The Scottish Highlands
Empty glens, ruined castles with no ticket office, and weather that changes four times before lunch. Bring the good coats.
The best time to visit The Scottish Highlands is May–Sep, when typical daytime highs reach about 17°C (63°F). Local time there is 19:46 (UTC+1).
Good for
In season
The year at a glance
May · high 13°C · rain 85mm · 16.6h of daylight · in the recommended window
shaded columns are the recommended window
Measured at Inverness, the arrival airport
Averages for 2019–2023 from Open-Meteo’s archive, not a forecast
| Month | High °CHigh °F | Rain mmRain in | Light | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6°C43°F | 80mm3.1in | 7.2h7.2h | |
| February | 7°C45°F | 77mm3.0in | 9.3h9.3h | |
| March | 9°C47°F | 73mm2.9in | 11.6h11.6h | |
| April | 11°C51°F | 53mm2.1in | 14.2h14.2h | |
| May | 13°C56°F | 85mm3.3in | 16.6h16.6h | in the recommended window |
| June | 17°C62°F | 65mm2.6in | 18.0h18.0h | in the recommended window |
| July | 18°C64°F | 107mm4.2in | 17.4h17.4h | in the recommended window |
| August | 18°C64°F | 87mm3.4in | 15.3h15.3h | in the recommended window |
| September | 16°C61°F | 92mm3.6in | 12.7h12.7h | in the recommended window |
| October | 12°C53°F | 125mm4.9in | 10.2h10.2h | |
| November | 9°C48°F | 94mm3.7in | 7.8h7.8h | |
| December | 6°C43°F | 108mm4.3in | 6.6h6.6h |
Good to know
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When is the best time to visit The Scottish Highlands?
The best time to visit The Scottish Highlands is May–Sep, when typical daytime highs reach about 17°C (63°F).
How warm does The Scottish Highlands get?
Typical daytime highs in The Scottish Highlands are Mar–May 11°C (52°F), Jun–Aug 17°C (63°F), Sep–Nov 12°C (54°F), Dec–Feb 7°C (44°F).
Is The Scottish Highlands expensive?
On the ground, The Scottish Highlands is middling.
What sort of trip is The Scottish Highlands good for?
The Scottish Highlands is good for nature and scenery, adventure holidays, bucket-list trips, history and culture.
How rainy is The Scottish Highlands?
The wettest month in The Scottish Highlands is October at 125mm (4.9in), the driest April at 53mm (2.1in), with a monthly average of 87mm (3.4in).
What plug do I need for The Scottish Highlands?
The Scottish Highlands uses type G sockets at 230 V.
