Are these places in Scotland OVERRATED? Reacting to SCOTLAND HOT TAKES! 

Would LOVE a video reviewing the different farmer's markets around Edinburgh. We love the Stockbridge one on Sundays, but have been disappointed with others we've tried :(

Edinburgh was built long before tourism exploded. Scotland is not all about Edinburgh, August can be the warmest month of the year so visiting remote area's is well worth it.

I can tell you what's not overrated - Kakibot's recommendations! We are staying at Edin Locke (where I'm writing this from) and just down the street from the Scotland Design Exchange, where we got some Kakibot pins🦄😁. Overrated - The Royal Mile reminds me of Disneyland without the rides - huge lines (queues), expensive and shuffled into a 'Gift shop' on exit.

Hi, just want to say thank you, I've been watching you for the past couple of months as I'm visiting Edinburgh as part of my fist visit to the UK. (I'm over 60). My younger sister lives in another European country & we're meeting up in London. I'm extremely excited needless to say but also concerned about the physical aspects of the city & area. I have some physical issues that will make walking distances & hills difficult although my sister is very fit. We found a small guesthouse for 6 nights so we have time to hopefully "move slow". I have to let you know, when I told a friend in another state about this trip she told me she has a friend in Edinburgh & her friend recommended you as the best youtuber to watch for Edinburgh! (After I'd been watching you for quite awhile) I live in Anchorage, Ak & have volunteered at our visitor center for years & Alaska has visitors from all over the world too. I'm hoping I've learned enough to be a good visitor. I'm aware of the issues with airbnb rentals that affect the residents of any city. I bet our weather is somewhat similar to yours! (Gray days) I'll admit I've always had a fascination with the UK in general. I've lived in 7 US states & yet have felt like I should have been born in the UK. Maybe after this trip it'll be out of my system? You mention about how it's becoming darker in September. The same here! We have a LOT of daylight in summer & it gets darker fast here. We're primarily using public transportation except for a short trip to Wigtown for the last weekend of their book festival which I'm very excited about. I have the 4 books written by the owner of a large used bookstore there & just fell in love with the place. When I was younger before the onset of my physical pain issues I was an enthusiastic climber & hiker. Wish I had visited then. Hopefully this will be ok....Perhaps I'll become familiar with the local coffee places & great bookshops! Also we're hoping to be able to take a day trip to Loch Lomond, Thanks so much for your wonderful content.

Another very interesting video! Can we all agree that Kat has officially mastered styling this hue of orange?!! (Much aesthetic so wow)

I love watching your content ❤ I want to move to Scotland next year and your content really helps me get a grasp of what I should expect. And also to mention, I love your honesty ❤ you dont sugarcoat things, while also being nice and reasonable. Thanks for being here, Kakibot ❤

I really enjoyed this video. I am planning to visit end of April and have started to watch all of your clips. The local take and shops is what I am looking for. Thank you so much!

Hi Guys, Loved the video, as always! Always awesome to see Simon make an appearance! I'm so biased, because I love Scotland and Edinburgh so much,...but, my first trip was in January of 2001, and it was VERY cold. There was snow on the ground, walkways were icy and slushy, and the winds chilled my bones,...and I was pretty young back then, 26 and 1/2. Still, with all the cold, wet, snowy, dampness,...I remember thinking it was SO beautiful. I've never been back again in winter, twice in Spring and once in Fall,...but, I can imagine that cold could get to you after awhile. Also, the cost of living and things being expensive,...I live in San Diego, California,...and it's one of, if not the most expensive place to live in America. The wages don't remotely equal the cost of living, as you mentioned is a similar problem in Edinburgh. It is also a very touristy place,...and that get a bit old after awhile. But, I imagine there are people that think San Diego is paradise,...which, maybe it used to be, a few decades back,...but, not so much anymore. People always say, "the grass is always greener on the other side,...or in someone else's lawn/garden". With all its faults,... it's still greener for me, in your city. 😊😊😊

Edinburgh's financial district is one of the biggest in Europe

Happy Sunday guys ✌🏻 Entertaining to here everyone's hot takes on Edinburgh. I loath overly touristy things and prefer to source out some of the smaller craftmanship type experiences. Now wrt cost of living, im afraid we have same here in 🇨🇦 🍁

