Trying to decide when is the best time to visit the Isle of Skye in Scotland depends on several factors. The weather on Skye, like most of Scotland is both unpredictable and often wet. And what about those pesky midges, crowds of tourists and high accommodation costs?
With some careful planning, you can certainly enjoy a memorable trip to this beautiful island. Here’s your full guide to deciding the best time to visit the Isle of Skye. It covers:
- Weather on Skye, including summer and winter months
- Average monthly temperatures and rainfall
- How to avoid midges, crowds and high costs
- When to ideally spot wildlife
- SKYE WEATHER
- VISITING THE ISLE OF SKYE IN WINTER
- THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO AVOID CROWDS
- THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO SEE PUFFINS ON SKYE
- THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO AVOID MIDGES
- THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO SEE WILDLIFE ON SKYE
- BEST TIME OF YEAR TO SAVE MONEY
- BEST TIME OF YEAR TO SEE THE NORTHERN LIGHTS
- WHAT IF I WANT TO SWIM ON SKYE?
- BEST TIME TO VISIT THE ISLE OF SKYE CONCLUSION
- SAVE TO YOUR SCOTLAND BOARD
SKYE WEATHER
Skye has a temperate climate with a certain amount of rainfall in all months of the year.
Influenced by the Gulf Stream and Atlantic Ocean, Skye enjoys a mild Oceanic climate.
Even during the summer months, the weather can offer you several changes throughout the day. These showers are often brief and even on the wettest and mistiest days, the scenery is still dramatic and ethereal.
The diagram below gives an overview of average monthly temperatures and precipitation. You can see which months enjoy the highest daylight hours which is particularly useful if you enjoy hiking.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT ISLE OF SKYE FOR GOOD WEATHER?
May through September is a good time to visit the Isle of Skye.
Weather-wise the best time of the year to visit Skye are the months of May and June. Daylight hours are at their longest with fewer days of rain and lower precipitation levels.
The months of July and August whilst offering warmer temperatures, are peak season and come with the most crowds. September is also a great option as schools have recommenced, crowds thinned and glorious fall foliage is on show.
Let’s look at the pros and cons of each month.
- SPRING (March-May): Temperatures feel moderately cold and rain is common. On the plus side you can find good deals on accommodation as tourism is slow.
- SUMMER (June-August): Summer sees the least precipitation and longest hours of daily sunshine. These months are prime tourism season bringing crowds, midges and high accommodation costs. Car parks fill up quickly and reservations are fgr
- AUTUMN (September-November): September offers cheaper prices but with flexibility on the weather. You tend to be lucky or unlucky with rainfall.
- WINTER (December-February): For most travellers these months are too cold and wet despite the offer of savings on accommodation. Attractions may be closed but on the upside you will have many places to yourself!
There are plenty of wonderful things to do on Skye. However, with Scottish weather you soon realise that sights such as kilt rock, fairy glen, Dunvegan castle and the fairy pools can look very ethereal in the low lying mist.
DOES IT SNOW ON THE ISLE OF SKYE?
Winter weather is unpredictable and while there is a possible chance of snow, this is usually restricted to higher ground and mountain tops.
What you can be guaranteed of though is high winds, fog, mist, boggy conditions and a LOT of rain. Still, you can but hope to see some snowflakes!
VISITING THE ISLE OF SKYE IN WINTER
With fewer visitors, cheaper accommodation and stunning frost covered landscapes, winter can be a perfect time to visit the Isle of Skye. Snow sprinkled mountain tops, empty walking trails and abundant wildlife make for a magical setting.
The key to surviving the winter season is to remember these points:
- Layer your clothing and wear waterproof walking boots and jackets plus a hat and gloves
- As daylight hours will be shorter, you will need extra days to fit everything into your trip
- Weather i.e. rain and lots of it, can be disruptive if your main focus is walking. The upside though is cozy pubs sitting by a roaring fire!
- Smaller businesses can close over the winter months so plan ahead
THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO AVOID CROWDS
The popularity of Skye increases year by year leading to many tourists visiting during summer months.
By far the busiest months are July and August, when car parks overflow, roads become congested, attractions are crowded and things have to be booked in advance.
If you are able to visit outside of the peak season and school holidays you will avoid crowds and find it easier to get off the beaten track. Skye is a stunning and serene island and it’s great to be able to enjoy the peace and quiet.
