Summer Tours in Scotland

Summertime in Scotland spans the months of May, June, July, August and September, and is a popular time to visit.

You can also enjoy Nordic Visitor summer itineraries in the months of April and October. This is sometimes known as the “shoulder season”. At this time of year, the weather remains mild and you’ll be able to see the country’s top attractions with fewer visitors around.

Find out more about the best time to visit Scotland in this guide.

Visit Scotland in summer and you’ll notice that the days stretch out well into the evening. In fact, during the summer, there are between 14 and nearly 18 hours of daylight in Scotland.

On 21 June, the summer solstice and longest day of the year, the sun rises in Edinburgh at about 4:30 AM and doesn’t set until after 10 PM.

These are the hours of daylight for central Scotland during the summer months:

• • May: 15-17 hours
• • June: 17-18 hours
• • July: 16-18 hours
• • August: 14-16 hours
• • September: 12-14 hours
   

Head north, on a Scottish Highlands tour, and you’ll find the days will be slightly longer. On the other hand, travel south and you’ll find that the days are a little shorter.

While Scotland is rarely “hot”, you may occasionally get highs of around 25°C (77°F). In general, temperatures tend to reach a maximum average of 19°C (66°F) in July and August.

Scotland’s maritime climate means that even during the summer months, you’re unlikely to experience temperatures over 25°C (77°F).

Instead, you’ll find that mild to warm temperatures, between 11-19°C (52-66°F), are most common. Happily, these are ideal conditions for sightseeing and outdoor activities.

Here are the average monthly temperatures for Edinburgh, the Scottish capital city, throughout summer:

• • May: 6-13°C (43-55°F)
• • June: 13-17°C (43-63°F)
• • July: 11-19°C (52-66°F)
• • August: 11-19°C (52-66°F)
• • September: 9-16°C (42-61°F)
   

You can find out more, including average monthly temperatures in other Scottish locations, in this guide to the weather in Scotland.

One of the advantages of visiting Scotland during the summer months is that there’s plenty to do. So whether you’re planning on staying for 1 week or 3 weeks in Scotland, you’ll be spoiled for choice.

Summer is also when most attractions, such as museums and castles, have their longest opening hours. This is also true of the country’s iconic single malt whisky distilleries.

Although many distilleries are still open outside of the summer months, you may find they offer fewer tours and are only open on certain days of the week. So if you’re keen to tour a few Scottish distilleries, then travelling between April and October is a good time to visit.

These are just a few ideas for things you can do on your summer trip to Scotland:

• • Attend one of Scotland’s best festivals, like the famous Edinburgh Fringe
• • Explore the Scottish Highlands on foot, with trails for all abilities to choose from
• • Embark on a tour of the Scottish isles and enjoy an island-hopping adventure
• • Stroll around charming coastal villages, with an ice cream in hand
• • Attend a Highland games event, like the Braemar Gathering in Royal Deeside
• • Learn about legends, clan struggles and royal history on a Scotland castles trip
• • Soak up awe-inspiring scenery in Scotland’s far north on the North Coast 500
•  

If you're based in the UK and thinking of a summer staycation holiday in Scotland, there is so much to discover right on your doorstep. You could enjoy things to do in Edinburgh over a long weekend, but we also recommend taking time to explore Scotland's natural wonders as well.

For top tips and information about what to expect at this time of year, you can read this summer in Scotland guide.

There’s plenty to see and do all year round in Scotland. But by choosing to travel in summer, you’ll be able to make the most of soaking up the scenery when the countryside is at its most vibrant.

Where to go depends on whether you’re looking for a countryside retreat, cultural getaway or an island adventure. Or you could combine all three on a Nordic Visitor summer tour of Scotland.

The Scottish mainland’s top spots for nature

Scotland has plenty to offer you when it comes to natural beauty.

When you imagine Scotland’s wild spaces, what comes to mind first might be verdant valleys, shimmering lakes (“lochs”), and ancient Caledonian pine forest.

