Dear Diary,

It’s the small talk topic number one - the weather. 

And there’s a lot to talk about when you live in Scotland.

Basically, Scottish weather is unpredictable. It has a bad reputation. 

The first thing people usually say when I tell them I live in Scotland - but how do you deal with the weather? It must be miserable all the time. Why didn’t you move to Spain?

Yeah, I get it. How many times was I getting ready for a nice walk with the sun shining through my windows just to be greeted by rain and wind by the time I made it to my front door.

That can be annoying at times especially when you need to decide what to wear and end up with the wrong choice.

But that’s also the beauty of it. 

It can be chilly and wet in July but it can equally be sunny and mild in November. 

You really never know. 

It’s not four seasons in one day but within an hour, or even less. 

The good thing is that the sun usually comes out once a day. And with it come many rainbows!

The Scottish seasons

Spring 

By far my favourite season. When days become lighter again, flowers begin to bloom and the sun makes its big return. Spring is indeed a beautiful time to come to Scotland with the weather being the most stable as well.

It’s the perfect time to get your hiking boots out and admire the stunning scenery or take a city trip to Edinburgh before it’s crowded with tourists in summer. 

And April showers are a myth … 

Summer

Believe it or not but August usually is the wettest month. 

On the bright side, we have very long days during summer, it stays light until 11 pm. So, there is plenty of time to discover the country.

Summertime is also festival season in Scotland. The city is buzzing when the famous Edinburgh Fringe is on and you certainly won’t get bored.

Ah, forgot to mention the midges … They can be a real plague during the summer months especially when you’re up in the Highlands.

Autumn

In autumn, the landscape slowly transforms with leaves changing their colours to vibrant yellow, red, and orange. Get your cameras out.

The weather in general is still quite mild and we get lovely autumn days. When the skies are clear, you might even be lucky enough to see some Northern lights. 

Winter

As the temperatures drop, it’s time to get cosy with a cuppa (or wee dram) in front of a fireplace. It’s a season to celebrate, from Hogmanay to Christmas Markets to Burns Night. 

While it might be rainy and windy at times, it’s not as freezing as in other parts of Europe.

But be aware, that when snow does fall, everything comes to a stop. People beginning to panic buy to fill their pantries and pavements turn into ice rings. The good news, this rarely happens. 

What to wear in Scotland

So how do you prepare yourself for Scottish weather?

It’s all about layers

You know the saying - there is no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothes.

I’d say, always prepare for the worst weather possible and you’ll be fine. Joke aside, layers are the key to mastering Scottish weather.

And remember to take a warm hat to battle the wind.

Invest in waterproofs

Forget about your umbrella (it won’t stand up to the wind anyway), good waterproofs are a must-have.

Get a proper raincoat that protects you from wind and water, a sturdy pair of boots and maybe even over trousers. 

Check the forecast

But don’t rely on it. Rather, check the sky. 

You can usually see the rain coming from afar and tell by the wind direction if it might hit you or not. Enough time to hide inside.

Embrace the weather

The fact is, Scotland wouldn’t be that green and beautiful without the occasional rain.

Yes, you might get soaked within seconds or blown away by a gust but chances are high that after all this comes sunshine again.