Orkney: month by month

What to expect

• Days average 6.6°C at the warmest and nights 2.3°C at the coolest.
• About 115 mm of rain falls over roughly 20 days with 1 mm or more.
• Expect about 34 hours of sunshine in the month and 6 h 55 of daylight in the middle of the month.
• This is the coolest month on average.

Planning

• Short days (about 6 h 55 of daylight): plan outdoor sights for the middle of the day and keep evenings for museums, food and shows.
• Averaging about 34 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 (20 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 2.1°C at the coolest.
• About 96 mm of rain falls over roughly 18 days with 1 mm or more.
• Expect about 64 hours of sunshine in the month and 9 h 04 of daylight in the middle of the month.

Planning

• About 9 h 04 of daylight: enough for a full day out, but check sunset if you plan a viewpoint or a long walk.
• Averaging about 64 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 (18 days with 1 mm or more).
• Comfortable walking shoes: most sights are best reached on foot.

What to expect

• Days average 8.0°C at the warmest and nights 2.7°C at the coolest.
• About 87 mm of rain falls over roughly 17 days with 1 mm or more.
• Expect about 102 hours of sunshine in the month and 11 h 46 of daylight in the middle of the month.

Planning

• About 11 h 46 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 (17 days with 1 mm or more).
• Comfortable walking shoes: most sights are best reached on foot.

What to expect

• Days average 9.9°C at the warmest and nights 4.1°C at the coolest.
• About 59 mm of rain falls over roughly 14 days with 1 mm or more.
• Expect about 144 hours of sunshine in the month and 14 h 27 of daylight in the middle of the month.

Planning

• About 14 h 27 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.
• 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 12.2°C at the warmest and nights 5.8°C at the coolest.
• About 54 mm of rain falls over roughly 12 days with 1 mm or more, the driest month of the year here.
• Expect about 193 hours of sunshine in the month, the sunniest of the year and 17 h 01 of daylight in the middle of the month.

Planning

• Long days (about 17 h 01 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 14.2°C at the warmest and nights 8.4°C at the coolest.
• About 56 mm of rain falls over roughly 11 days with 1 mm or more.
• Expect about 145 hours of sunshine in the month and 18 h 28 of daylight in the middle of the month.

Planning

• Long days (about 18 h 28 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 16.1°C at the warmest and nights 10.3°C at the coolest.
• About 58 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 40 of daylight in the middle of the month.

Planning

• Long days (about 17 h 40 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 proper waterproof jacket and shoes that cope with wet pavements: 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 16.2°C at the warmest and nights 10.5°C at the coolest.
• About 73 mm of rain falls over roughly 13 days with 1 mm or more.
• Expect about 135 hours of sunshine in the month and 15 h 22 of daylight in the middle of the month.
• This is the warmest month on average.

Planning

• About 15 h 22 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 14.4°C at the warmest and nights 9.2°C at the coolest.
• About 91 mm of rain falls over roughly 15 days with 1 mm or more.
• Expect about 108 hours of sunshine in the month and 12 h 37 of daylight in the middle of the month.

Planning

• About 12 h 37 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 (15 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 11.6°C at the warmest and nights 7.0°C at the coolest.
• About 120 mm of rain falls over roughly 19 days with 1 mm or more.
• Expect about 76 hours of sunshine in the month and 9 h 58 of daylight in the middle of the month.

Planning

• About 9 h 58 of daylight: enough for a full day out, but check sunset if you plan a viewpoint or a long walk.
• Averaging about 76 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 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 (19 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 4.5°C at the coolest.
• About 126 mm of rain falls over roughly 21 days with 1 mm or more, the wettest month of the year here.
• Expect about 44 hours of sunshine in the month and 7 h 34 of daylight in the middle of the month.

Planning

• Short days (about 7 h 34 of daylight): plan outdoor sights for the middle of the day and keep evenings for museums, food and shows.
• Averaging about 44 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 (21 days with 1 mm or more).
• Comfortable walking shoes: most sights are best reached on foot.

What to expect

• Days average 7.0°C at the warmest and nights 2.6°C at the coolest.
• About 114 mm of rain falls over roughly 20 days with 1 mm or more.
• Expect about 26 hours of sunshine in the month and 6 h 12 of daylight in the middle of the month.

Planning

• Short days (about 6 h 12 of daylight): plan outdoor sights for the middle of the day and keep evenings for museums, food and shows.
• Averaging about 26 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 (20 days with 1 mm or more).
• Comfortable walking shoes: most sights are best reached on foot.