Dear Kat and Simon, loved this one, as always😜 very interesting! I just wanted to share my idea about 2 point you talked about! 1 - Food: I am a Swiss Italian girl, with a family that loves food, I’ve grown up with both my nonna’s making fresh pasta everyday and aaaall those traditional Italian dishes that people love, I make them too! My family is Italian so we have this kind of “special” food culture but I totally disagree with people who thinks that in the UK food is crap because it isn’t true, it’s just different! I’ve been to Scotland 5 times, soon 6 and NEVER had something bad to eat! There’s plenty of restaurants to choose from making delicious food! Of course there’s not the choice we have in our Italian supermarkets and markets in general, but that doesn’t mean that everything is bad! I really don’t like this preconception. 2 - Outlander: I’ve read all the books and watched the series and it’s true, the story is based on the love story between Jamie and Claire, and in the series the actors portraying them are very good looking and lovely people, but I must say, for people who loves and is interested in history I find it very very interesting! The story takes place in a specific moment of Scottish and English history and I find very interesting to immerse yourself in that culture, costumes, and way of life of those times! I’m sure you will love it, even if it’s definitely steamy 😜 I don’t know, people seems to just think about those hot scenes forgetting all the actual historical fact that are way more important to remember! That’s my idea, LOVE the world that Diana Gabaldon created! :) Big hugs to you and Simon!!

As per the healthcare… Example: here in the US, at my last 2 jobs (average/good office jobs) for decent healthcare insurance for my husband & I, there was about $600-$800 taken out per paycheck (twice a month) and I still had copays per drs trip that ranged about $50-$200. So, £650/yr is a bargain for most of us in the US. And the quality of what’s covered isn’t so great… I have to go to many specialists being a cancer survivor (cancer that wasn’t detected by the drs that are covered under my “good” insurance- example of quality) and the specialists don’t even take insurance. I digress, but the majority of US citizens I know (I live in Los Angeles, there’s a lot of us here lol) are looking at other countries like Scotland and thinking “£650 a yr? That’s amazing!” Anywho, love your RU-vid, been watching for yrs and have a couple of your pins 😊 P.S. my husband and I are planning on retiring in Scotland bc we love it there. (& I’m 1/2 Scottish 🙃🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿)

Thanks for sharing 😊

Thank you for sharing your input on Edinburgh. The local inside perception and advice are very much appreciated. And, although I have not been to the castle, I really do not care much about that. We are coming to visit in October and have found a wealth of information. When we go somewhere, we like to live like the locals. Yes, those things you want to see are on your list. Some of it can be a waste of time.

Thanks for covering my opinion. 😊

We agreed with you that much of the shopping in Edinburgh is overrated. Loved the Scottish Design Exchange you recommended and bought all our gifts and many treats there. Gorgeous stuff, good prices and locally made; perfect! Also visited 2 gift stores inAbbeyhill (cloud 9 and sister store) and also bought locally produced gifts. The construction in that neighborhood was challenging for us tourists. Hope the retailers make it through ok!! Thanks!

Edinburgh is the financial centre of Scotland. The Royal Bank Of Scotland has a massive HQ out at Gogarburn.

I booked a completely random flight to Edingburgh, mind you I know NOTHING of the country. Firstly, I am loving the videos! As someone that doesnt know much about Scotland, this give me a true insight on what to do and avoid. Having lived in a tourist trap city for some time I can appreciate this video. Nevertheless, I am looking forward to exploring your city and country! Again, love the videos!

I moved here (Fife) after nearly 10 years in Berlin and even though it’s also potato land, I still also find the produce quality and now with brexit the constant issue of variety from imported goods to be very hard to deal with.

Porty beach is pretty nice, but gullane is better! Agree with the wind, currently standing at a bus stop in porty being battered by it lol

Buses used to run up and down the Royal Mile but it is semi pedestrianised now. I miss getting the No1 from Carrick Knowe to the High Street and being able to get to everywhere i needed to be. I live in a different part of the city and the main thing it does need now is cleaning. Too much graffiti and rubbish everywhere. Also this city is several thousand years old and nobody cared about accessibility. Edinburgh Castle has a lot of museums included in the price of the ticket. I've been quite a bit over the years and it is better now than ever before. Loch ness is cool. Head to Fort Augustus on a nice day. Deep Fried Mars Bars are for tourists. Real fusion food is the Haggis pizza or Donner Kebab pizza.

Therse lots to see just outside edinburgh,temple village where there's templer graves,roslin chaple( now a tad expensive to enter) but its free to walk past it to the castle and glen ,which is beautiful,lots of history in in the local areas like midlothians,even the pentland hills have history.

