Which months would be the best to visit Scotland, Ireland, & Wales? DH & I are looking into a nice trip in 2007 or possibly late this year. This is one of the ones we are interested in. We were thinking late April, but we don't know. We can go anytime.
Sherry Starr
For Scotland, I recommend May. It's fairly warm (you won't need a big coat) but the midges aren't out yet. If you visit Scotland in June, July or August, I can guarantee midges - small flying insects that bite, and leave a very itchy welt. I've never been to Ireland or Wales, sadly, so can't speak about their weather. If you go to
-- Jo in Scotland
June for Scotland, though it can rain, hail, snow, thunder, and have blistering sun that month as well as any other...
Dont forget to kiss the Blarney Stone!!! hanging upside down was a quick event but well worth it. have fun, jeanne
It's difficult to say these days, Sherry. The months are all over the place. England and Wales had the wettest May in recorded history this year, but Scotland was much, much better! I wouldn't recommend April at all - far too chancy with the weather; and, up here where we live - on a hill in a county next to Wales, our trees are not in full leaf until late May; and Scotland is further north.
Wales and Ireland do tend to be wetter than the rest of the country, because they are on the Atlantic sides of the island group. Though, when I have visited family on the very westernmost part of Ireland, I have known it to be scorching hot. I got sunstroke there once! The east of Ireland tends to be dryer than the west. So, although the distance from west to east looks very small, in your climate terms, our weather is very changeable all the time. There are several large groups of hills and the weather on either side of these can be very different - on the same day!
Remember, these are islands, affected by the huge body of ocean on our windward side, and you are used to 'continental' weather. Island weather is much more changeable and unpredictable. Our weather people have a terrible time trying to gauge just where and when weather fronts will affect us. Think of the weather on the US west coast, at a similar latitude - but perhaps a bit warmer.
If I had to recommend a single month - as you won't be able to stay here a year >g< - I would suggest September. Yes, the days are that much shorter, but there don't seem to be the extremes of weather then. And, it is usually very good when the schools go back!! (though in Scotland this could be late August?).
Hope you have a great time, whenever you come - if you choose that trip! . In message , Sherry Starr writes
I went to Scotland in late September a long while back and it was wonderful. Comfortable days, cool nights and even damned cold in a few places in the Highlands, but nothing Arctic. Perfectly acceptable to this Florida born and raised temperature sensitivity. I myself want to go the other places but haven't been... *sigh* Debi (you'll love it!)
Reply to own post. Sorry for confusion.
*I* certa> It might be a good idea to get some information on school holidays in
That's easy enough! :)
In England and Wales the schools break up for the holidays at the end of July, and go back at the start of September. They get about five weeks off altogether. In Scotland they break up half way through July and go back half way through August. I think Northern Ireland is the same as England and Wales. No idea about the republic: that's a different country!
It seems that many folks have had a good time in Scotland in September! Remember that May is one month before the summer solstice and so it does not get dark until say, 10 pm or so (more like 11pm up in the Islands). So if you enjoy drives or walks after dinner, etc you will get more "bang for your buck" in May than September (3 months after the solstice).
-- Jo in Scotland
I spent ten days in Ireland in June a few years ago. I adored it. We only had rain for a day and maybe a half. I can't wait to go back. The crowds weren't very bad, the weather was wonderful, and since school was still in session, we didn't have to deal with a huge number of kids.(1)
I adore Ireland. Go, and bring your camera. It's impossible to take a bad picture there. I take horrendous ones as a rule, but every shot from Ireland was stunning.
Anastasia
--who only had three more days at work, then a week for myself!
(1) The students we did run into, though, were exceedingly polite and friendly. We got hopelessly lost in the north of Dublin, and a teenage boy with a "creative" hairstyle gave us a big, honest smile and wonderful directions.
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