Scotland's weather
The weather in Scotland tends to be quite moderate and changeable but is rarely extreme. You might experience ‘four seasons in one day’ but travel 20-30 minutes in any direction and the weather is generally completely different!
There’s no bad time of year to visit Scotland, with plenty to see and do regardless of the elements. After all, as the old saying goes, “There is no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothes!”
Spring: (Mar/Apr/May)
Spring is a beautiful time to visit Scotland, flowers begin to bloom and the incredible cherry blossom appears in a burst of colour. A milder climate also sees much of our amazing wildlife begin to pop their heads out for the first time and greet eager ramblers. Spring is the undoubtedly the perfect time to get your walking boots on and explore the Scottish countryside. Even if you do get hit by the occasional April shower, it will help to blow away those winter cobwebs and give you an invigorating experience you’ll never forget.
Summer: (Jun/Jul/Aug)
Summer in Scotland is festival season; a time when you can not only enjoy Scotland’s best weather, but also the very best in the arts and entertainment. With highlights including the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the largest arts festival in the world, there is no end to the amazing things to see and do. While it might be our wettest season, it is also the warmest and our northerly latitude also means we benefit from incredible long summer days and beautiful extended twilight. All this means there is more time for you to pack more experiences into a summer trip and create a lifetime of memories.
Autumn: (Sep/Oct/Nov)
During the autumn season, Scotland goes through an incredible transformation as the leaves begin to change colour. It is the perfect opportunity for some jaw-dropping photographs as the foliage turns from green to the most vibrant reds, yellows and oranges. The early part of autumn is also usually quite mild and can provide some wonderful days to ramble around Scotland’s many city and country parks. It may get a little chilly later in the season, but we promise that you’ll be so caught up in the stunning scenery that you won’t even notice the temperature!
Winter: (Dec/Jan/Feb)
Even during Scotland’s coldest season there are plenty of experiences to warm you up. New Year’s Eve, known as Hogmanay in Scotland, is a truly unique occasion; even as the temperature drops to its lowest, everyone comes together to celebrate. From Stonehaven’s swirling fireball parade to Edinburgh’s spectacular fireworks display over Edinburgh Castle, there is something to suit everyone.
Winter is also the perfect time to warm yourself with a dram of Scotland’s best loved export: whisky! There are more than 150 whisky distilleries in Scotland providing plenty opportunities to sample the local tipple.
You can find out what the day-to-day weather is like in Scotland through the Met Office's weather forecast.