Weather in Scotland

Always_Harassed

Buy Avon Skin so Soft in the green bottle and it seems to form a barrier which the midges can't get through. Glen Coe is an eerie place to go, it's not the sort of feeling that you can explain. Skye is an enormous island so varies from place to place. Would suggest that you look at the Scotland forum on Trip Advisor. Also would check out mileage using AA or RAC routefinder as it is further than you might think. Roads are not great for a lot of the journey so you cannot go very fast. One good thing is to stop off at attractions or views as you see them. There are a few castles on the road.
Fort William is a good place to stop on route to Skye as there are a lot of B&B's in the area. Town is fairly rundown but there are a few pubs and restaurants.

teedy23

I give May my vote, Avon Skin so soft and if you like marmite on your toast go for it, the midges dont like it.

sandiep

Scotland is also very subject to mini micro climates. I know that here in Girvan I had a really good May, June & July, August although not special wasn't that wet.

But I also know that in Ayr only 20 miles up the road, a lot of the days that we had really good weather in Girvan, it was just mediocre just a few miles north.

It's so much to do with the geography. The proximity of the hills, the coast etc. Where we are we have Arran/Northern Ireland & Ailsa Craig to the west of us, and most of our weather comes in from the west, and as an earlier poster has already said, all the rain lands on Arran. We've also got some quite protective hills east of us that take the rain when it comes in the other way.

And Scotland is all hills, coast and micro climates. The weather whereever you are will be totally different to 30 miles away.

I would advise May. But bring a decent coat and a jumper. The evenings are glorious in May, but when the sun drops so does the temperature. (The begining of may always seems to be the best bit).

sandiep

Plokton & the Kyle of Lochalsh. Totally wonderful. And some great pubs with traditional music etc.

Seals and wildlife everywhere. (But not the coos, because they've been ASBO'd)

juliescot

A quick trip to Pollock Park this weekend will sort out anyone who needs a fix of heilan coos

http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/Residents/Parks_Outdoors/Parks_gardens/highlandcattleshow.htm

eilidh_s

You might be taking a bit of a chance just going for a B&B on spec. I did a bit of traveling around this summer and I struggled to find a place to stay for a decent price, even booking a couple of weeks in advance. Maybe take a tent just in case!

Fitzio

Another vote for May. Last year May was the nicest month as I recall as we spent most of it hospital visiting and missed summer. This year it was May going into June. It's been pretty dire since around Glasgow (mild but wet).

jackieglasgow

If you're watching the pennies, try Hosteling, some of them are mediocre, some are fab, but they're all really well priced. Maybe even just for some of the nights, to save some cash for a really nice BnB? There's even one that's a castle!!

http://guide.visitscotland.com/vs/guide/5,en,SCH1/objectId,ACC52823Svs,season,at1/home.html

delerium

Another vote for May, just because it's sods law that while uni and school exams are going on the weather is always beautiful.

Having lived on both coasts, I would agree with the micro climate advice. East coast is colder but definately drier, West coast slightly warmer but much wetter.

can't comment on Midgies as they either don't bite me or I have no reaction to them.

Where to go.....too many places to comment.

sandiep

juliescot wrote: »

A quick trip to Pollock Park this weekend will sort out anyone who needs a fix of heilan coos

http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/Residents/Parks_Outdoors/Parks_gardens/highlandcattleshow.htm

I will never forget walking through Plokton at night (not a lot of street lights) and hearing a terrible noise up one of the side roads, and a cow coming running out with a wheelie bin on his horns/antlers.