Visiting Scotland from the USA I thought all food weather from the store or restaurants was very clean and tasty

Hello! Can you tell me where to buy one of your pins, which shop and what street it’s on please! Coming to Edinburgh this week and want to treat myself with one x Many thanks x

Outlander is sooooo good!! Definitely NOT overrated 😅❤ For Americans, it’s a good incentive to educate us Scotland’s culture, language and history❤

I hate crowds, walked the Royal Mile a few times, but loved 6 to 8 am walks, have lovely photos. Am coming back for my third trip in a few years, love Edinburgh, stayed on the Royal Mile in the middle of winter, New Town in the middle of summer, next visit will be either spring or autumn.

I'm flying in to EDI from LAX, in 2 weeks. It'll be my first time to Scotland. I have 9 days to spend with tours (Darkside Edinburgh WT; Edinburgh Castle STLT Highlands/LN/Glencoe/Pitlochry; HOHO) plus Arthur's Seat & Walk of Leith hikes. Any recommendations/suggestions and/or hidden gems, for a first time visitor? Thanks alot Kakibot & All!

Went to Edinburgh for the first time for 2 days last week's. Firstly the pall mall street is just a long version of Camden market . Too many gift shops selling all the same thing .

When I first moved to Edinburgh it took 6-7 months to find a long-term place where to live as a couple and without roommates. In those months we just kept on moving from a short term contract to another. We must have lived in something like 10 different houses/flats 🫣🤯

I think some context to remember about the NHS is that it wasn’t always like this, after a decades of mishandling, inefficient management, underfunding and just general gutting out of the entire system … it’s at the point that it’s completely broken now and if you haven’t had any serious health issues, you probably don’t know how broken it really is. The NHS used to be something to be proud of and cherished, it sadly isn’t any more and if I could afford private care, I’d go there in a heartbeat unfortunately.

I’m coming to Edinburgh for 6 days at the beginning of December. I will be relying on public transportation as I’m not sure how confident I am driving on the opposite side of the road and car. Do you have some suggestions on places to go and see that are outside of the city? Thank you so much!

absolutely agree with Edinburgh in August and overwhelm

Thanks

Could be worse. You could live in Toronto like I unfortunately do.

Serious question, is it possible to find a home in Glasgow without mould? :(

I grew up in Seattle but have lived in New Orleans for 8 years now and we have the same issue with tourism. People think the city thinks of tourist first and locals second. But without the tourist a lot of people, including myself may lose their jobs without it.

Always believed you can only find out about a place if you go there

£400,000 for a two-bed period apartment and IT DOESN'T HAVE DOUBLE GLAZING!! And i can't be alone in loathing the Royal Mile and the tourist tat it flogs to North Americans who claim to have Scottish ancestry. You only need so many shops selling tartan and ridiculously expensive whiskey. It's a little Disney for my tastes.

So funny thing. I am watching this...while visiting Scotland... ACCIDENTALLY booking for Glasgow...and going to Edinburgh castle today just to see the difference in the 2 cities. I basically agree with all the hot takes. I literally walked out the train station wide eyed....was like WHOA this is a LOT...and a LOT of people...lol. and a LOT of stairs and stones....like everywhere. I'm...way more a Glasgow fan personally from the experience....but Edinburgh is definitely a beautiful beast. Btw deep fried mars bars....are AMAZING....LOL

Airbnb and landlords are a hughe problem in Mexico City aswell😢

Completely agree about the same photos being on Edinburgh Instagram accounts. We did the Castle and I enjoyed it, but I wouldn’t do it again, same with doing the stretch of the Royal Mile. Agree with the commentor who said the shops are overrated and overpriced. As usual, the books are better than the series, regarding Outlander. I did a few spots, there might be a few more that I want to see but I wouldn’t do a tour. I think for people that do it, though, it opens up a whole new experience in traveling to someplace like Scotland. For me, it got me a bit more interested in Scottish history so there’s that. Honestly, I have found the series a bit disappointing, on a decline since the end of season two.

I don't think the castle is overrated - there are not many others in the UK with such a fantastic setting - BUT it's not something you really will go to more than once? But that'd be the same for most if not all castles I'd have thought. A cool once and done event. Speaking as not an Edinburgh resident but visited it plenty.

What about workin in a public library?

One thing I’ve noticed is that the salaries are super low. My husband is in the tech world and the average,starting, in the USA is around 70,000-90,000usd a year, but we looked at jobs in Scotland and the average was like 30,000-40,000pounds (which is only about 38,000-50,000 usd), which wouldn’t be the worst if half of your money didn’t go to taxes. Also, the comment about health care really hit me. My cousin lives in England and they really have been pretty bad about preventative care. The USA can be like that in some parts too for sure, but she is diabetic and has been since she was a kid, and it just seems like they aren’t as on top of it as they are here.

