The Scottish Highlands: month by month

What to expect

• Days average 7.1°C at the warmest and nights 1.3°C at the coolest.
• About 76 mm of rain falls over roughly 14 days with 1 mm or more.
• Expect about 40 hours of sunshine in the month and 7 h 19 of daylight in the middle of the month.
• This is the coolest month on average.

Planning

• Short days (about 7 h 19 of daylight): plan outdoor sights for the middle of the day and keep evenings for museums, food and shows.
• Averaging about 40 hours of sunshine in the month, so keep an indoor back-up for each day (see our rainy-day guide).

What to pack

• A warm coat, hat and gloves, with thermal or wool layers underneath.
• Shoes with a good grip for cold mornings.
• A proper waterproof jacket and shoes that cope with wet sidewalks: this is one of the wetter months here (14 days with 1 mm or more).
• Comfortable walking shoes: most sights are best reached on foot.

What to expect

• Days average 7.6°C at the warmest and nights 1.4°C at the coolest.
• About 61 mm of rain falls over roughly 12 days with 1 mm or more.
• Expect about 74 hours of sunshine in the month and 9 h 17 of daylight in the middle of the month.

Planning

• About 9 h 17 of daylight: enough for a full day out, but check sunset if you plan a viewpoint or a long walk.
• Averaging about 74 hours of sunshine in the month, so keep an indoor back-up for each day (see our rainy-day guide).

What to pack

• A warm coat, hat and gloves, with thermal or wool layers underneath.
• Shoes with a good grip for cold mornings.
• A proper waterproof jacket and shoes that cope with wet sidewalks: this is one of the wetter months here (12 days with 1 mm or more).
• Comfortable walking shoes: most sights are best reached on foot.

What to expect

• Days average 9.5°C at the warmest and nights 2.4°C at the coolest.
• About 53 mm of rain falls over roughly 13 days with 1 mm or more.
• Expect about 110 hours of sunshine in the month and 11 h 47 of daylight in the middle of the month.

Planning

• About 11 h 47 of daylight: enough for a full day out, but check sunset if you plan a viewpoint or a long walk.

What to pack

• A warm coat, hat and gloves, with thermal or wool layers underneath.
• Shoes with a good grip for cold mornings.
• A proper waterproof jacket and shoes that cope with wet sidewalks: this is one of the wetter months here (13 days with 1 mm or more).
• Comfortable walking shoes: most sights are best reached on foot.

What to expect

• Days average 12.1°C at the warmest and nights 4.1°C at the coolest.
• About 41 mm of rain falls over roughly 10 days with 1 mm or more, the driest month of the year here.
• Expect about 144 hours of sunshine in the month and 14 h 17 of daylight in the middle of the month.

Planning

• About 14 h 17 of daylight: enough for a full day out, but check sunset if you plan a viewpoint or a long walk.

What to pack

• A warm jacket and a sweater or fleece you can take off indoors.
• A light waterproof or a compact umbrella: about 10 days a month see 1 mm or more.
• Comfortable walking shoes: most sights are best reached on foot.

What to expect

• Days average 14.8°C at the warmest and nights 6.4°C at the coolest.
• About 56 mm of rain falls over roughly 11 days with 1 mm or more.
• Expect about 184 hours of sunshine in the month, the sunniest of the year and 16 h 38 of daylight in the middle of the month.

Planning

• Long days (about 16 h 38 of daylight): there is time for an early start and a late walk.

What to pack

• A warm jacket and a sweater or fleece you can take off indoors.
• A light waterproof or a compact umbrella: about 11 days a month see 1 mm or more.
• Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat for long days outdoors.
• Comfortable walking shoes: most sights are best reached on foot.

What to expect

• Days average 17.0°C at the warmest and nights 9.4°C at the coolest.
• About 62 mm of rain falls over roughly 12 days with 1 mm or more.
• Expect about 143 hours of sunshine in the month and 17 h 55 of daylight in the middle of the month.

Planning

• Long days (about 17 h 55 of daylight): there is time for an early start and a late walk.

What to pack

• Light layers: a sweater or fleece over a T-shirt, and a light jacket for the evening.
• A light waterproof or a compact umbrella: about 12 days a month see 1 mm or more.
• Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat for long days outdoors.
• Comfortable walking shoes: most sights are best reached on foot.

