Scotland in Spring can be crisp yet worth visiting. As with anywhere in the UK, weather can be quite unpredictable however, spring in Scotland brings forth a range of new colours and rays of sunshine. It is also cheaper to visit with lesser crowds. Here’s some essential info.
Planning a trip to Scotland in spring? It’s one of the best times to visit the country. During spring in Scotland, it’s mildly cold during the day, and there are fewer tourists than in the upcoming months of summer.
“There are two seasons in Scotland: June and Winter“, Scottish comedian Billy Connolly once said. And this is true — Scotland is known for its unpredictable weather.
The country is cold and windy throughout the year, plus it can rain anytime. During summer and spring, the temperatures are higher. So, plan a trip to Scotland in spring.
This post covers why you should visit Scotland in Spring, average temperatures in spring, top cities to see and what to wear if you visit during this time.
Scotland in Spring – the best places to visit and things to do!
Springtime in Scotland
Spring in Scotland is from March to May. It’s still cold in these months but manageable cold. It is a mild period with long days and moderate temperatures (as per Scottish standards!). April and May are also the driest months of the year.
Spring in Scotland is when you see swathes of gorgeous flowers everywhere. If you are in Scotland in spring, you can see daffodils, cherry blossoms, crocuses, Scottish primroses and many such beautiful flowers that bloom during this time.
It’s also an excellent time to spot wildlife and birds in different parts of the country.
April and May are the shoulder season in Scotland, which means you can save on flights and accommodation if you visit during this time.
Here’s more about the temperature and rainfall during spring in Scotland.
Scotland in Spring
Source: MET office UK and Weather.com
Here’s month-wise information about Scotland in spring
Scotland in March
March is Scotland’s transition period, but it’s still cold and damp. The temperature can go as low as -1 in the first half of March. In mountainous regions of the country, snowfall and hail are common during this time.
It’s warmer in the second half of March. And on March 26, the clocks go forward by an hour.
The daytime temperature is around 9-10°C in Edinburgh and Glasgow. It can rain for 3-8 days during the month, so carrying an umbrella for those visiting Scotland in March is a must. Read on to know what to wear in Edinburgh during such weather.
Things to do in Scotland in March –
You can spend time in cities like Glasgow, and Edinburgh. It’s possible to see the highlands, but it’s pretty cold in the first half. Here are some of the festivals you can attend if you are in Scotland in March:
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Scottish Concert Band Festival
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Inverness Music Festival
Scotland in April
In April, days are long and sunny. The daytime temperature is between 3 to 11°C. And it is one of the driest months of the year. It can still rain for 3-5 days, so carry an umbrella.
It can snow in the highlands, though. April is also a great time for seeing spring flowers: you can see them in any garden or around castles.
Things to do in Scotland in April –
Most tourists start from cities like Edinburgh or Glasgow. Head to the highlands to see Loch Ness. You can also visit the Isle of Skye to see its landscapes and picturesque villages.
Here are a few of the festivals that you can attend if you’re visiting Scotland in April:
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Edinburgh International Harp Festival
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Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival
Scotland in May
May is a great time to be in Scotland. The sun’s out for long hours, and the daytime temperature ranges between 6 to 15°C. It barely rains. But the weather here is unpredictable, so it’s good to include an umbrella in your packing list for Scotland in May.
You can still find some discounts, and there are fewer tourists: summer starts in June, which is the high season.
Scotland celebrates May as ‘whisky month’. The country dedicates an entire month to their national drink. So, if you’re visiting Scotland in May, you can find whisky-themed festivals.
May is also an excellent time for spotting dolphins and whales in the coastal regions.
Things to do in Scotland in May –
May is the warmest spring month. So other than sightseeing, May is ideal for hiking, kayaking, fishing and taking a bike tour on one of the coastal trails.
Here are a few of the festivals that take place in May:
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Edinburgh International Children’s Festival
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Arran Mountain Festival
Seeing wildlife during Spring in Scotland
During the spring months, you can spot Scottish animals like highland cows, red squirrels, otters, and deer. You can also see birds like golden eagles, red kites, ospreys etc.
And birdwatchers come here to see seabirds who return home to breed. On islands, you can see puffins, razorbills, guillemots, kittiwakes, shags and other such birds.
Best cities to see during a trip to Scotland in Spring
Spring in Edinburgh
Want to see cherry blossom in Scotland? Head to Edinburgh in April and May to see these trees with pretty pink and white flowers. You can see cherry blossoms at The Meadows, Princess Street Gardens and Lauriston Castle garden. Spring in Edinburgh means you can see flowers everywhere: the city has many parks and open spaces.
For sightseeing, the city’s main attractions include the National Museum of Scotland, Arthur’s seat in Holyrood Park, Camera Oscura and the world of Illusions, Calton Hil and the Royal Yacht Brittania. Also, walk through the Royal Mile and the Edinburgh old town neighbourhood.
