Gathering 2009 Trip

[KittyKisses71]

Hello! I'm planning a trip to Scotland for The Gathering 2009 (July 25th and 26th). I'll be there for at least two weeks (maybe three) with five days in Edinburgh to start (two taken up with The Gathering events) and then a week in central Scotland making day trips to various places.
I'd love some suggestions on what to see and do when I get there. I have a list of the more "touristy" things I want to do, but what do the locals do for fun? Please don't say go to the pub and listen to music. I'll do that, but there must be something else that the Scots like to do? I'd like to have at least a few experiences that don't involve a castle, a tour or a shop!

[Polwarth]

Originally Posted by KittyKisses71

Hello! I'm planning a trip to Scotland for The Gathering 2009 (July 25th and 26th). I'll be there for at least two weeks (maybe three) with five days in Edinburgh to start (two taken up with The Gathering events) and then a week in central Scotland making day trips to various places.
I'd love some suggestions on what to see and do when I get there. I have a list of the more "touristy" things I want to do, but what do the locals do for fun? Please don't say go to the pub and listen to music. I'll do that, but there must be something else that the Scots like to do? I'd like to have at least a few experiences that don't involve a castle, a tour or a shop!

I suspect the natives have much the same interests as anyone else... eating in nice restaurants, listening to music - some of which involves sitting in pubs (well, folk music and jazz do..) You could walk to the top of Arthur's Seat, visit one of the many museums in Edinburgh. Look at the Georgian House and Gladstone's Land, go out to a place like Gullane and just sit on the dunes (but we are talking Scotland here, and the weather may still be a bit iffy, even during our summer).

The 'Gathering' seems to have provoked little interest here in Scotland, the real home of the clans! For Edinburgh, it means loads more tourists at a time when the city will be gearing up for the Festival(s), making roads busier and pedestrian areas more crowded for longer during the summer months.

If you care to give an idea of YOUR interests, maybe we'll be able to assist.

Glasgow is well worth a visit, the Burrell collection particularly is worth the train fare.

[KittyKisses71]

It's great to have any suggestions about what to see while I'm there. I suppose I had assumed that, like here, there are places to go and things to see and do that sometimes don't get mentioned in guide books. They ALWAYS mention the "touristy" places, and I intend to do some of them, but too much of a good thing...
I really want to meet locals and get to know the differences and similarities between Scottish culture and North American "culture" (though sometimes I wonder if we have one!). Living in a place with so much history must make a difference in some way to one's manner of thinking and, to a certain extent, their behaviour. When I go somewhere I like to explore those differences, if any, because I feel richer for having experienced them. Actually, I practically absorb them! I shall likely leave Scotland with a Scottish accent since I'm such a sponge!
My interests are theatre, reading, history, music, languages, hiking, camping (not doing that while I'm there), astronomy, my Scottish heritage, talking to people (and observing them), FOOD (REALLY want to try haggis again while I'm there - you can't find decent haggis here! Though I suspect not many people there eat haggis anymore...), and just having fun. My concern is that I'll try to plan my time there to such an extent that I'll miss something truly meaningful in my whirlwind tour! Which is likely to happen since I want to see and experience absolutely EVERYTHING all of the time.
Hope I didn't share too much at once! I do tend to do that!

PS - I had wondered how the people of Scotland, especially Edinburgh, felt about The Gathering. You see, to us it's special because to someone of Scottish heritage, going to Scotland is a little like going home. I haven't been there yet but I've done SO much research I feel as if I have been. And I feel this ache in my heart when I see a picture or hear something about Scotland. It calls to me as it does so many others in my situation. Since you all live there it isn't as special to you and you can only think what a pain it will be to have all of us dreadful North Americans clogging up your streets and just generally being disruptive (not speaking about you in particular, I mean Scots in general). I would feel the same way - and have, during tourist season. But when you can't get somewhere as quickly as you'd like during July and August of 2009 or feel claustrophobic because of the crowds, please try to remember that we're there because we envy you so greatly and want to experience just a little of what you do every day. Breathe your air, see your historic monuments, walk in the paths of our ancestors... For many of us it may be our only chance to ever do that.

