Scotland in winter?

[colinthechemist]

After a couple of weekends away in Devon and Cornwall, we're now planning our first big trip: six nights away in the week before Christmas.
I've often thought of visiting the west coast of Scotland, but been put off by tales of clouds of midges sucking the blood of English campers.
So, is December a perfect time to see Scotland in it's snow-capped beauty, free from the vampire insects? Or am I just going to be stuck in the van staring out at 20 hours of darkness and listening to the wind and rain on the roof?

 

[CAB]

Yes and Yes

(no personal experience I hasten to add, just couldn't resist!!)

 

[Pete C]

Scotland in winter can be amazing, but your experience will be shaped entirely by the weather. If the forecast looks poor, then don't go.

Pete

 

[DXX]

Every time I’ve gone North in the winter I’ve soon decided to turn around and head south.
You can sit in the van in darkness at home.

 

[drinfinity]

Had some great trips and some miserable ones too. No midges though in winter.

You could always bail out to Edinburgh if it’s bad.

 

[Higgidav]

We took 26 days touring Scotland in October and had a fantastic time. I would not consider attempting a winter trip without a heater and all season / winter tyres.

 

[colinthechemist]

We took 26 days touring Scotland in October and had a fantastic time. I would not consider attempting a winter trip without a heater and all season / winter tyres.

We've got the heater and all-season tyres and I'll buy the snow chains, gravel and shovel before we leave.
But if day 1 is Cornwall to Glasgow and day 7 is Glasgow to Cornwall, I wonder how much of the west coast and islands we can cover on days 2-6...

 

[Sackmycook]

Spend a few days in Northumberland, Bamburgh and the Cheviots.....you won't be disappointed!

See it as a half-way house

 

[Mateus]

its a long drive and days are short but amazing if you get calm weather… you’ll need to plan ahead as lots closed off season

 

[dubber36]

Hopefully you haven't got H4 headlights.

 

[colinthechemist]

Well we chickened out and stayed closer to home with a few days along the South coast of Devon and Dorset.
But kicking myself as looking at the weather forecast it seems that Scotland has been the sunniest place in the UK for the last few days!

 

[JOG]

Well we chickened out and stayed closer to home with a few days along the South coast of Devon and Dorset.
But kicking myself as looking at the weather forecast it seems that Scotland has been the sunniest place in the UK for the last few days!

Grass is always greener and all that…! Never look back, look forward!

 

[colinthechemist]

Grass is always greener and all that…! Never look back, look forward!

I'll just pray for sunshine in Scotland at February half-term!

 

[slocumjoseph]

A few years ago, just before the NC 500 was thought of my son and I drove a full clockwise circuit of Scotland, starting and finishing in Edinburgh. 1200 miles in three days. Not much time for sightseeing but for first two days the weather couldn’t have been better. Parts of the West coast were like the mediterranean. This year in September he and a team mate bike packed the NC500 from Inverness clockwise in four and a half days. They took midge nets but only needed them a few times after some heavy rain.

 

[Linoleum Bonypart]

Sometimes February can have a couple of very settled weeks

 

[Salty Spuds]

After a couple of weekends away in Devon and Cornwall, we're now planning our first big trip: six nights away in the week before Christmas.
I've often thought of visiting the west coast of Scotland, but been put off by tales of clouds of midges sucking the blood of English campers.
So, is December a perfect time to see Scotland in it's snow-capped beauty, free from the vampire insects? Or am I just going to be stuck in the van staring out at 20 hours of darkness and listening to the wind and rain on the roof?

May-September is the midge season with Jun-Aug being the open season on English tourists.

 

[colinthechemist]

A few years ago, just before the NC 500 was thought of my son and I drove a full clockwise circuit of Scotland, starting and finishing in Edinburgh. 1200 miles in three days. Not much time for sightseeing but for first two days the weather couldn’t have been better. Parts of the West coast were like the mediterranean. View attachment 139448View attachment 139447View attachment 139450 View attachment 139451 This year in September he and a team mate bike packed the NC500 from Inverness clockwise in four and a half days. They took midge nets but only needed them a few times after some heavy rain.View attachment 139451View attachment 139452View attachment 139454View attachment 139455View attachment 139456

View attachment 139449

Looks like you had a great time. We'll definitely get up there this year; but after the long slog from Cornwall I think we'll move a little slower than 1200 miles in three days!

 

[TartanTsixer]

May is a great time to visit the west coast. Too early for the major midgie onslaught, and the schools are still in so it’s much quieter. May is often a very mild month too and the days are long. At the moment we only have about six hours of daylight so I think you made a good call - not much point doing a road trip round some of the most scenic views in the UK when you can’t see them.

 

[Linoleum Bonypart]

As is end of September ….. had a great few days around Kintyre

 

[slocumjoseph]

Looks like you had a great time. We'll definitely get up there this year; but after the long slog from Cornwall I think we'll move a little slower than 1200 miles in three days!

I can't get enough of the place. I'm heading for Orkney and the amazing archaeological sites in July.