If you love history and architecture and would prefer to take a tour with someone who takes you around these and shares history as you go along, this history and attractions tour is one to pick that lasts about 2 hours.
Another exciting place worth seeing in Edinburgh is the Scott Monument. This monument is one of the largest monuments to a writer anywhere in the world. It was built to commemorate Walter Scott, a prolific Scottish novelist, poet, playwright and historian.
If you or the kids are a Harry Potter fan, then this tour is perfect for a guided walk to see the places filmed in the movie with trivia!
Month-wise temperature during spring (High / Low)
Edinburgh in March: 9/2 °C
Edinburgh in April: 11/4°C
Edinburgh in May: 14/6 °C
Where to stay when visiting Edinburgh in Spring
With thousands of excellent reviews, Native Edinburgh is one of the best places to stay in Edinburgh due to its excellent location and classy interiors. Edinburgh castle and The Royal Mile are a short distance away and the service is great. Worth a stay!
Spring in Glasgow
Like Edinburgh, you can see lots of spring flowers in Glasgow during spring. Pollok Country Park, the biggest park here, is one of the places to see these flowers and fluffy highland calves.
Pollock Park also has the Burell collection, a large art collection and the Pollok house, a mansion. For those who want to see cherry blossoms, go to Blythswood Square and Glasgow Green. Also, visit Glasgow Botanic Gardens and Victoria Park, which is famous for its famous flower displays.
Other top things to see in Glasgow are the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow Cathedral, Necropolis, and the Riverside Museum of Transport and Travel. These are just a short distance from each other, so half a day should be enough to cover these places.
Keep some time free when in Glasgow for a distillery trip. Pre-book an experience at Glengoyne distillery or Cydeside distillery, the two topmost-rated distilleries in Glasgow.
If you’d like to see more of the area, this tour of Glencoe, the Highlands and Westland castles is perfect to sit back in, relax and visit some of the best places to see in the area.
Month-wise temperature during spring (High / Low)
Glasgow in March: 10/3°C
Glasgow in April: 14/5 °C
Glasgow in May: 16/8 °C
Where to stay when visiting Glasgow in Spring
With the train station right next to the hotel, Motel One Glasgow is preferred by guests especially if they’re taking public transport to get to Glasgow. However, it isn’t noisy at the hotel and almost all attractions are a short walk away due to which it is a favourite with families. Service is good and rooms spacious!
Spring in Aberdeen
Scotland’s third largest city, Aberdeen, is known for its architecture and sparkling granite buildings. Aberdeen lies between two rivers (Dee and Don) and the North Sea.
The top places worth seeing in Aberdeen are St Machar’s Cathedral, Aberdeen Maritime Museum, The Gordon Highlanders Museum and Aberdeen art gallery. Aberdeen also has Aberdeen beach, which would be great for a stroll; the water is too cold for swimming.
Aberdeen has Duthie Park Winter Gardens and Johnston Gardens, where you can see the spring flowers.
The picture below is Dunottar castle and this tour takes you to the castle and Royal Deeside on a day visit. If you’d rather prefer the Whisky distilleries, then this tour is perfect as it has catsles, food and whisky!
Month-wise temperature during spring (High / Low)
Aberdeen in March: 9/2 °C
Aberdeen in April: 11/3°C
Aberdeen in May: 14/6 °C
Where to stay when visiting Aberdeen in Spring
Located in the city centre, The Station Hotel has exquisite rooms yet they’re budget-friendly. Again located near the train station, making it quite accessible, the hotel also has an on-site restaurant serving regional meals and a great breakfast. Located in proximity of art galleries and attractions, highly rated!
Spring in Inverness
Inverness, known as the ‘capital of the highlands’, is often the gateway for seeing other places in the highlands. The Scottish highlands, also called the highlands, are a mountainous northern Scotland region with some of the highest peaks in the UK.
The highlands have stunning valleys and lakes.
If you visit Inverness in spring, it’s when all the major attractions reopen after winter. In early March, you can still see snow on the mountaintops in the highlands.
Spring is a great time to see flowers and wildlife in Inverness and other places in the highlands. And you can see waterfalls that have abundant water due to melted snow.
River Ness, Fort George Inverness and Inverness Botanic Gardens are some of the top attractions in the city. From Inverness, you can go to Loch Ness, a famous, scenic 23-mile freshwater lake in the highlands. It’s about 23 km away from Inverness.
When you visit Loch Ness, you can also see the Urquhart Castle on its shoreline and Fort Augustus at its south end. If you’d like to live near Loch Ness, book a bed-and-breakfast in Drumnadrochit, a tranquil village nearby. This tour that runs from Edinburgh covers most of these highlights on a day trip including the best of the Highlands if you’d prefer not to drive!
From Inverness, you can also go to Fort William, a small town on the shore of Loch Linnhe; that’s the getaway to Ben Nevis, UK’s tallest mountain peak. One of the main reasons people come to Fort William is to board the ‘Hogwarts express‘!
