Best Season to Visit Scotland
By Tully Luxury Travel | 04-17-2024 |
The most ideal season to experience Scotland's countless wonders is a bit of an enigma, due in part to the infamous unpredictable weather. However, help is at hand! Our expert advice on the matter will help you make your trip to Edinburgh or vacations in Glasgow as memorable as possible, outlining the most favorable weather – and the other factors to consider – in order to enjoy the most unforgettable adventure.
The best time to visit Scotland
The best months to visit Scotland for decent weather, lower prices and fewer crowds are May and June, and September and October. These shoulder seasons offer long days and pleasant temperatures, with most tourism-based businesses open. In the spring, the locals are noticeably enthusiastic to be outdoors after the long winter. The days are sun-filled and the beaches are looking their sandy best. Luxury vacations to Scotland at this time have that tone of expectation that one associates with springtime.
In the autumn – which is a term you should adopt here, rather than the “fall” – all the children are back in school and the Europeans have returned home. The weather in Scotland in September and October is still sunny and bright, and the autumn colors are exceedingly lovely. This is a great time for hiking in the fresh air and for enjoying the lushness of the countryside.
If summer is your time to visit – due to the school calendar or your vacation schedule – itineraries across Scotland hinge on the nice weather, which will be at its most well-behaved. There are lots of locals out and about during the summer in Scotland, too, and July and August is considered high season, just like much of Europe. A trip to the Scottish Highlands at this time delivers a nice mix of tourists and locals.
The seasons all have their disadvantages
During the lush greenery of Scotland’s summer, the countryside is often filled with tour buses winding through the narrow Highland roads. Along with the influx of visitors comes soaring prices, sometimes reaching exorbitant level.
Tourism peaks in August. Festival season is particularly crowded, with the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Art Festival both practically bringing the city to a standstill. This is a good time to visit Glasgow! On the other side of this coin, the electric atmosphere of the performing-arts venues is infectious and thrilling. The streets are absolutely buzzing. You know what they say: One man’s plaid is another man’s color.
Beware that summer is also midge season in rural Scotland. These are notorious tiny flies that seem to have an enormous bite, and they can be very vicious. If this fills you with dread, steer clear of visiting during midge season.
Unsurprisingly, winter in Scotland – from November to March – can be a bit of a trial to bear. While the winter looks nice, with the soft light and snowy mountaintops, the weather can get nasty. The shorter days, when it gets dark by 4 p.m., can be disagreeable, too.
On a winter high note, however, this is the best time to see the Northern Lights in Scotland, between September and March. Longer nights of dark skies turn into a benefit, when it comes to viewing the elusive aurora borealis.
Experience Scotland with Tully Luxury Travel
Edinburgh, Glasgow, Loch Lomond, Loch Ness, Ben Nevis, Glen Coe, the Isle of Skye or the Outer Hebrides – all are must-sees for anyone with a yen for the bonny nation of Scotland. Give your Tully Travel Designer a call to find out how you can get better acquainted with Scotland soon.