The Best Times to Visit Scotland | Weather + Attractions + Midges

While we’d argue, any time you can get to Scotland, you should visit, there are best times to visit Scotland depending on what you want to see and do in the country! When planning a trip to Scotland and deciding on the best time to visit Scotland for you, you must consider what your goal of visiting Scotland is.

Do you want to learn about the whisky distilling process and sample all the whisky you can? Are you hoping to dive into the history of Scotland and tour castles? Thinking about experiencing a festival in Edinburgh?  Or, are you simply going to enjoy the outdoor life Scotland offers? In answering these questions, you’ll surely find the best times to visit Scotland for yourself!

Best Time of Year to Visit Scotland

With so many factors determining the best time to visit Scotland, the answer to that question isn’t so straightforward. Scotland is a beautiful country year-round, though different parts of the year do bring different goods and bads along with them.

With that said, we can say there is a “best time to visit Scotland” for everyone.. though deciding that time will be done on an individual basis! You’ve got to decide for yourself, why do you really want to go to Scotland. And then, after making that decision, come back and see when the best time to visit Scotland for you is!

Lucky for you, we’ve got loads of information on Scotland, accessible with just one click! Giving you a great starting base for deciding what you’re most looking forward to for your travels to Scotland!

Best Time to Visit Scotland to Avoid Midges

Midges… have you heard of them?! They are little tiny bugs that bite, leaving spots all over any exposed area of your body that itch like crazy!

Only the female midges bite, and they use the blood of their victim in the reproduction of future midges! But the catch is that when they bite, they release something and let all the other female midges know there’s some good bloodsucking to do in the area…

#girlpower

It doesn’t sound so bad until you learn that you can literally get thousands of bites in a matter of minutes. As in, when people hike, they wear special bug nets to protect their neck and faces, while having the rest of their bodies covered from head to toe in normal clothing.

All that to say, if you plan on traveling to Scotland and have your eyes set on the west coast, places like Oban or Fort William, you’ll want to definitely avoid visiting Scotland in the summer months, late July through mid-September, to avoid the midges! Don’t worry, if you don’t plan on visiting the west coast of Scotland, you won’t run into the midge problem – as they aren’t really found in other parts of the country!

Traveler’s Tip… If you cannot avoid visiting Scotland during this time, bring some Avon Skin So Soft with you. This works better than any bug spray as a midge repellent. In fact, it works so well that outdoor companies in Scotland now sell it in stores! 

Best Time to Visit Scotland Weather Wise

When visiting Scotland, you never have to worry about the temperature being too much to bear. With average summer temperatures around 63F/17C, you can visit any time of the year without being too hot.

There’s a saying in Scotland that goes something like this, “If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes”. And boy, oh boy, does that ring true. Being an island, Scotland has some crazy weather patterns.

It will be clear blue skies one minute and snow/hail the next, then clear blue skies again! Don’t believe us, read about our time at Dunnottar Castle here.

It truly doesn’t matter what time of year you visit Scotland, there’s no guarantee with the weather. With that said, don’t worry if you see rain in the forecast for every day of your trip. I reckon it rains nearly every day in Scotland (hence why everything is so green and lush), however, that rain is hardly ever a full day of rain.

Any month of the year you’ll get rain, but just remember that it will be short-lived, sometimes less than even an hour at a time — And as crazy as this sounds, it isn’t a very wet rain… Does that even make sense?!

While living in Scotland for two years, there were only two times that it really rained so bad that it prevented us from going outside. The first time being the first week we moved to Scotland, everything flooded and the rain even created a sinkhole at the airport, closing down any flights from taking off or landing. This storm hit in January (so part of Scotland’s winter).

However, the second time it rained so bad things were flooding and you couldn’t go anywhere was in the summer. In June, a year and a half after the first crazy rainstorm, we were hit with another one.. also lasting roughly a week!

So really, there isn’t a, “best time to visit Scotland weather-wise”. Don’t let weather plan your trip to Scotland… the two examples above are two very extreme cases, and of which are the only times the weather prevented us from doing something outdoors in Scotland!

