Weather in Scotland

juliescot

Another vote for May.

DS spent a week near Crinan and had sun every day this May.

As for the planning - well it depends where you want to go and what you want to see.

ceebeeby

Have been on the West Coast for the past 4 years and other than the occasional 'break-through' it's always bloomin' wet - never seen so much rain in my whole life!! Before I moved here, I owned one pac-a-mac and a pair of 'old trainers'. Now I own 3 water-proof jackets, water-proof trousers, 2 pairs of wellys and no umbrellas cos the wind keeps breaking them! Kids keep spare clothes at school for when they arrive soaked. Who needs sun-tan when you can get wind burn!

My favourite saying to kids is "God made us water-proof" but only so's we can get out the house occasionally!!!

Gorgeous scenery mind, cheap housing, nice people, lovely country-side and beaches, no traffic!!!

goldspanners

i love scotland,its a good country when its nice weather,it doesnt even need to be scorching,just dry and sunny.
but when its wet and windy its the most bleakest place i can imagine,everything couldnt look any more grey when its miserable,and it is often.
a bit of continuity in our weather would be great but we really can see four seasons in one hour at times,especially the west coast. i find greenock jsut seems to be constantly wet, i used to go there regularly,maybe 3 or 4 times per week for about a 7 or 8 months and i can honestly say i only saw 4 or 5 nice days (note nice, not brilliant)

best advice is to prepare for the worst,it can only get better.

barginfan

Whatever the weather, just go.
Pack your mac just in case and your suncream because it's waterproof not because of its factor.

I've just been to Loch Lomond and surrounding areas mid August, having never been to the West coast of Scotland before.
Yes it was wet, very wet at times, but then so was Cornwall last year (such is my luck) but the scenery made up for that.

I strongly recommend a trip from the top of Loch Lomond to Oban, up to Fort William and back to Loch Lomond. Stunning.

I will return, but will probably go around May as I have found that the general British climate has been better then in recent years...............but knowing my luck.......

nesssie1702

Another vote for May here, it tends to be a good month - but pack your waterproofs, as you just never know with the weather here. The good thing with May is that the days are getting longer and the quality of light is fantastic.

When you say West Coast, how far up do you intend coming? You need to go further than Fort William! Skye at least and the Outer Hebrides are not that difficult to get to

The RET Ferry fares from Uig in Skye to Tarbert, Harris or Lochmaddy, North Uist (It's a triangle run between the three ports) means that you can get a return ticket for car and 2 passengers for around the £65. The ferry crossing is 1 hr and 45 minutes and it's a relatively sheltered journey.

juliescot

nesssie1702 wrote: »

Another vote for May here, it tends to be a good month - but pack your waterproofs, as you just never know with the weather here. The good thing with May is that the days are getting longer and the quality of light is fantastic.

When you say West Coast, how far up do you intend coming? You need to go further than Fort William! Skye at least and the Outer Hebrides are not that difficult to get to

The RET Ferry fares from Uig in Skye to Tarbert, Harris or Lochmaddy, North Uist (It's a triangle run between the three ports) means that you can get a return ticket for car and 2 passengers for around the £65. The ferry crossing is 1 hr and 45 minutes and it's a relatively sheltered journey.

Of course the west coast need not mean that far north at all.
Solway Frith anyone?

Although I have to say I got sunburnt in Harris this May

Happydaze

One vote for May (and OH for September!!). My daughter has a birthday towards the end of May and in her 11 years I think most of them have been celebrated in good weather. My husband onthe other hand would argue September is better - he has completed the west highland way a couple of times in May and both in torrential rain whereas September has been dry & with the onset of Autumn there is also beautiful scenery.

Whatever you decide you will have a glorious time as come rain or shine the scenery is spectacular.

Nosht

Midges come out from April but worse than them is the mosquito which appears in mid-March due to our milder climate & can leave a nasty, itchy water blister.


N.

juliescot

Nosht wrote: »

Midges come out from April but worse than them is the mosquito which appears in mid-March due to our milder climate & can leave a nasty, itchy water blister.


N.

Nothing worse than the dreaded Midge!

(Have yet to be troubled by a mosquito in Scotland)

Inforapennyinforapound

Thanks to all for some great responses.

Would really like to go up to Skye etc and hopefully get b&b on spec,as it were.

I assume the road takes you via Glen Coe which is one place i definitely wish to see(sorry havent started to study the maps yet,just picking brains).

I would really appreciate tips on what to see,but i do realise that it is the scenery which is the attraction,obviously.

And the midges? arrrgh....i suppose we will need the mosquito spray which travelled with us to Greece recently...they seem to have a taste for English blood(perhaps i shouldnt have said that 'cos this thread has nice people and i dont want to attract the wrong sort!!! ....if you get my drift :-)