Clothes to pack for Scotland Trip
Here's my clothing pack list and travel advice for Scotland.
Weather in Scotland can be warm and cold. Upwards, sidewards, and pleasant. It's awesome. So, be prepared for anything.
I'll start with the list that I packed literally for one week:
Clothing:
Five T-shirts
Five Leggings
10 pairs of socks
5 undergarments
Trail Running Sneakers
2 Hoodies
Jacket
Waterproof windbreaker
Let's break this down. What and why I packed what I did and what I would do differently.
I packed 5 black t-shirts and leggings because I knew they would match and I wouldn't have to think about what I needed to wear. These would also serve as a base layer for weather. I didn't want to worry about the bulk of jeans in my luggage. I bought a brand new pack of black ankle socks- knowing that with wet weather I may want more socks than I needed.
I made everything easy for me to wear in layers. T-shirt and leggings, then hoodie, and over-jacket if necessary. Weather changes constantly. Having layers that are light and easy to put on and off (zip up fronts) and small enough to jam into your backpack when the weather is warm- is awesome. Ps. I also found that having longer length items was best.
Waterproof Women's Windbreaker
There's a level of comfort when you aren't traveling to a third world country- because you know that if you've forgotten something- or may need something; you'll be able to find a store somewhere that will have it.
What NOT to pack: Scarf, gloves, Beanie. Here's why: They are available on every corner in every market. Price ranging fro $5-$200 depending upon the wool or material. I didn't want to waste space in my bags for them. (BTW, I never bought any.)
What I wish I packed: Nicer boots.
I passionately suggest you have trail running sneakers to walk in. My group all had sneakers that were comfortable- but with constant misting of rain the walkways were often damp or slippery. The traction that my trail runners had, kept me stable, while many other tourists slipped. In Edinburgh, the roads are cobblestone and often on inclines.
Good Trail Running Shoes for Women
The trail runners I wore were also really comfortable and well broken in. So no blisters. (But, I should have thrown them in the washing machine before my trip so they were fresh. Ugh.) We walked 10,000 -20,000 steps per day. In most cities, there are bus tours that go around in a circle if you don't want to walk as much as we did. It's easy to buy a bus pass for really reasonable fees. (I'm remembering around $12 per day) and visit many historical sites by just hopping on and off. So, don't let your ability to walk a lot keep you from visiting.
The truth is, I didn't need any other shoes while I was there because we didn't encounter any horrible mud while out on excursions. While we were in a lot of weather- my shoes actually stayed pretty dry and could air out every evening - even if they were damp.
The reason I wish I would have brought my nicer leather boots that are comfortable- is because one of our stays was lodging at a country club and I felt silly not wearing nicer shoes to dinner. That's all.
What to buy in the country: A plastic poncho. The kind that is about the size of a deck of cards. They are at every corner store and worth having on hand. While I had my light waterproof windbreaker. Having a plastic poncho with me- actually saved some of my fellow travelers from time to time and specifically when we toured on the ferry for the Loch Ness it kept my camera dry from splashes.
An umbrella. Again, I didn't want to take up space in my suitcase and you can buy them there and leave them there. Meaning- I left it in the hotel room on purpose versus dragging it home when I already have umbrellas here in the US.
Final thought:
I took along with me some washing tablets. These are awesome. You can use them in your hotel sink or shower. I ended up hand washing a few of my undergarments and leggings on the last couple days and air-dried them. I've taken these tablets to other countries when I've traveled and it saves a lot of trouble if you end up in a situation where you may otherwise have to go to a laundry mat. (which at one point we had tried to do- but their hours weren't conducive to our plans.)
Laundry Wash Sheets These are great- but won't work unless you have a way to "stop" the drain in the basin.
Laundry Wash Tablets with Drain Stop I don't like their soap as much- but they have the drain stopper.
Stay tuned for more blogs about:
What travel necessities to bring for flight and comfort including your MUST HAVES for the airplane and toiletries.
What excursions to take.
To get details about our next trip to Scotland/Ireland this fall, when we are going, what our plans are, suggestions for what to do while in country- register here for free:
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