Daylight, on the other hand, that’s a different story!

Daylight Hours in Scotland

The time of year you visit Scotland can dramatically change the amount of daylight you have to explore the country. The further north you travel in Scotland, the more drastic the daylight difference will be. 

Want to experience the midnight sun? Travel to Scotland the second half of June through mid-July. Looking for total darkness to experience the Northern Lights? You’ll want to visit Scotland in December or January. 

Even if you’re not looking for the dramatic daylight differences, you’ll want to keep in mind the daylight hours in Scotland to ensure you have enough daylight as you travel around the country and explore all that Scotland offers. Visiting Scotland in the summer can grant you more than double the time of daylight than visiting in the winter. 

But don’t feel like you’re limited to just summertime visits! Spring and Fall in Scotland still have great daylight, and offer some gorgeous scenery for fall foliage and blooming spring flowers!

Best Time to Visit Scotland for Northern Lights

If you’re looking to visit Scotland with dreams of seeing the Northern Lights, the best time of year is going to be winter for the higher chances of spotting the Aurora with the longer hours of darkness. With that said, we’d not recommend booking a trip to Scotland specifically for the northern lights, as they are hit or miss with cloud coverage and whatnot.

To check the Northern Lights “schedule” and see what days are possible for spotting the Aurora Borealis and where, head to this Aurora catcher.

Best Time to Visit for Festivals of Scotland

Honestly, any time of the year you’re sure to stumble upon a festival in Scotland. Whether looking for one of the many Scottish Festivals like the Fringe Festival or the Edinburgh Military Tattoo in August, or Shetland’s Up Helly Aa in January, there’s a festival for everyone!

While researching more festivals to share about than the ones we’ve experienced, I stumbled across a website that’s made a month to month breakdown of festivals of Scotland. No need to write what someone else has perfectly put in place. Learn about festivals in Scotland from a monthly breakdown here.

Best Times to Visit Scotland in the Scottish Isles

Yes, Scotland is an island, but did you know there are loads of islands off the coastline of Scotland to see and explore too? Scottish Isles bring the idea of island life to a whole new level.

During the summer, you’ll find more sailings to the Scottish Isles than what tends to happen in the winter. You’ll also typically find much better weather for those sailings. Although, this is not always the case.

The CalMac ferries are the ferries that take passengers and cars to and from mainland Scotland to the majority of the Western Isles. Northlink Ferries are the gateway from mainland Scotland to the northern isles, aka, Orkney and Shetland.

Sailing from Aberdeen to Shetland, in September, the seas were so rough food and glasses were falling off of tables and people were wobbling all over. This winter, 2019/2020 has been a rough year with the winter weather so far, closing down multiple sailings to and from Shetland.

While you cannot guarantee great weather for sailing at any time in the year, you’ll surely find more decent sailing weather outside of the winter months.

FAQs For The Best Times to Visit Scotland

Bottom Line on Visiting Scotland

While we believe that any time is a good time to visit Scotland, the best times to visit Scotland depend on your preferences and goals for the trip. Whether you plan to explore the whisky distilleries, jump into Scotland’s rich history by touring castles and villages, choose to experience the festivals in Edinburgh, or simply enjoy the outdoor beauty, each decision will influence the ideal time for your visit.

Deciding the best time to visit Scotland requires answering these questions for yourself and tailoring your trip accordingly. Throughout this post, we’ve covered various aspects, including the best times of the year, strategies to avoid midges, weather considerations, daylight hours, optimal times for Northern Lights, festival seasons, ideal periods for visiting the Scottish Isles, and the accessibility of castles and attractions.

Remember, Scotland’s beauty is ever-present, and with each season offering its own unique charm. There truly isn’t a worst time to visit Scotland.

Whether you are drawn to the blooming spring, the festival-filled summer, the colorful autumn, or the serene winter, Scotland welcomes you with open arms. You can see it in the people as well. So, let your preferences guide you, and discover the unbelievable landscapes and rich culture that make Scotland a sure bet destination for your next adventure.

Safe travels!

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