Weather

Scotland is well known for its weather.  We were prepared for rain and wind.  Lots of rain and wind.  Our trip was the first two weeks of June which could mean some decent sunny days or … rain and wind.  We had been told by friends, family, and the almighty internet to prepare for anything.  One (very tough) friend said that he had never been so cold as during a summer hiking trip in Scotland.  Winds had very nearly blown him off his feet. Another told us to expect rainy, nearly daily. 

While on our trek, we stuffed rain jackets and rain paints into our backpacks each day, along with a lightweight hat and pair of gloves.  I still think this is good advice, but we only had one hour of rain during our entire trip.  In fact, I packed far too few shorts and t-shirts.  We ended up hitting the sweet spot of the summer – the 1-2 weeks when it is hot and sunny in Scotland.  I’ve never gotten a better tan on a trip. 

Every day, temperatures were in the 80’s and there was hardly a cloud in the sky.  It was actually brutal hiking weather.  It certainly made for beautiful photos, but it became evident early on that there aren’t many trees in the highlands, so finding respite from the blazing sun was a challenge.  

The upside of all that sun was a noticeable lack of midges, another strike of luck.  There were a few days when the Highland midge would find us, but they were hardly much more than a slight nuisance.  I have seen photos of huge swarms of midges surrounding trekkers and am grateful we were spared that fate in part because of the strong sun.