[kathyv]

If you are interested in history, then there's the Culloden Battle field and Stirling Castle as well as all the other castles and battlefields in Scotland. I think you'll find that most of those historical locations have become a bit touristy, that doesn't necessarily cheapen them, you can make of them what you will.

If you will have your own transport, then you might want to find little villages, off the beaten path type places, or just go off on a wild hair and see what's out there. But in order to meet many of the locals, pubs are best.

There are great museums all over, some are kind of touristy but for the most part they are very good, and Glasgow has a lot of great architectural historical stuff, if you are interested in Mackintosh and his influence.

Whisky distilleries have good tours, you can sign up to play golf at St. Andrews, you can hike up Ben Nevis, you can take a ferry to Skye, it all just depends on what you like and how much you want to spend.

Check with the Tourist Information offices and see what they recommend.

[Polwarth]

Originally Posted by KittyKisses71

It's great to have any suggestions about what to see while I'm there. I suppose I had assumed that, like here, there are places to go and things to see and do that sometimes don't get mentioned in guide books. They ALWAYS mention the "touristy" places, and I intend to do some of them, but too much of a good thing...
I really want to meet locals and get to know the differences and similarities between Scottish culture and North American "culture" (though sometimes I wonder if we have one!). Living in a place with so much history must make a difference in some way to one's manner of thinking and, to a certain extent, their behaviour. When I go somewhere I like to explore those differences, if any, because I feel richer for having experienced them. Actually, I practically absorb them! I shall likely leave Scotland with a Scottish accent since I'm such a sponge!
My interests are theatre, reading, history, music, languages, hiking, camping (not doing that while I'm there), astronomy, my Scottish heritage, talking to people (and observing them), FOOD (REALLY want to try haggis again while I'm there - you can't find decent haggis here! Though I suspect not many people there eat haggis anymore...), and just having fun. My concern is that I'll try to plan my time there to such an extent that I'll miss something truly meaningful in my whirlwind tour! Which is likely to happen since I want to see and experience absolutely EVERYTHING all of the time.
Hope I didn't share too much at once! I do tend to do that!

PS - I had wondered how the people of Scotland, especially Edinburgh, felt about The Gathering. You see, to us it's special because to someone of Scottish heritage, going to Scotland is a little like going home. I haven't been there yet but I've done SO much research I feel as if I have been. And I feel this ache in my heart when I see a picture or hear something about Scotland. It calls to me as it does so many others in my situation. Since you all live there it isn't as special to you and you can only think what a pain it will be to have all of us dreadful North Americans clogging up your streets and just generally being disruptive (not speaking about you in particular, I mean Scots in general). I would feel the same way - and have, during tourist season. But when you can't get somewhere as quickly as you'd like during July and August of 2009 or feel claustrophobic because of the crowds, please try to remember that we're there because we envy you so greatly and want to experience just a little of what you do every day. Breathe your air, see your historic monuments, walk in the paths of our ancestors... For many of us it may be our only chance to ever do that.

Well, I'm never one to squash enthusiasm - but, PLEASE don't try to adopt a 'Scottish' accent, it'll just make the natives CRINGE! There is no such thing as a Scots accent, as you will find we have LOTS of different accents, a Glaswegian would not be mistaken for someone from Edinburgh - and neither would be mistaken for someone from Fife or an Aberdonian.

And a word to the wise: when you are touring Scotland to find the 'real' Scots.... don't tell the natives that is what you are doing... it makes us feel like exhibits!

From the info I've heard so far, the streets won't be THAT clogged with many more visitors than normally visit in July. Our tourist industry is usually in full swing by then - it is only in August that Edinburgh gets truly busy - and that is simply because of the Festival(s). What with the fire eaters, the pipers and the kids from schools trying to get you to accept flyers for their show on the Fringe.. Well, let's just say, it's an experience.