Winter
Dec → Feb7 to 8°
nights 3°
- 15 rainy days · 94 mm
- 3.9 h of sun
When is the best time to visit Scotland?
- Jan7°not recommended
- Feb8°not recommended
- Mar9°not recommended
- Apr11°fair
- May14°recommended
- Jun17°recommended
- Jul18°recommended
- Aug18°recommended
- Sep16°recommended
- Oct13°fair
- Nov10°not recommended
- Dec7°not recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Scotland, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7° | 3° | 3.7 h | 76 mm | 14 d | |
| February | 8° | 3° | 5.4 h | 94 mm | 15 d | |
| March | 9° | 3° | 6.7 h | 75 mm | 16 d | |
| April | 11° | 4° | 9.4 h | 57 mm | 12 d | |
| May | 14° | 8° | 10.2 h | 89 mm | 15 d | ✓ |
| June | 17° | 10° | 10.8 h | 59 mm | 13 d | ✓ |
| July | 18° | 12° | 10.2 h | 93 mm | 17 d | ✓ |
| August | 18° | 12° | 9.6 h | 87 mm | 14 d | ✓ |
| September | 16° | 10° | 7.8 h | 80 mm | 12 d | ✓ |
| October | 13° | 8° | 5.3 h | 134 mm | 19 d | |
| November | 10° | 5° | 4.3 h | 72 mm | 12 d | |
| December | 7° | 3° | 2.6 h | 111 mm | 16 d |
The four seasons in Scotland, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Edinburgh Castle) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May9 to 14°
nights 3 to 8°
- 14 rainy days · 74 mm
- 8.8 h of sun
Summer
Jun → Aug17 to 18°
nights 10 to 12°
- 15 rainy days · 80 mm
- 10.2 h of sun
Autumn
Sep → Nov10 to 16°
nights 5 to 10°
- 14 rainy days · 95 mm
- 5.8 h of sun
Book early for May to September
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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Daylight in Scotland, month by month
The time between sunrise and sunset, from shortest to longest. Not to be confused with the sunshine hours in the table above, which count clear skies. In June there are 17h34 of daylight, in December 6h59, a difference of 10h34.
7h34Jan
9h29Feb
11h39Mar
14h06Apr
16h16May
17h34Jun
17h01Jul
15h03Aug
12h38Sep
10h17Oct
8h07Nov
6h59Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Edinburgh Castle" (55.95°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in Scotland, month by month
EventsEdinburgh FringeAugustRoyal Edinburgh Military TattooAugustHighland GamesMay to SeptemberHogmanayDecember to JanuaryDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Sightseeing & walks: April, September, November
- Long days: April, May, June, July, August
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall), not from an opinion.
What's on in Scotland, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. These events fill the hotels and push prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- AugustEdinburgh Fringe big crowds
Thousands of shows take over Edinburgh's venues, cellars and pavements for three weeks, and the city's population doubles.
- AugustRoyal Edinburgh Military Tattoo big crowds
Bagpipes and regiments parade every evening on the castle esplanade, at the same time as the Fringe.
- May to SeptemberHighland Games
Caber tossing, piping and dancing contests move from village to village, from late spring to early autumn.
- December to JanuaryHogmanay big crowds
Edinburgh closes Princes Street for concerts, a torchlight procession and fireworks over the castle, at New Year.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended7°3° at night
- 76 mm · 14 d
- 3.7 h
Busy, without the crush
February
Not recommended8°3° at night
- 94 mm · 15 d
- 5.4 h
Low season, lower prices
March
Not recommended9°3° at night
- 75 mm · 16 d
- 6.7 h
Low season, lower prices
April
Fair11°4° at night
- 57 mm · 12 d
- 9.4 h
Low season, lower prices
May
Recommended14°8° at night
- 89 mm · 15 d
- 10.2 h
Busy, without the crush
June
Recommended17°10° at night
- 59 mm · 13 d
- 10.8 h
Busy, without the crush
July
Recommended18°12° at night
- 93 mm · 17 d
- 10.2 h
High season, book early
August
Recommended18°12° at night
- 87 mm · 14 d
- 9.6 h
High season, book early
September
Recommended16°10° at night
- 80 mm · 12 d
- 7.8 h
Busy, without the crush
October
Fair13°8° at night
- 134 mm · 19 d
- 5.3 h
Low season, lower prices
November
Not recommended10°5° at night
- 72 mm · 12 d
- 4.3 h
Low season, lower prices
December
Not recommended7°3° at night
- 111 mm · 16 d
- 2.6 h
Busy, without the crush
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Deep winter: 7 °C at the warmest of the day, 3 °C at night. A very wet month, 76 mm of rain over 14 days. Sunshine gets scarcer (3.7 h a day). Busy season, without the crush.
February. Cool: 8 °C at best, 3 °C at night. A very wet month, 94 mm of rain over 15 days. Sunshine gets scarcer (5.4 h a day). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
March. Cool: 9 °C at best, 3 °C at night. A very wet month, 75 mm of rain over 16 days. Expect 6.7 h of sunshine a day. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
April. Cool: 11 °C at best, 4 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (57 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 9.4 h a day on average. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
May. Cool: 14 °C at best, 8 °C at night. Frequent rain: 89 mm over 15 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.2 h a day on average. Busy season, without the crush.
June. Cool: 17 °C at best, 10 °C at night. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (59 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 10.8 h a day on average. Busy season, without the crush.
July. Mild, 18 °C in the afternoon and 12 °C early in the morning. Frequent rain: 93 mm over 17 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.2 h a day on average. High season: book early.
August. Mild, 18 °C in the afternoon and 12 °C early in the morning. Frequent rain: 87 mm over 14 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.6 h a day on average. High season: book early.
September. Cool: 16 °C at best, 10 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (80 mm). Expect 7.8 h of sunshine a day. Busy season, without the crush.
October. Cool: 13 °C at best, 8 °C at night. Frequent rain: 134 mm over 19 days. Sunshine gets scarcer (5.3 h a day). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
November. Cool: 10 °C at best, 5 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (72 mm). Sunshine gets scarcer (4.3 h a day). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. Deep winter: 7 °C at the warmest of the day, 3 °C at night. A very wet month, 111 mm of rain over 16 days. Very little sun: 2.6 h a day on average. Busy season, without the crush.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Scotland?
May to September: over these months, recorded highs range from 14 to 18 °C, with 14 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Edinburgh Castle).
Which month should you avoid in Scotland?
December: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 111 mm over 16 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Edinburgh Castle).
What is the hottest month in Scotland?
July, with 18 °C on average in the afternoon and 12 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Edinburgh Castle).
What is the coldest month in Scotland?
January, with 7 °C at best during the day and 3 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Edinburgh Castle).
What is the driest month in Scotland?
April: 57 mm over 12 days of rain, against 134 mm in October, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in Scotland?
June, with 10.8 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Scotland guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🧭 When to visit United Kingdom: the country overview→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
Compare with other destinations
Photos: YL Lew / Pexels · Le sixième rêve / Pexels · Igor Passchier / Pexels · Lucas Carlini / Pexels · Vincent Delsuc / Pexels