What to wear for a railway holiday in Switzerland

**chrisupyonder** · 26th February 11, 07:03 PM

My wife and I are planning a railway holiday of about 2 weeks in Switzerland next year (summer 2012). I would like to wear a kilt as much as possible. The tour company have said the following in reply to my question. "Our tours generally are smart/casual so you would be more than welcome to wear Highland dress if you prefer".
Travel is all the way from the UK by train and throughout Switzerland. Do I wear my kilt for outward and return journey. I don't know what customs checks are required for rail travel compared with air travel. Should I just wear my kilt in the evening for dinner etc. or take my second, cheaper kilt for casual daytime use. If I wear a kilt during the day, do I need full hose or ankle socks with bare legs. My legs are not too bad for my age (65). I normally just wear shorts and teeshirt when caravanning but maybe a bit too minmal for travelling around on trains. Your views please.

**Llwyd** · 26th February 11, 07:29 PM

Well..if you were single...i would say a kilt and a nice swiss lass...gentlemen seem to prefer blondes...

Would go kilted with a variety of nice sweaters and semi dressy button downs...

**Biathlonman** · 27th February 11, 04:53 AM

Brits have been visiting Switzerland for a century and a half now, and practically developed their tourist industry. The Swiss will love your kilt - I guarantee it - but wear proper kilt hose and, providing you're getting out of their fabulous trains, good walking or hiking shoes. You still see people with old-fashioned hiking knee breeches so your kilt's in the same style.

Customs now are pretty cursory - don't worry about a thing and just enjoy.

Should say too that the Swiss can be very reserved so your kilt will be a great icebreaker.

**cessna152towser** · 27th February 11, 07:32 AM

Go for it. Wear your kilt proudly. I have travelled from Scotland to Switzerland by rail and by air. With air travel everybody gets searched, with rail travel the security personnel select who they will search. Last time I travelled by train from London (to Scotland) I was selected for a full body and baggage search but it was my rucksack rather than my kilt which caused me to be singled out for a security check.

**Chas** · 27th February 11, 08:32 AM

When you say "railway holiday", does that mean long hours sitting down? If so, go for the cheaper kilt for travelling and the better kilt for the evenings.

A cheap travel iron might also be an idea. I bought a steam iron in Tesco last year for £4.99. With the addition of a cheap travel-adaptor and you will be able to keep your pleats in pristine condition.

Regards

Chas

**Riverkilt** · 27th February 11, 09:22 AM

Any kilt. But for a bulletproof kilt for travel would recommend a leather kilt from Robert Pel at RKilts.

Perfect for long sits, comfort in any kind of weather, and the cargo model has room for "stuff" without messing with a sporran.

You can go sightseeing anywhere in it. It WILL attract the ladies. And, you can go dancing in it.

**david30101** · 27th February 11, 12:53 PM

I dont understand why everybody complains about there legs in a Kilt as compared to shorts..A pair of shorts shows just as much leg as a Kilt does. They BOTH go to the knees....What is the differance?

**English Bloke** · 27th February 11, 05:39 PM

No difference at all. I used to wear shorts alot before discovering the Kilt. It was partly my liking for shorts that made the switch so easy.

**chrisupyonder** · 27th February 11, 06:09 PM

I think I will wear my cheap kilt for travel. I take the point about the shorts and yes, whats the difference? We won't be going until around Aug/Sept 2012 so I intend to get a more expensive kilt before then. My surname is a sept of the Maclaren clan so I intend to get one in their tartan. Sorry Riverkilt but that would not work up here in Caithness, very conserative and a lot of the old farmers still carry shotguns.
Hey cessna152towser, anything to do with the Cessna airplane. I had a 1 hour flying lesson in a Cessna from Wick airport a few years back but could not afford to carry on. Pity, flying in a kilt would be good.

**chrisupyonder** · 27th February 11, 07:20 PM

Originally Posted by Chas

When you say "railway holiday", does that mean long hours sitting down? If so, go for the cheaper kilt for travelling and the better kilt for the evenings.

A cheap travel iron might also be an idea. I bought a steam iron in Tesco last year for £4.99. With the addition of a cheap travel-adaptor and you will be able to keep your pleats in pristine condition.

Regards

Chas

Yes railway all the way from Thurso to Switzerland. Overnight in hotel in London Maybe or all night sleeper train to London. (not checked if it still runs). In Switzerland there are 2 or 3 free days and mostly short rail journeys on the more scenic lines.