hillwalking
Best Time to Visit the Scottish Highlands: Month-by-Month Guide
The best time to visit the Scottish Highlands depends on what you want: summer has long daylight but midges; May and September offer the best balance. Full month-by-month breakdown.
Quick Summary
- May and September are the best months for most visitors — long daylight, manageable midges, good weather windows, lower crowds
- June–August is peak season — warmest temperatures, maximum daylight, but peak midge season and busiest roads and accommodation
- October–April is quiet, cold and dramatic — snow on the hills, empty roads, no midges; requires more experience and better kit for hillwalking
- There is no "bad" time to visit — even winter has long periods of clear, crisp weather ideal for low-level walks and photography
The honest answer about when to visit the Scottish Highlands is that every month has something to offer and every month has something to put up with. The question is which trade-offs suit what you want from the trip.
Quick Answer: May and September are the best all-round months for visiting the Scottish Highlands — long daylight, lower midge pressure than peak summer, generally good weather windows, and significantly fewer tourists than July-August. June–August is peak season with maximum daylight and warmest temperatures but also peak midges and highest accommodation prices. Winter (November–March) is quiet and often dramatically beautiful but requires more experience for hillwalking and shorter days limit what you can do.
Month-by-month breakdown
January–February: Winter proper
Daylight: 7–9 hours. Temperature: 0–7°C. Midges: None. Crowds: Minimal.
The depths of winter. Daylight is limited — in January, Highland sunset is around 4pm — but when the weather clears, the scenery is extraordinary. Snow-covered peaks, ice-blue skies, and completely empty glens. A clear day in January in Torridon or Glencoe rivals anything summer can offer visually.
Who this suits: Experienced hillwalkers comfortable with winter conditions (crampons, ice axe), photographers, people who prioritise solitude over everything else.
What to expect: Unpredictable weather with extended poor spells. Some mountain roads close in snow. Most tourist facilities (guided tours, visitor centres) closed or reduced hours. Hillwalking on higher ground requires full winter kit.
March: Winter transitioning to spring
Daylight: 10–12 hours. Temperature: 2–10°C. Midges: Rare. Crowds: Low.
March is excellent for those willing to accept variable weather. Daylight increases rapidly — by the end of the month you have nearly 13 hours. Snow can still be extensive on higher ground. Eagles are displaying from late February.
March offers the last winter hillwalking conditions before conditions change and lower-elevation ground starts greening up. Often underrated by visitors who associate the Highlands only with summer.
April: Spring
Daylight: 13–15 hours. Temperature: 5–13°C. Midges: Starting from mid-April in sheltered western glens. Crowds: Low–Moderate.
One of the best months. Long days, clean air, spring green on the lower ground, still good snow on the tops for those who want it. Deer calves appear from late April; golden eagles are nesting. Waterfalls are in full spate from snowmelt.
Midges emerge in sheltered western lowland areas from mid-April onwards on calm evenings, but they are not yet problematic at this stage — carry repellent but it is not the dominant consideration it becomes in June.
Easter falls in March or April and brings the first wave of visitors — popular areas like Glencoe and Loch Lomond will be busy during Easter weekend.
May: Peak recommendation
Daylight: 15–17 hours. Temperature: 8–17°C. Midges: Present but manageable. Crowds: Moderate.
May is the month most hillwalkers and experienced Highland visitors choose as their preferred time. The days are very long (sunset after 9:30pm by the end of May), temperatures are pleasant, snow has mostly left the lower routes, and midge pressure — while building — has not yet reached the July peak. Accommodation prices have not hit summer maximums. The landscape is at its freshest.
Bluebells carpet woodland floors. Wading birds are calling on the moorland. The hills are clear more often than not.
The only caveat: May can be cold and wet — it is Scotland, and there is no guarantee of settled weather in any month. Pack layers.
June–August: Peak season
Daylight: 17–18 hours (midsummer). Temperature: 12–20°C. Midges: Peak June–August in western Highlands. Crowds: High.
This is peak season for good reason: maximum daylight (it barely gets dark in June in the northern Highlands), warmest temperatures, best chance of extended settled periods. The hills are accessible to the widest range of fitness and experience levels. Accommodation is fully open.
The trade-offs: midges are at their worst in the western and northwestern Highlands through June and July, particularly in calm, overcast conditions. Roads to popular locations (Glencoe, Loch Ness, Applecross, Fairy Pools on Skye) carry heavy traffic. Popular Munros (Ben Nevis, Stob Dearg in Buachaille Etive Mòr, Schiehallion) can feel crowded on summer weekends.
If visiting in summer: book accommodation early, carry midge repellent and a head net, and plan to start walks early (before 8am) to beat both the midges and the crowds on popular routes.
September: Second peak recommendation
Daylight: 12–14 hours. Temperature: 8–16°C. Midges: Reducing rapidly. Crowds: Dropping sharply after school holidays end.
September rivals May as the best all-round month. Midge populations decline sharply from mid-August and are largely gone by mid-September except in sheltered western areas on still evenings. The summer crowds have mostly gone — accommodation prices drop mid-month as school holidays end. Daylight is still generous (sunset around 7:30pm at month end).
