Dad is a tough nut to crack

Over 60% of young adults in the UK (aged 18-44) are planning to buy Dad a gift for Father’s Day this year, even though they find him the most difficult member of the family to buy for according to new research released today.

The survey, commissioned by VisitScotland and conducted by YouGov, also revealed that an experience break is the preferred gift option for male friends and family comfortably beating traditional favourites such as underwear, DIY kits and toiletries .

Of those respondents who favoured an experience gift, top of the list were unique exploring breaks with 32% opting for a classic car trip in the mountains, puffin spotting on a private sea cruise or taking a 4-wheel drive on a mountain safari - all of which are listed on VisitScotland’s new website: visitscotland.com/perfectexperiences

Also listed on the website and favoured by a quarter of respondents (26%) are outdoor active experiences such as sea kayaking under the stars, getting up close to birds of prey and state of the art golf tuition. Food & drink gift experiences including gastronomic journeys along a Scottish Seafood trail, ‘shucking’ scallops and discovering the art of whisky appreciation appealed to 13%.

An authentic, fun and inspiring experience in Scotland could make the ideal gift for anyone wishing to give Dad something a little special this year. VisitScotland is promoting 40 unique and out-of-the-ordinary Perfect Experiences under five distinctive themes – Arts & Culture, Food & Drink, Explore, Wildlife and Outdoor Active. These uncover a side to Scotland many visitors never imagined and could even turn out to be the experience of a lifetime for Dad on Father’s Day.

Perfect Experiences has something for every Dad including discovering the art of whisky appreciation with the Scotch Whisky Training School, cruising through Scotland’s west coast seascapes with Scottish Yacht Charter, fishing expeditions with Kinnaird Estate, cooking Scotland’s finest produce at Cook School with Martin Wishart and combining nostalgia and stunning Highland scenery on a classic car trip with See Scotland Differently. For more Father’s Day gift ideas, visit visitscotland.com/perfectexperiences

Commenting on the research, Noelle Campbell, product manager for VisitScotland, said:

“We have known for some time that people are looking for more from their holiday so it stands to reason that unique experiences would make a popular gift choice, especially when it is for someone we usually find difficult to buy for. Perfect Experiences are unique and diverse opportunities that can quite literally turn out to be the experience of a lifetime for those we love.”