North Coast 500: month by month

What to expect

• Days average 6.4°C at the warmest and nights 1.6°C at the coolest.
• About 72 mm of rain falls over roughly 17 days with 1 mm or more.
• Expect about 51 hours of sunshine in the month and 7 h 06 of daylight in the middle of the month.
• This is the coolest month on average.

Planning

• Short days (about 7 h 06 of daylight): plan outdoor sights for the middle of the day and keep evenings for museums, food and shows.
• Averaging about 51 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 pavements: this is one of the wetter months here (17 days with 1 mm or more).
• Comfortable walking shoes: most sights are best reached on foot.

What to expect

• Days average 6.7°C at the warmest and nights 1.4°C at the coolest.
• About 63 mm of rain falls over roughly 14 days with 1 mm or more.
• Expect about 73 hours of sunshine in the month and 9 h 10 of daylight in the middle of the month.

Planning

• About 9 h 10 of daylight: enough for a full day out, but check sunset if you plan a viewpoint or a long walk.
• Averaging about 73 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 pavements: 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 8.1°C at the warmest and nights 2.3°C at the coolest.
• About 57 mm of rain falls over roughly 14 days with 1 mm or more.
• Expect about 115 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 pavements: 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 10.0°C at the warmest and nights 3.9°C at the coolest.
• About 47 mm of rain falls over roughly 12 days with 1 mm or more, the driest month of the year here.
• Expect about 146 hours of sunshine in the month and 14 h 23 of daylight in the middle of the month.

Planning

• About 14 h 23 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 jumper or fleece you can take off indoors.
• A light waterproof or a compact umbrella: about 12 days a month see 1 mm or more.
• Comfortable walking shoes: most sights are best reached on foot.

What to expect

• Days average 12.0°C at the warmest and nights 5.5°C at the coolest.
• About 50 mm of rain falls over roughly 12 days with 1 mm or more.
• Expect about 191 hours of sunshine in the month, the sunniest of the year and 16 h 51 of daylight in the middle of the month.

Planning

• Long days (about 16 h 51 of daylight): there is time for an early start and a late walk.

What to pack

• A warm jacket and a jumper or fleece you can take off indoors.
• 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 14.3°C at the warmest and nights 8.2°C at the coolest.
• About 55 mm of rain falls over roughly 11 days with 1 mm or more.
• Expect about 148 hours of sunshine in the month and 18 h 13 of daylight in the middle of the month.

Planning

• Long days (about 18 h 13 of daylight): there is time for an early start and a late walk.

What to pack

• A warm jacket and a jumper 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 16.2°C at the warmest and nights 10.1°C at the coolest.
• About 62 mm of rain falls over roughly 12 days with 1 mm or more.
• Expect about 137 hours of sunshine in the month and 17 h 27 of daylight in the middle of the month.

Planning

• Long days (about 17 h 27 of daylight): there is time for an early start and a late walk.

What to pack

• Light layers: a jumper 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 16.3°C at the warmest and nights 10.4°C at the coolest.
• About 70 mm of rain falls over roughly 13 days with 1 mm or more.
• Expect about 137 hours of sunshine in the month and 15 h 16 of daylight in the middle of the month.
• This is the warmest month on average.

Planning

• About 15 h 16 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 jumper or fleece over a T-shirt, and a light jacket for the evening.
• A proper waterproof jacket and shoes that cope with wet pavements: this is one of the wetter months here (13 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 14.7°C at the warmest and nights 8.9°C at the coolest.
• About 66 mm of rain falls over roughly 13 days with 1 mm or more.
• Expect about 119 hours of sunshine in the month and 12 h 36 of daylight in the middle of the month.

Planning

• About 12 h 36 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 jumper or fleece you can take off indoors.
• A proper waterproof jacket and shoes that cope with wet pavements: this is one of the wetter months here (13 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 11.8°C at the warmest and nights 6.5°C at the coolest.
• About 93 mm of rain falls over roughly 17 days with 1 mm or more, the wettest month of the year here.
• Expect about 91 hours of sunshine in the month and 10 h 02 of daylight in the middle of the month.

Planning

• About 10 h 02 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 jumper or fleece you can take off indoors.
• A proper waterproof jacket and shoes that cope with wet pavements: this is one of the wetter months here (17 days with 1 mm or more).
• Comfortable walking shoes: most sights are best reached on foot.

What to expect

• Days average 8.9°C at the warmest and nights 3.9°C at the coolest.
• About 88 mm of rain falls over roughly 18 days with 1 mm or more.
• Expect about 59 hours of sunshine in the month and 7 h 44 of daylight in the middle of the month.

Planning

• Short days (about 7 h 44 of daylight): plan outdoor sights for the middle of the day and keep evenings for museums, food and shows.
• Averaging about 59 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 pavements: this is one of the wetter months here (18 days with 1 mm or more).
• Comfortable walking shoes: most sights are best reached on foot.

What to expect

• Days average 6.8°C at the warmest and nights 1.7°C at the coolest.
• About 70 mm of rain falls over roughly 16 days with 1 mm or more.
• Expect about 38 hours of sunshine in the month and 6 h 26 of daylight in the middle of the month.

Planning

• Short days (about 6 h 26 of daylight): plan outdoor sights for the middle of the day and keep evenings for museums, food and shows.
• Averaging about 38 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 pavements: this is one of the wetter months here (16 days with 1 mm or more).
• Comfortable walking shoes: most sights are best reached on foot.