What to expect

• Days average 18.9°C at the warmest and nights 11.3°C at the coolest.
• About 62 mm of rain falls over roughly 12 days with 1 mm or more.
• Expect about 139 hours of sunshine in the month and 17 h 12 of daylight in the middle of the month.
• This is the warmest month on average.

Planning

• Long days (about 17 h 12 of daylight): there is time for an early start and a late walk.

What to pack

• Light layers: a sweater or fleece over a T-shirt, and a light jacket for the evening.
• A light waterproof or a compact umbrella: about 12 days a month see 1 mm or more.
• Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat for long days outdoors.
• Comfortable walking shoes: most sights are best reached on foot.

What to expect

• Days average 18.7°C at the warmest and nights 11.2°C at the coolest.
• About 65 mm of rain falls over roughly 12 days with 1 mm or more.
• Expect about 136 hours of sunshine in the month and 15 h 08 of daylight in the middle of the month.

Planning

• About 15 h 08 of daylight: enough for a full day out, but check sunset if you plan a viewpoint or a long walk.

What to pack

• Light layers: a sweater or fleece over a T-shirt, and a light jacket for the evening.
• A proper waterproof jacket and shoes that cope with wet sidewalks: this is one of the wetter months here (12 days with 1 mm or more).
• Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat for long days outdoors.
• Comfortable walking shoes: most sights are best reached on foot.

What to expect

• Days average 16.5°C at the warmest and nights 9.1°C at the coolest.
• About 63 mm of rain falls over roughly 12 days with 1 mm or more.
• Expect about 117 hours of sunshine in the month and 12 h 35 of daylight in the middle of the month.

Planning

• About 12 h 35 of daylight: enough for a full day out, but check sunset if you plan a viewpoint or a long walk.

What to pack

• Light layers: a sweater or fleece over a T-shirt, and a light jacket for the evening.
• A light waterproof or a compact umbrella: about 12 days a month see 1 mm or more.
• Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat for long days outdoors.
• Comfortable walking shoes: most sights are best reached on foot.

What to expect

• Days average 12.8°C at the warmest and nights 6.1°C at the coolest.
• About 78 mm of rain falls over roughly 14 days with 1 mm or more, the wettest month of the year here.
• Expect about 82 hours of sunshine in the month and 10 h 06 of daylight in the middle of the month.

Planning

• About 10 h 06 of daylight: enough for a full day out, but check sunset if you plan a viewpoint or a long walk.

What to pack

• A warm jacket and a sweater or fleece you can take off indoors.
• A proper waterproof jacket and shoes that cope with wet sidewalks: this is one of the wetter months here (14 days with 1 mm or more).
• Comfortable walking shoes: most sights are best reached on foot.

What to expect

• Days average 9.5°C at the warmest and nights 3.5°C at the coolest.
• About 67 mm of rain falls over roughly 13 days with 1 mm or more.
• Expect about 52 hours of sunshine in the month and 7 h 55 of daylight in the middle of the month.

Planning

• Short days (about 7 h 55 of daylight): plan outdoor sights for the middle of the day and keep evenings for museums, food and shows.
• Averaging about 52 hours of sunshine in the month, so keep an indoor back-up for each day (see our rainy-day guide).

What to pack

• A warm coat, hat and gloves, with thermal or wool layers underneath.
• A proper waterproof jacket and shoes that cope with wet sidewalks: this is one of the wetter months here (13 days with 1 mm or more).
• Comfortable walking shoes: most sights are best reached on foot.

What to expect

• Days average 7.3°C at the warmest and nights 1.4°C at the coolest.
• About 73 mm of rain falls over roughly 14 days with 1 mm or more.
• Expect about 28 hours of sunshine in the month and 6 h 41 of daylight in the middle of the month.

Planning

• Short days (about 6 h 41 of daylight): plan outdoor sights for the middle of the day and keep evenings for museums, food and shows.
• Averaging about 28 hours of sunshine in the month, so keep an indoor back-up for each day (see our rainy-day guide).

What to pack

• A warm coat, hat and gloves, with thermal or wool layers underneath.
• Shoes with a good grip for cold mornings.
• A proper waterproof jacket and shoes that cope with wet sidewalks: this is one of the wetter months here (14 days with 1 mm or more).
• Comfortable walking shoes: most sights are best reached on foot.