The crazy rain switch
Rain is one of the great topics of conversation in and about Scotland. One thing is for sure, nothing is ever certain! The weather changes all the time and that is also one of the charms of the country. Even if it rains in the morning, the sun is never far away.
Waterproof jacket, rain trousers, umbrella for small showers, waterproof hiking or walking shoes: these are the essential accessories for a pleasant stay in Scotland. Make sure you choose quality outdoor
clothing and, for your own well-being, don't skimp on the expense: a waterproofed raincoat may hold up in a Parisian drizzle, but you'll soon regret your small savings when you're caught in a Scottish gale.Also, pack a change of clothes and a towel in your car to keep your day's excursions dry. This way, nothing can stop you!
It's not as cold on the west coast, with the Gulf Stream warming the atmosphere a little. The east coast, on the other hand, is less humid. However, there are so many microclimates and weather changes that it is difficult to make generalizations or to predict the weather for a day. It is even said that a single day can see the four seasons pass by, in no logical order! A few kilometres away, the direction of the wind, the proximity of the sea or the altitude can change everything.
What's more, a day of heavy rain and storms is not the beginning of a long week of precipitation: you can wake up the next day with great weather!The sun in Scotland
The sun in Scotland may come and go several times a day, but there can also be days when it is everywhere. In spring and summer, you can expect temperatures of around 25°C. Hot and sunny - so you can sunbathe in Scotland! If you're planning a hike on a sunny day, be sure to bring a hat and sun cream, or beware of sunburn and sunstroke... Remember that, except in the forest, there is no shade to shelter you.
Another proof, if any were needed, that the sun is not a legend in Scotland: its luxuriant vegetation and its tropical plants which could not look so good if the good weather was not part of the game.
In addition to the climate, what is interesting to consider when visiting Scotland is the length of daylight. In winter, the sun may set around 3.30 or 4pm, but in summer you can enjoy endless days in the highlands, with almost no night. In Inverness, at the time of the summer solstice, the sun sets at around 10.20 pm... and even later as you climb higher in the Highlands. At the latitudes of Durness or John o'Groats, it can even wait until after 11pm to set and then start to shine around 3 or 4am.Seasons in Scotland: as many trips as there are months in the year
Spring is a beautiful season, with pleasant temperatures and the lowest rainfall of the year. It offers a wonderful array of colours: the bright yellow of the daffodils in April, the luminous purple of the wood hyacinths or rhododendrons in May-June, the bright green beds of blueberries... In summer, temperatures range from 17 to 22°C and rain is not omnipresent, even if it is advisable, once again, to always take a good raincoat with you. Autumn is very rainy and temperatures range from 6 to 10°C. However, according to some of the country's lovers, it is the most beautiful time of the year: its shades of gold, rust, orange and purple are enchanting. It is even possible, while going up in the Highlands, to meet snow from the end of September. Winter is very cold, especially in the north - some areas are at the same latitude as the southern parts of Norway and Alaska - and temperatures rarely exceed 5°C. Freezing winds blow in from the North Pole, which can bring temperatures well below 0°C: records of -27.2°C in Aviemore (Cairngorms) and -18°C in Edinburgh were set in January 1982. Rest assured that extreme temperatures of any kind, in any season, do not last.
Treat yourself to the aurora borealis
In autumn and winter, it is possible in some places in Scotland to admire the Northern Lights. They appear on cold, clear, cloudless nights with no light pollution. Applications such as AuroraWatch UK or My Aurora Forecast allow you to follow the activity of the Northern Lights and to be notified when they appear. Here are some sites and locations where it is possible to see them:
in Shetland and Orkney
in Caithness, Wick or John o'Groats (far north of the Highlands, in the east) or in Ullapool (north-west of the Highlands)
on the Moray coast and in Aberdeenshire
on Lewis and Harris
on the northern tip of the Isle of Skye
in the Cairngorms
in Galloway Forest Park
in Pertshire
on the Fife coast
in Edinburgh, at Arthur's Seat, provided that the phenomenon is really very powerful.
