Inverness, Ben Nevis, and whatever; can't remember more. Finally saw a tomato in a salad in an out of the way farm B&B.

Speaking of which, the most amazing coincidence: My husband taught for his entire 36-year career in PA, but for one year in CA, in one high school. At this Scottish out of the way farm B&B he had breakfast with the family. Young daughter mentions she has a fellow student Pen-Pal in the States. Oh? Where?

In that same high school in that same town in California.

Coincidence indeed R88. I was in a long queue at Istanbul airport, started chatting with the person in front, turned out we had gone to the same school in a very small town in Northern Ireland. Discussing various teachers passed the time. EVERYONE SHOULD VISIT SCOTLAND!!!

I'm planning to go to Edinburgh, but I have been there before & feel like I got a lot out of it already (the castle, the palace, and a number of other typical tourist sites). I have not been to Glasgow. Would it be worth it do go for a night? A day trip? I'm not sure what there is in the city I'd want to see. It's funny that a few guys I've always considered very attractive are from there. One is not so well known - Ewan Stewart, and the other well-known John Barrowman. Also, another (even more random) guest actor on Merlin who I thought was sexy isGlaswegian. Maybe I should go on a weekend for a trip to their bath house?? Ha.

I'm definitely doing a highlands tour - haven't decided on the duration of it yet, but it'll probably be one of the overnight ones. Switching cities a lot can get tiring, so maybe Glasgow isn't worth it. I haven't looked into it much.

This is Ewan Stewart...when he was on Titanic many years ago. He also played a lawyer on a show that was aired regionally... hard to find it now. He was so hot in that show.

When I was living in London, I had a Glaswegian boyfriend with a great huge dick and an accent so thick I could not understand anything he said, at least the first time he said it. But I really wasn't in it for his ideas, so his accent was not a great obstacle.

Scottish size meat can be impressive. By all means, go try to some down for yourself. Enjoy that trip, OP.

This thread is a little old but I wanted to bump it to ask about gay bars in Glasgow. It looks like Delmonicas and Underground are two popular ones with some good reviews. Is it worth it to go alone, though? I kind of hate being alone in gay bars. When I was younger, I didn't care as much because people were more chatty, but now - it just gets uncomfortable being there & just seeing little groups of friends chatting. Do any of the bars have more of a 35-45 crowd that isn't so cliquish. I'd be curious to go to one or two maybe. Thanks.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned hiking up Arthur's Seat. An odd name for tall hill that is pretty much within Edinburgh. You can hike to the top within 20 - 30 minutes and have the most excellent view of the city and surroundings. Also not mentioned is a visit to the Royal Yacht Britannia that was retired and now a tourist attraction in Edinburgh. Yes, I've flown from Glasgow to Barra and landed on the beach. If you want to visit the Outer Hebrides (also known as the Western Isles), best to find a local to drive you from Barra up to Lewis.

I stay in Edinburgh 2 - 3 months each year. It now feels like home and perhaps one day I'll retire here.

Anyone have any advice on driving itineraries? I’d like to see Edinburgh, Harris isle / whisky distilleries and some striking scenery up in the highlands but don’t want to get slammed with tourists. I’ll have 7 days and may fly to London and then train it up. Airfare direct to Edinburgh is really pricey for july 2020. Glasgow is on my list to see the art museum if I can make it work.

If you don't want crowds, avoid Skye as beautiful as it is. Last summer, the police were turning away people trying to cross the bridge from the mainland who didn't have earlier hotel arrangements.

The Portobello section of Edinburgh is off the beaten track and worth staying in. The B&B I stayed in in 2001 was well under a hundred dollars a night. Glasgow is fun, esp. the Rennie MacIntosh rooms. Sadly, I missed those as I was whacked out of my mind on benzos from the flight over and went home with a lovely couple. Dornoch was on my list, before Madonna got married there. Aberdeen would make a loveliy overnight visit. Just don't go looking for Jimmy Page's mansion; he gets stroppy about trespassers.

Bump for lodging recs in edinburgh or glasgow, b&b or small hotels preferred

I've always had good experiences at the Apex hotels in Scotland. The price isn't too high and the rooms don't feel budget at all. It can be pretty expensive on peak season in Edinburgh but it varies a lot. The Glasgow one is much cheaper.