Winter can be a lovely time to visit the island and comes with many advantages, namely:
- Soft warm winter light proves a great canvass for photographers
- Later sunrises so no getting up at the crack of dawn
- No crowds and no midges
- Lower accommodation prices
- Stunning winter scenery and landscapes
Here are some overall tips to avoid the crowds during the more popular months:
- Stay outside major towns such as Portree
- There are some fantastic walks on Skye, so set off early and have the track to yourself
- Visit lesser known attractions that are not on tour operator itineraries
- Book several days on the island so you are able to spread out your sightseeing
- Ask locals for their suggestions to get off the tourist route
- Plan Plan Plan and book everything well in advance
THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO SEE PUFFINS ON SKYE
Instantly recognizable by it’s brightly coloured bill, these small sea birds are normally most visible in early Spring. Adults return to their breeding colonies on grassy cliff tops in March and April, departing again in mid-August.
Your best bet for spotting puffins is to take a boat trip to the neighbouring islands. Leaving from Elgol, AquaXplore head to Canna and guarantee sightings between May and July.
THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO AVOID MIDGES
You may have heard of Scotland’s pesky midges and all the tales are true. They are an absolute pain! Not to be confused with the larger mosquito, these are black and very small to see. They bite and swarm around your face, but are not partial to wind or cold weather.
June through August provide perfect breeding conditions for these warm weather pests. Timing your visit outside of these months enable you to avoid their onslaught. We have visited Skye in May and September and barely saw them either trip.
Some tips to be forewarned include:
- Slather on repellent
- Wear a mosquito net over your hat
- They tend to be prevalent around lakes and streams
- Keep walking 🙂
THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO SEE WILDLIFE ON SKYE
Wildlife watchers are in for a treat visiting Skye as the island is a magnet for numerous species of wildlife. For keen visitors, a boat trip is a perfect way to see as much as possible during your stay.
Two things to remember however, are that time of year and location are important factors to take into account. As with all wildlife viewings, timing is essential. Here is a list of some of the more notable species to watch out for:
- OTTERS: The European Otter can be seen year-round with a bit of patience. Spot them on rugged shorelines or from a kayak.
- RED DEER: The highest population of red deer are found in Skye and the west coast highlands. Winter provides your best chance of viewing when they are grazing on lower ground.
- SEA EAGLES: Since being re-introduced to the Isle of Rum in 1975, numbers of these white-tailed eagles have flourished. You can see Britain’s largest bird of prey all year, especially around cliffs and in particular those around Portree.
- GOLDEN EAGLES: You will have to rely on a wildlife guide to get a glimpse of this bird of prey.
- GANNETS: Scotland’s largest sea bird is best seen from a boat to truly appreciate its speed and 6ft wing span. While the largest colony is on the island of St Kilda, look for them on cliff tops from mid to late summer.
- DOLPHINS: Seen during summer months but also May through September. Bottle-nosed are the most common dolphins seen in the waters around Skye.
- SEALS: While they can be seen in sea lochs and bays around Skye, both common and grey seals are best seen from boats.
- WHALES: Rarer species have been sighted in Skye’s rich waters but Minke Whales can be seen from May to October.
BEST TIME OF YEAR TO SAVE MONEY
Peak season on Skye is during the summer months which are extremely busy. If you are trying to save money on your trip we would advise the following:
- Visit between November and March for the best savings.
- Book accommodation early. We use booking.com which offers free cancellation terms on most properties.
BEST TIME OF YEAR TO SEE THE NORTHERN LIGHTS
Northern Scotland lies at the same latitude as Stavanger in Norway and Nunivak Island in Alaska which means that it is possible to spot the famous colourful auroras.
If you have been lucky to witness Aurora Borealis in Iceland or Norway, then don’t expect that sort of show here. You have to be extremely lucky to see them, the sky to be clear and all the conditions to be just right.
You may witness the lights during the winter months atop snow capped mountains, hills or wide open areas. Any auroras will be faint in colour, so don’t get your hopes up.
WHAT IF I WANT TO SWIM ON SKYE?
The warmer months of July and August provide the best opportunity for swimming, however expect the water to be a tad chilly. Apart from the beach, a great spot to go wild swimming is in the Fairy Pools.
Located in Glen Brittle, the pools are fed by mountain streams so the water is cold but enhanced by a beautiful aqua blue colour. Don’t forget a towel and change of clothing!
BEST TIME TO VISIT THE ISLE OF SKYE CONCLUSION
We think that the best time to visit the Isle of Skye is between April through June and September. These months offer less rain, crowds and midges with warmer temperatures and longer daylight hours to explore.
Overall, consider what activities you want to do, what you want from your trip and then plan accordingly.
Skye has numerous things to do, castles to discover, beaches to wander and scenic walks to follow. You will be so glad that you put the Isle of Skye on your list of places to visit.
We hope this article answered all your questions on this topic, but if not, feel free to post any other questions in the comments below.
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SAVE TO YOUR SCOTLAND BOARD
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