The Jacobite train that runs from Fort William to Mallaig was the train that was filmed running on the Glenfinnan Viaduct in the Harry Potter films. Even if you are not a Harry potter fan, consider coming here if you like scenic train rides. In 2023, the train will run from April onwards.
Inverness is also the starting point and end point for North Coast 500 (NC 500), a 516-mile road trip route that one can take to see the mountains, islands and fishing villages in the Highlands.
Eilean Donan castle is one of the most visited castles in the area and this tour takes you there and back as a day trip as the ride there is tricky if you’re not used to the highlands. It also takes you to the Isle of Skye!
Month-wise temperature during spring (High / Low)
Inverness in March: 9/2 °C
Inverness in April: 12/4°C
Inverness in May: 15/6 °C
Where to stay when visiting Inverness in Spring
Glen Mohr Hotel not only has great architecture, it offers Victorian townhouses and apartments located on the banks of the River Ness, a short walk from the town centre. Attractions are close by and location is top notch. Rooms are classy and you can actually select your townhouse when booking! Excellent service!
Spring on the Isle of Skye
The Isle of Skye, Scotland’s second largest island, is a prominent destination because it has breathtaking landscapes.
It’s cold in March in Skye. And yet Skye is one of the best places to visit in Scotland in March. Skye is a fantastic destination for hiking: so if you prefer hiking when it’s not hot, visit Isle of Skye during March.
Spring comes slowly in the highlands, so April and May are warmer. April and May are good times to see Skye as you can see seals and seabirds, see wildlife and spot spring flowers.
The main attractions in Skye are geologic formations like the Old Man of Storr, Quiraing, Fairy Glen and Mealt waterfall and Kilt Rock. If you’d like to join a walking tour that leaves from Portree, then this one is highly recommended as it takes you to most places to visit and is quite fun as a full day trip.
You can take a day trip to Skye from Inverness; it’s 2.5 hours away from Inverness. If you want to live on the island, book accommodation in Portree, a harbour town which is the island’s capital. If you’d prefer to visit from Edinburgh, this tour takes you to the Isle of Skye, the Jacobite train and a few other attractions too on a multi-day trip covering the best of the cities and Highlands.
Month-wise temperature during spring (High / Low)
Isle of Skye March: 8/2 °C
Isle of Skye in April: 11/3 °C
Isle of Skye in May: 13/5 °C
Where to stay when visiting Isle of Skye in Spring
There’s limited places to stay at the Isle of Skye so it is recommended to book in advance as much as possible. The Sligachan Hotel has some of the best rooms and location on the island and has its own museum, micro-brewery and whiskly bar and restaurant! Portree is just 9 miles away as is Talisker Distillery and other attractions. Highly rated – more than 1K good reviews!
Packing for a trip to Scotland in Spring
What do people wear in Scotland in spring? You’ll find locals in layers, and people carry rain jackets too. Scotland is cold in spring. And nighttime temperatures are 1-5°C in many cities. So irrespective of wherever you’ll go, you’ll need layers.
If you are packing for a trip to Scotland in spring, be prepared to protect yourself from wind, cold weather, and rain (and even a little bit of snow if you are in the highlands in March). Here’s a list of clothes to wear in Scotland in spring and other things to carry:
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Thermal wear, coats/trench coats, sweaters for protection against the cold
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Gloves for the low temperatures at night (especially for the highlands)
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Scarves or mufflers for protection against the wind.
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An umbrella for the occasional rain.
Scotland in Spring may be chilly and while the weather can be unpredictable it is still stunning when the days are clear, especially as it can still be cold even in summer.
So if you do visit during springtime in Scotland, there may not be much of a difference in temperature but the prices will make your wallet smile and the absence of crowds will help you have a fab time!
Do not dismiss visiting Scotland in Spring easily as it may end up surprising you!
Scotland in Spring – FAQs
Is spring a good time to visit Scotland?
Yes, spring is a good time to visit Scotland. The daytime temperature is moderate, and there’s less rainfall during the spring months. It’s also the shoulder season in Scotland. So, if you visit Scotland in spring, you can save on flights and accommodation, and there will be lesser crowds.
What is Scotland like in the spring?
Scotland has pleasant to tolerable cold temperatures in spring. You would still need to carry layers: the lowest temperature is between 1 and 5 °C in many cities. It can rain too, but it doesn’t rain too often.
Is April a good time to go to Scotland?
Yes, April is a good time to go to Scotland. It’s one of the driest months of the year. It’s still cold but manageable. The days are long and sunny. You can see spring flowers and spot wildlife during this time. The summer rush begins in June. So if you travel to Scotland in April, you can save money too.
Where to go in Scotland in the spring?
You can go to big cities like Edinburgh, Glasgow or Aberdeen. You can also see the highlands in spring. But if you visit the highlands in March, it’s pretty cold. I suggest taking a trip to the island of Skye along with seeing the highlands.
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