A North Coast 500 trip is a wonderful way to see the stunning landscapes of Scotland’s far north. But there’s even more for you to discover here including these iconic places:

• • Glen Coe
• • Glenfinnan
• • Cairngorms National Park
• • Trossachs National Park
• • The Hermitage
• • Loch Ness
• • Fort William
   

Captivating island destinations in Scotland

Venture off the mainland and you’ll be treated to even more magnificent scenery. You can expect coastlines punctuated with sheltered coves, white sand beaches lapped by turquoise sea, and towering cliffs dotted with seabirds.

Scattered off the shore, you’ll find uninhabited rocky outcrops, far-flung sanctuaries for wildlife, and archipelagos with thriving island communities. So why not include these recommended Scottish islands in your summer itinerary?

• • Isle of Skye
• • Outer Hebrides
• • Isle of Islay
• • Orkney Islands

Take a look at the best beaches in Scotland on our experts' blog.

Popular Scottish cities

A visit to Scotland isn’t just about taking in jaw-dropping landscapes though. One of the best ways to appreciate the country’s cultural heritage is by heading to Scotland’s towns and cities. We recommend combining a short break in the city with several days exploring the Highland scenery.

Imagine visiting castles with a history stretching back hundreds of years, or wandering winding cobbled alleyways. You can do all of this, and more, when you visit these Scottish cities:

• • Edinburgh
• • Glasgow
• • Inverness
• • Stirling
   

Yes, you can choose the arrival date that works best for you depending on the trip and time of year that you want to travel. Each tour has an availability calendar, so after selecting the package that’s right for you, simply pick your preferred start date.

Summer itineraries are possible from April to October – this includes most Scotland self-drive packages and privately guided trips. Meanwhile, for small group guided tours in Scotland, you’ll be able to choose from a variety of scheduled departure dates between April and September.

You can easily check up-to-date availability for each tour package by looking at its online calendar.

Yes, Nordic Visitor tours are designed to be flexible. But it's good to know that each itinerary already includes the best routes and attractions, along with a few hidden gems.

It’s easy to customise each package when you book online. This way, you can tailor your tour by adding extra nights, optional excursions, or treating yourself to an accommodation upgrade.

It’s worth bearing in mind that some trips give you more freedom to customise your itinerary than others. For example, on small group tours, extra nights can be added at the start or end of your trip. Meanwhile, on self-drive trips and private guided packages in Scotland, you can add extra nights at other overnight stops.

Get in touch with one of our Edinburgh-based travel experts for personal recommendations on what activities or excursions are best for you.

We advise checking flights for availability before booking your tour, but it’s best to hold off on purchasing them until after your trip is finalised. Once your travel consultant has confirmed your package by email, you can go ahead and purchase your flights.

If you have missed out on flights, please get in touch with us and we’ll do our best to accommodate a change of dates.

Scotland’s weather is changeable year-round. So although you might be travelling in summer, you could experience a mixture of bright sunshine and rain in one day.

This means that when you’re out and about, wearing layers is key. For instance, one moment you might be comfortable dressed in a few layers topped by a waterproof jacket. Then later, you could be down to a T-shirt and reaching for your sunglasses.

In fact, there’s a local saying: “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothes”. With this in mind, it’s a good idea to carry a small daypack containing warm and waterproof layers around with you. This way you’ll have extra layers at hand in case of rain or cool temperatures.

You’ll also want to bring a pair of walking shoes or boots if you plan to do a bit of hiking on your trip. After all, this is one of the best ways to enjoy Scotland’s gorgeous summer scenery.

No matter where you’re going in Scotland you should be prepared for rain or shine, even if you’re travelling in summer.

We recommend packing the following:

• Walking boots or shoes with good grip
• Waterproof jacket and trousers
• Warm, insulated jacket
• Warm fleece or jumper
• Light base layers
• Warm hat, scarf and gloves
• Sunglasses
• Rucksack
• Reusable water bottle
• UK plug adapter
   

For more information, check out this helpful Scotland packing guide, complete with seasonal tips on what to bring during summer.