When is the best time to visit Scotland

September is a lovely month - the heather will still be out, the midges gone and the weather often fantastic

Depends where you are going but the autumn is underestimated. Beautiful colours, fewer midgies! We often get Indian summers too, but I wouldn't bank on it!

What do you fancy, countryside or cities?

May or September

We've been back two weeks now and found May beautiful - amazing bluebells, no midges and quiet.

September is a really good time to go - still warm and the midges are on the way out.
You'll be spoilt for choice for places to visit so have a think about what your interests are and have fun whittling the list down.

Scotland is bigger and more diverse than people imagine. You will have to decide whether you want lochs and mountains, Western Isles, Glasgow or Edinburgh, Castles & History or whatever. Not to worry too much what you pick, because when you have been once, you will be sure to come back to see more.

Baggs

May or September

This. ^

If you visit the eastern side midges aren’t really much of a thing at any time of year.

I went in June and it was light with bright sun in Edinburgh after 10 O’clock at night so you sort of get more for your money and no school kids.

Thank you for that info MawtheMerrier.
Dh and i were wondering when is the best time to visit Scotland.
I get bitten rotten by midges,i have tried every spray you could think of.

I would normally suggest last 2 weeks of May or first two weeks June but this year the West of Scotland has had very unseasonal weather. September can be lovely.

I get bitten rotten by midges, I have tried every spray you could think of

I have given up relying on the sprays and instead take a one a day antihistamine for the duration. Still get bitten but no itching.

I always visit relatives in September. The weather was stunning last year and the light nights are still there. Lovely scenery as the leaves are still on the trees and lots of flowers blooming. My favourite place is the world is the Borders. Lovely warm friendly people.

Oh and go in September once the school kids have gone back after the summer break. Bliss!

Late May it's a good time for the West Highlands, we often have good weather it's slightly quieter than once the kids have broken up at the end of June here. Rhododendrons and gorse bushes are in full bloom looking glorious and the gorse smells amazing on the breeze. For midge repellent I highly recommend Mary Jean midge lotion. It's all natural, has a pleasant smell, is kind to the skin and it works! I don't know if it's sold in any of the shops, I get mine online.

September is also good because it's usually still warm & you have such lovely colour all around with the leaves turning. Depends what you're looking for really

We went to Dumfries and Galloway one June it was lovely and mild.

I second May and September but October can be spectacular. The colours are beautiful and the weather can be surprisingly good. Golden days. Also fewer tourists. I like October in Edinburgh as I always feel like we've got the city back from the hordes of tourists.

Granny23

^I get bitten rotten by midges, I have tried every spray you could think of^

I have given up relying on the sprays and instead take a one a day antihistamine for the duration. Still get bitten but no itching.

Yes, someone advised me to do that as any bitey insect makes a beeline for me
(Yes, I know bees sting!)

Perthshire is worth visiting. Pitlochry has a lovely theatre and beautiful scenery, as does Dunkeld. Perth itself has some nice shops and eating places. I would suggest you look at finding somewhere to stay as availability isn't guaranteed and costs can be high. Edinburgh is heaving during the festival. Definitely September as it can still be warm and the schools have gone back.

Due to the introduction of the Short Term Lettings legislation in the Spring by the Scottish Government lots of b&b are closing down so you will want to book early. This was introduce to solve some of Edinburgh’s problems but has resulted in too high costs for small places.

Ordinary B&Bs are OK it's the dreaded AirBnBs that are being curbed and not a moment too soon.
Please support the old fashioned B&Bs. They offer great value.

It does effect small b&b as well, my friend is having to close his. There is a fine line between AirBnB and small B&B

Got married in Scotland at the end of August, 1999. Sunny day. Lovely. Next day, so cold I bought a Jumper at a woollens shop and kept it on all honeymoon.

Scotland is gorgeous but the weather can be a tad unpredictable ?

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We went to Dumfries and Galloway last September. We had a beautiful week the weather was perfect for walking. We visited all the gardens we could find in the area.
We went on a coach trip the November before covid. Christmas in the Trossachs. Good weather there too, cold but fine.

Last year we rented a fabulous cottage in Dumfries & Galloway for the first week of July. Someone told us that being south the midges not too bad. They were OK by the coast but one evening we bbqd and got bitten to death, we also left the bathroom window open one evening and I had to spray the room then sweep up the bodies. Weather gorgeous though, Daughter in Norfolk had a cold and wet week.