The autumn colour begins from mid-September: birches turning gold in the glens, bracken going russet, rowan berries flaming red. It builds through October into one of the most visually dramatic months of the Highland year.
October: Autumn colour
Daylight: 10–12 hours. Temperature: 6–12°C. Midges: Gone. Crowds: Low.
October is spectacular for photography and low-level walking. Birch and rowan in full autumn colour, dramatic light, long shadows, empty roads. Hillwalking is excellent on moderate routes before the days shorten further. First significant snowfall often arrives on the highest tops in late October.
The caveat: days are shortening fast and the weather is increasingly unsettled. Good periods can be followed by extended wet and windy spells. Longer Munro routes require early starts.
November–December: Late autumn into winter
Daylight: 7–9 hours. Temperature: 2–8°C. Midges: None. Crowds: Very low.
The quietest period. Many visitor-facing businesses reduce hours or close for the season. The landscape is stark and often dramatic — bare trees, snow on the peaks, deep light in the glens. For the right visitor (experienced hillwalker, photographer, someone who prefers solitude and dramatic emptiness to warmth and convenience) this is an outstanding time.
Christmas and New Year sees a brief increase in visitors to town centres and popular glens.
Summary table
| Month | Daylight | Midges | Crowds | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Low | None | Very low | Winter walking, photography, solitude |
| February | Building | None | Very low | Winter walking, eagle courtship displays |
| March | Good | Rare | Low | Spring hillwalking, waterfalls, value |
| April | Long | Starting | Low–Mod | Best spring wildflowers, long days, value |
| May | Very long | Manageable | Moderate | Best all-round month |
| June | Maximum | Peak | High | Longest days, warmest temperatures |
| July | Long | Peak | Peak | Summer experience; prepare for midges |
| August | Long | High–reducing | High | Good overall; midges easing late month |
| September | Good | Low | Moderate–Low | Best autumn month; fewer crowds |
| October | Moderate | None | Low | Autumn colour, photography |
| November | Low | None | Very low | Drama and solitude |
| December | Lowest | None | Low | Winter atmosphere |
Weather realities
The Scottish Highlands have a maritime climate — variable, frequently rainy, changeable. "Good" weather is not guaranteed in any month. The difference between a good and bad weather week in summer is not the average temperature — it is whether you catch a settled anticyclone period or a succession of Atlantic fronts.
Strategies for dealing with Highland weather:
- Check the MWIS mountain forecast for multi-day hill forecasts rather than relying on generic apps
- Build flexibility into your plans — a week with a flexible base allows you to move when weather improves
- Accept that some rain is almost inevitable and pack accordingly (waterproof jacket, waterproof trousers, spare dry layers)
When to visit for specific activities
Munro bagging: May, June, September — long days, good underfoot conditions
Wild camping: May and September — manageable midges, long days, settled periods
Photography: October, April, January (for dramatic light and colour)
Wildlife (eagles, deer, seabirds): March–April for raptors; May–June for breeding season; October for stags rutting
Winter hillwalking (crampons/ice axe): December–March
Coastal and low-level walking: Year-round — the western coast has milder winters than the interior
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best month to visit the Scottish Highlands?
May and September are the best months for most visitors. May offers very long days, spring scenery, manageable midges and lower prices than peak summer. September has declining midges, autumn colour, shorter queues and pleasant temperatures. Both sit either side of the peak midge and tourist season.
Should I avoid summer in the Scottish Highlands?
No — summer is excellent if you prepare for midges (Smidge repellent, head net) and book accommodation early. The long days are genuinely remarkable and the warmth makes all-day hillwalking comfortable. Just avoid expecting an empty experience in July and August on popular routes.
Are the Scottish Highlands worth visiting in winter?
Yes, for the right visitor. Winter (November–March) offers no midges, empty roads and dramatic scenery. It requires more planning — shorter days, some facilities closed, real winter conditions on higher ground — but the experience is completely different from summer and valued highly by those who try it.
When is the best time to avoid midges in Scotland?
May (manageable), September (low), and any time on the east coast or in exposed coastal/elevated areas. In the western Highlands, midge pressure is low below 400m before mid-May and after mid-September. See our midge season guide for a full monthly breakdown.
How long should I spend in the Scottish Highlands?
A week gives enough time to explore one region properly (e.g. Skye, Torridon, Cairngorms, or Glencoe and surrounds). Two weeks allows two regions or a longer point-to-point trip (West Highland Way takes 7–8 days). Long weekends (3–4 nights) work well for a single area if you drive up Thursday evening.
Related articles
- When Is Midge Season in Scotland? — full monthly midge calendar
- How to Avoid Midges in Scotland — practical methods
- Wild Camping in Scotland — the access law and best practice
- How to Start Hillwalking in Scotland — beginner guide
Sources
- MWIS Mountain Weather Information Service — mountain forecasts
- VisitScotland seasonal guide — tourism overview
- Met Office Scotland climate data — temperature and rainfall averages