michellemd

I'm getting down to the details of planning for our two-week trip to Scotland in July. We are leaving just 4 weeks from today.

I'm the world's most horrible over-packer. But I'm committed to going light for this trip. We are renting a car for part of it, but at the beginning and end we'll be lugging all our bags back and forth on a bus into and out of Edinburgh. So, the smaller and lighter the better.

The trip is for my husband and I and our 18-y-o daughter. We are spending 4 full days in Edinburgh and 10 days in Aviemore (taking day trips from there).

In Aviemore, we will have convenient access to laundry facilities which I definitely plan to make use of.

I'm planning on mostly jeans and capris for my daughter and I; jeans for my husband. T-shirts and long-sleeved tops that we can layer. And, we each have a light raincoat that can double as a windbreaker.

Here are my questions:

Are the very casual jeans and t-shirts and sneakers just as appropriate in Edinburgh as they will be in Aviemore?

How about going to eat? We tend to gravitate toward the casual places like pubs. Will the jeans and t-shirts look be okay in most of those or should we pack something a little dressier?

It sounds like shorts aren't at all common to wear out and about. How about capris for women? Will we stand out if we where those?

As long as we have tops to layer and the windbreaker, will that be enough? Or should I pack a heavier sweater or jacket?

Anything else I should know? Thanks!

joebear

We just spend 4 days in Edinburgh and 4 in London...kids are 21, 19 and 16. They all took 2 jeans, 4 tshirts, a few nice polos and one pair of slacks....mainly becuause my son was going to golf. My daughter took the same and could have made it without the slacks. We ate in a couple of very nice places in jeans...it was fine. I think a long sleeve is a good idea ....you can layer with it ....it was cold on cloudy days and very windy which made it seem colder. Wore the windbreakers alot, mine took sweatshirt hoodies...I wish I had one also for the warm hood!

caroline_edinburgh

Michelle, I think you answered your own question - if you are not planning on going to any nice restaurants, what you list is fine. Capris are also fine. Some tourists do wear shorts in the city so if you are comfortable in them, they are OK - nobody really cares haat you wear. But as I said on another thread, you probably don't want to wear shorts outwith the cities due to the midges.

noe847

I usually bring a cardigan, a lightweight fleece and a rain shell (wear the bulkiest on the plane). We've had cold weather for some part of each visit to Scotland. Hot weather is much less common, so I'd bring one pair of shorts at most.

amelie

Definitely capris. I don't think I brought any shorts last June. I was glad that I brought a rain coat and cardigans. I did get to wear the capris a few times though. Pack layers. As far as going out, I'd wear jeans to a pub. Maybe bring a pair of black pants and a nice top in case you do go somewhere nice.

hausfrau

It can be cold and wet even in July, and you could encounter a range of weather over a 2-week period. We were in Glen Coe for several days the first week of July 2007 and wore every layer we had to go hiking - T-shirt, long-sleeved cotton shirt, fleece, and raincoat. A few days later in Stirling and Edinburgh we were wearing long-sleeved shirts and fleeces. For a 2-week trip I would definitely bring a warm fleece and light-weight sweater that could be layered under your raincoats. Especially if you plan to do some hiking, be sure to bring something with a hood and/or hat to protect your head as well.

I agree that shorts aren't necessary, capris will be fine, and one outfit of black (or khaki) pants and a nicer top will serve you well, especially in Edinburgh.

Since you'll have laundry access, the way to avoid overpacking is to only bring enough clothes to get you through about 5 days. If you do laundry twice while you're in Aviemore you should be fine.

michellemd

Thanks to everyone for all your advice. Very helpful. It sounds like it might get cooler at times than I was expecting.

We have black flies in New Hampshire. Are they the same thing as midges?

twina49

michellemd,

I'm glad you asked your question because we're leaving the end of July for two weeks in Scotland (one in Central Scotland and one on the Isle of Skye) and I had wondered the same thing regarding capris, etc.

Thanks abd enjoy your trip!

twina49

Thanks AND enjoy your trip....

bdjtbenson

Here's my visual packing list. I wear one set of clothes and pack the rest in a carry on.

http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=1440268

I use an ebags convertible carry on. I've had it about five years. It still looks new except for some rubbing on the corner of one zipper.

The best general advice I've heard is pack for four days - no more, no less. In two weeks, I would wash a pair of socks and underwear daily. I wash t-shirts about every other day. For a one month trip, I would plan a midway stop at a laundromat to wash everything. I probably wouldn't wash my outer wear at all during a two-week trip unless it needed it.

My portable washing machine is a two gallon zip lock. Put clothes, a tiny bit of detergent and warm water in the bag, shake well, drain, add rinse water, shake, drain and repeat until no soap is coming out with the rinse water. Then put one item of clothing at a time into a car chamois and wring well. Hang it all overnight to dry.

ccrosner

Our family of four was in Scotland for six days last August. Pretty typical Scottish weather, I would say. Some sun, some drizzle, some hard rain, all good. My daughter and I were happy to have both a fleece jacket and a rain jacket that would fit over that. Easy to carry the jacket in a backpack in case of rain. Son had a lightweight jacket and a heavy hooded sweatshirt. Both got used.

Daughter and I wore capris and didn't feel out of place. Took one nice pair of slacks to 'dress up' (we also went to London) when necessary. Glad to have them but only personal preference.

I also took two cotton sweaters which was a lighter layer than the fleece and was good for dressing up outfits (Lands End makes a nice cotton cardigan).

I live in the Boston area. I would say to expect late September NH weather while in Scotland with some days that will be warmer. But Aviemore IS in the mountains.

sheila

Layer. It won't be cold, but you will need a cover up for evenings. Definitely bring water proofs. Casual is fine. Clean casual is acceptable except in te absolute poshest places- I always get te impression this is more of an issue in the States than it is here.

Midges are more like your noseeums. A good deet based deterrent will work. Lots of people swear by Avon's "Skin so Soft". You only get them where there's peat and it's warm and wet. If it's windy they can't land.

I hope you have a great time. please go to the RSPB reserve at Loch Garten and eat in the wee restaurant at Rothiemurchus