Best time of the year to visit Scotland?!

Harris550
Harris550 Forum Participant Posts: 31
edited December 2015 in UK Campsites & Touring #1

With this years planned trips away now complete, we are already planning next years adventures.

We plan on visiting Bunree, Scotland during Easter (March / April) or May.

Can anyone advise when is best to see Bonny Scotland?

Comments

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,663 ✭✭✭
    5,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited December 2015 #2

    If you want to go up the West coast I'd suggest May through to June. Well before the wee beasties come out, but the weather should have started to warm up.

  • Bakers2
    Bakers2 Forum Participant Posts: 8,208 ✭✭✭
    2,500 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited December 2015 #3

    For me May/June longer days no midges on west coast.  The longer days are really from March to September equinox but the midge are awful on west coast after June.  If I were planning a tour I'd make sure I thought seriously which coast I'd be on when.  Beautiful
    scenery HUGE country it will take longer than you think if you want to do it justice.

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2015 #4

    Now  thats  a  Question  &  a  Half,  if  not  more  Harris550 Surprised

    Me ??  I  tend  to  go  any  time  from  Early  April  thro'  to  late  October. &  cover  West  Coast,  North  East,  South  East  depending  on  what  I'M  after  !!   Scenery  varies  purely  with  what  the  weather  does  in  my  opinion  but  if  you  want  birds  or  seals  or  climbing  or  Castles  etc  your  demands  will  vary,  wont  they.  If  you  get  hold  of  Good  Guides ( and  there  are  many  )  you  can  refine  your  requirements to  allow  us  to  better  advise  you !

    The  Midges  can  be  a  pain  in  their  breeding  season  from  mid  June  thro  to  September  but  there  are  repellants  such  as  Avon's  SKIN  SO  SOFT  spray { used  by  troops  in  Afgahnistan  honest }   or  SMIDGE  THAT  MIDGE  which  seems  to  be  getting  good  reviews

     

    B

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2015 #5

    If you're just going to Bunree I'd plump for late May into June or late August into September. Spring flowers and Rhodies will be coming out on the earlier visit, the hills will be showing their Autumn colours on the later visit. Hope you enjoy your holiday!

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,585
    1000 Comments 250 Likes Photogenic
    edited December 2015 #6

    Depends on what you want to do there but Spring and Autumn if you want to avoid the midges.

  • Kennine
    Kennine Forum Participant Posts: 3,472
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2015 #7

    Best to go to Scotland during the English school holidays. 

  • Francis
    Francis Club Member Posts: 2,025 ✭✭✭
    500 Likes 1000 Comments
    edited December 2015 #8

    April/May can be a good time to come and visit the west coast the midges shouldn't really bother you at that time of year and also quite often the weather can be very good in May site fees are often  a bit cheaper too. Alternatively September can be a great
    month to visit and as it is near the end of the tourist season places aren't quite so busy.

    Hope this helps!

  • JohnDH
    JohnDH Forum Participant Posts: 183
    100 Comments
    edited December 2015 #9

    To avoid the midges, pick a location as near to the coast as possible, an elevated site also makes a huge difference. What you're looking for is a breeze/wind. Its one of the occasions where being exposed has its benifits. Othewise anytime of year is good.

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2015 #10

    To avoid the midges, pick a location as near to the coast as possible, an elevated site also makes a huge difference. What you're looking for is a breeze/wind. Its one of the occasions where being exposed has its benifits. Othewise
    anytime of year is good.

    JohnDH,  Surprised  Really  old  son,  we're  trying  to  greet  the  OP,  not  scare  'em  away   Embarassed

  • Bob2112
    Bob2112 Forum Participant Posts: 276
    100 Comments
    edited December 2015 #11

    repellants  such  as  Avon's  SKIN  SO  SOFT  spray { used  by  troops  in  Afgahnistan  honest }   

    The midges in Afghanistan must be really wimpish. The west coast midges drink the stuff to wash down the lumps they have chewed out of you.

     

    B

    Write your comments here...

  • Fisherman
    Fisherman Forum Participant Posts: 2,367
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2015 #12

    May/June. Few midges, long daylight, outside ain season.Unfortunately few things open in Apri lthe further north you go. Best tip, dont rush, take plenty of stops and if caravaning dont look to do more than 50/60per day.Motorcaravining, plenty of wild stops
    so no need to bookahead.

  • kellysdad
    kellysdad Forum Participant Posts: 73
    edited December 2015 #13

    Fisherman, I don't know where you go in April or what you are saying is shut but we regularly go to the North/West in the last week of April and there is always plenty to see and do in the area. I suppose it depends what you are looking for. Kellysmum

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2015 #14

    Beautiful but you have to avoid the rain, the tourists and, most of all, the midges! Thought about Cornwall?

  • Harris550
    Harris550 Forum Participant Posts: 31
    edited December 2015 #15

    Thanks for all the advice everyone. Will think it over, looking like Easter though.

    Hitchglitch - Cornwall is lovely, but it doesnt have the dramatic scenary and whiskey down there!

  • kellysdad
    kellysdad Forum Participant Posts: 73
    edited December 2015 #16

    Harris 550 You won't get WHISKEY on the west coast of Scotland unless you drink some American brand. It's WHISKY GALORE in Scotland Lol ! Kellysmum

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218 ✭✭✭
    2,500 Likes 1000 Comments
    edited December 2015 #17

    Beautiful but you have to avoid the rain, the tourists and, most of all, the midges! Thought about Cornwall?

    The only thing missing in Cornwall from that list are the midges.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2015 #18

    Have a good time Harris550, we've been at Bunree early in the year and had a nice holiday.