I am danish and our houses is generally very well insulatet. 🙂

Was just in Scotland for over 3 weeks, traveling the west and some isles. I have to say, Portree on Skye is very over-rated. So many other western towns are better, in my opinion. Ullapool, Tobermoray, etc. are far better.

Outlander is amazing. Try reading the books before watching the show.

My experience with full breakfast is nost as good as in ingland or Ireland, neither was the service, but maybe it was the place (@ Morrisons) rather than the country.

My favourite bit of this episode "I come from potato Europe so it was easier for me " :D

Silverknowes beach is lovely and you can walk to Gramond. There are no accessible hotels in the city centre. If you are in a wheelchair forget it! Edinburgh is a lovely city but just forget about the city centre. You didn’t mention hospitals in your job speech, lots of research is done in Edinburgh. University is a big employer, as well as the financial world. The landlords got their money from a go-fund-me page for their legal case! Again there are cheaper properties if you forget the centre.

I got through 4 season of outlander. When came for December 2021 these film locations were the few things to re-open after COVID. The show is mostly CGI and film studios thus the real life locations are completely different. I don't care for the show, but so many friends love the show and wish they could go to Scotland. I also think Isle of Skye is overrated. Yes its beautiful, but its so crowded an overpriced. Plenty of other islands to visit.

3:05 am just seen your video about Edinburgh living. Well done, you give a very balanced and honest opinion. As you have lived in Edinburgh for so long, I consider you a Scot by choice and therefore a valid opinion. Personally, I am from Scotland as were my ancestors well before 1603, but you still have the right to voice your opinion as a resident. Very entertaining seeing our city thru other's eyes. Keep up the great work!!!

I don't think that's what bam means. It's usually like any loud person who is a show off. Like the noise bam. Bampot and bamstick are related lol

I'm from Aberdeen, the Deep Fried Mars Bar was invented in nearby Stonehaven so maybe it's a local pride thing? Better than Glasgow's 'Pizza Crunch' abomination, a deep fried pizza in batter. It's revolting AND unnecessary. DF Mars Bars are actually quite tasty in moderation, same with any fried food. I actually do recommend a Bounty or Cadbury's Boost deep fried and served with vanilla ice cream as a very rare treat. Most of this resistance to fried chocolate is based on sensationalism and the way the media downplays Scottish cuisine as a whole when there is plenty of other things that aren't deep fried - Stovies, Cullen Skink, Salmon,/seafood, Chicken Balmoral/Braemar (sometimes incorrectly labelled 'Highland' chicken). etc.

My closed captioning keeps saying “hot steaks” instead of hot takes. 😊

Has many similarities to Seattle

I'm soo surprised about the deep fried thing Lol. Am I not paying attention to the videos I've watched 🤔 I have not noticed the deep fried obsession

I'm going to have to put a word in in favour of visiting Edinburgh Castle. Yes, the best views of the Castle are from outside, but if you're a history buff (like I am) there's a lot there to keep you occupied and fascinated for half a day. If you're on an absolutely shoestring budget, or have no real interest in history, then maybe focus on the many free or cheaper attractions - but on the other hand, if you've spent $1500 to come to Edinburgh for possibly the only time in your life, do you really want to balk at spending another £20 to get into the Castle?

been ages since av boat a kitkat.

Your apartment is haunted 👻 Nessi moved on it’s own at around 16:45 😳😳😳🤪

"I come from potato Europe" 🤣

What insulation 🤷am in a 1956 council owned 6 in a block stair property,been here almost 30 years,its freezing in winter and had damp since the energy hickes took hold 3 years ago,but i do love my country but hate the government ...our so called elected leaders.

My opinion; grossly over rated. Very little sunshine, third world roads, expensive, gloomy in the winter ,grumpy locals ( that is, if you can find one). Lots and lots of rootless immigrants there.

The whole food thing is stupid like do you know how much scottish cheese beef and salmon go for export wise its just the stereotype of UK food bad also on the deep fried people really don't understand the reason for that something people keep forgetting most scottish food is working class poor food so its ment ti fill you with what you need for the day its not ment to be pretty or fancy just tasty and filling and on the bagpipes why am I not shock the Edinburgh lad hates bagpipes

social care in scotland == helping oot an alky whooz 40p short for a tin ae cider. wonder if em cannons at edinburgh castle reach easterhoose.

Hello beautiful girl and wenderful People and nice contry