The crazy rain switch
Rain is one of the great topics of conversation in and about Scotland. One thing is certain, nothing is ever certain! The weather changes all the time, and that's another of the country's charms. Even if it rains in the morning, the sun is never far away.
Waterproof jacket, rain pants, umbrella for light showers, waterproof hiking or walking boots: 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: waterproofed rainwear may hold up under a Parisian drizzle, but you'll soon regret your small savings when you're caught in Scottish squalls.
Pack a change of clothes and a towel in your car, so you can continue planning your day's excursions in the 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 different microclimates and weather patterns that it's hard to make generalizations or predict the weather for a single day. It's even said that a single day can see the four seasons pass by in no logical order! A few kilometers away, the direction of the wind, the proximity of the sea or the altitude can turn everything upside down.
What's more, a day of driving rain and storms is not the start of a long week of precipitation: you can wake up the next day to great weather!
The sun in Scotland
If the sun in Scotland comes and goes several times a day, there are also days when it's omnipresent. In spring and summer, you're not immune to temperatures approaching 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 sunscreen, or beware of sunburn and sunstroke... Bear in mind that, except in the forest, you won't find any shade.
Further proof, if any were needed, that the sun is no legend in Scotland is the lush vegetation and tropical plants, which wouldn't look so good without the good weather.
In addition to the climate, another factor to consider when visiting Scotland is the length of daylight. In winter, the sun may set around 3.30 or 4 p.m., but in summer you can enjoy endless, almost nightless days high up in the Highlands. In Inverness, on the summer solstice, the sun sets at around 10.20 pm... and even later as you climb higher into the Highlands. At the latitudes of Durness or John o'Groats, it can even wait until after 11 pm before setting, with its first rays appearing around 3 or 4 am.
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 colors: the bright yellow of daffodils in April, the luminous purple of 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, although you should always take a good raincoat with you. Autumn is very rainy, with temperatures ranging from 6 to 10°C. And yet, according to some local enthusiasts, it's the most beautiful time of the year: its shades of gold, rust, orange and crimson are enchanting. It's even possible to encounter snow in the Highlands from late September onwards. Winter is very cold, especially in the north - some regions are at the same latitude as the southern parts of Norway and Alaska - and temperatures rarely rise above 5°C. Freezing winds blow in from the North Pole, dropping 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: extreme temperatures, whatever they may be and whatever the season, don't last.
Treat yourself to the aurora borealis
In autumn and winter, it's possible to admire the Northern Lights in certain parts of Scotland. They appear on cold, clear, cloudless nights with no light pollution. Applications such as AuroraWatch UK or My Aurora Forecast allow you to track aurora activity and receive notifications of their appearance. Here are a few sites and places where you can see them:
in Shetland and Orkney
in Caithness, Wick or John o'Groats (far north of the Highlands, to the east) or 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
galloway Forest Park
in Pertshire
on the Fife coast
in Edinburgh, at Arthur's Seat, provided the phenomenon is really powerful.
