When I was on a Scotland road trip with my friends last summer, we had a running joke about how “ugly” it was. Every stop was just more hideous than the last. Why would anyone want to visit Scotland in July?
Hopefully you can pick up the sarcasm in that joke. Because honestly, I’d be happy to visit Scotland at any time of the year. The scenery is stunning and the people are lovely. I can’t imagine why anyone would want to visit (wink, wink.)
But if you insist on visiting Scotland in July, here are a few reasons to talk you out of it.
It is too Bright
Sheep outside my cabin at the Brackenhide Hotel at 10:30 pm in July
In July it stays light until after 10:00 p.m. at night and even later the further north you go. How annoying. What can you possibly do with all that daylight? Take more day trips? Go on long hikes? Have more time to explore? Who needs all that? Don’t we just want more time to sleep when we are on vacation? Ha, ha!
One night while I was staying on the Isle of Skye and talking to my husband on FaceTime, I showed him the sheep outside my door and he couldn’t believe how light it was at 10:30 p.m. You do need to remind yourself to go to bed but I’m a summer person so I love it. And if it REALLY bothers you, bring a sleep mask.
It Might Rain
Rainy day on the Isle of Skye
It is true. It will probably rain. And maybe even be windy. It is Scotland after all. I’m not sure you can avoid that in any month. Scotland weather is very changeable and even though summer isn’t the rainiest month, if you can make it through a trip to Scotland without seeing a little rain, count yourself lucky — I haven’t managed it yet.
But on my two trips to Scotland (once in July and once in September), I also had a few days of beautiful blue skies. The point is, you need to be prepared for all sorts of weather, which is easy if you follow my Scotland packing list .
Beautiful day to wait for the “Hogwarts Express” steam train
Places get Crowded
Schools in Scotland get out in late June and by mid-July in the rest of the United Kingdom so you can expect to see plenty of families on vacation. This will mean that you need to pre-book tickets to some attractions, such as Edinburgh Castle. Car parks at popular attractions and hikes may also fill up during the height of the day.
A busy day on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh
This can actually get annoying so you need to plan around it. Make sure to read my Scotland travel tips and plan to get an early start when you want to visit popular trailheads or attractions like the Fairy Glen or Quirking.
But trust me, crowds in Scotland are still quite manageable. We aren’t talking about the throngs at the Eiffel Tower or Colosseum . With so much beautiful country to explore, it isn’t hard to get away from other people.
Hotels Get Expensive
We found a better deal renting a cabin at the Bracken Hide Hotel instead of the pricier hotels on Isle of Skye
If you know anything about economics, you know the laws of supply and demand. With the crowds come higher demand for a limited number of hotels, especially in places like the Isle of Skye or the Outer Hebrides. When demand goes up, so does the price. You will need to plan early to find the more convenient and affordable accommodations.
You can read my article to find out how much a trip to Scotland costs , but keep in mind that staying in the countryside is cheaper than the cities and staying in a rental cottage or flat versus hotels will also save you some money.
You Need Reservations
The thing about people is that they also want to eat. And on vacation, that means restaurants. Some restaurants in the countryside might close at 8:00 p.m. or on certain evenings, making it a little harder to satiate your appetite outside of the cities. Just make sure to plan ahead and make dinner reservations and you will be fine. Or, expect to eat a whole lot of fish and chips takeaway.
Midges Might Bite You
Wind keeps the midges away
Midges, often called No-See-Ums in the United States, are small biting flying insects that are more than annoying. Their small bites can also cause irritation and swelling, like a mosquito bite. You are especially likely to encounter these nuisances in the Western Highlands and in sheltered and boggy areas.
The good part about rain is that it keeps the midges away and the cooler weather encourages you to wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants to protect from the midges. You may also want to pick up some insect repellant and bring along an insect net to put over your hat.
I lucked out when I was in Scotland in July and didn’t encounter any midges at all. Even when I walked all the way across England on Hadrian’s Wall Path in August I didn’t encounter any, but I think I just got lucky. Usually all the biting insects love to suck my blood.
There is Too Much Going On
You don’t want to do anything cultural, right? Spending a day attending some local Highland Games sounds just awful…correct? Granted, August is even busier with the Fringe Festival and Royal Tattoo. But July is still a happening time in July filled with festivals, concerts, garden and castle tours, and Highland Games.
So have I convinced you to avoid Scotland in July? I hope not.
In all seriousness, July is a fabulous time to visit Scotland. During the summer months, the average temperatures are a high of 59-63°F (15-17°C) and lows are between 47-52°F (8-11°C). Sure you may see some rain, but hopefully also some sunny skies. And yes, there will be more people, but you just need to plan ahead a bit.
In fact, I might argue that despite the above reasons, it is actually quite lovely in Scotland in July.
Visiting Scotland? You may also be interested in…
Scotland travel tips
Scotland trip cost
Scotland packing list
10-day Scotland road trip itinerary
Things to do on the Isle of Skye
2 days in Edinburgh itinerary
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