When to go small ship cruising in Scotland
Forget about the weather on these trips. That is for the skippers to worry about. Start thinking more in terms of beautiful light, soothing morning mist, and extraordinary western sunsets.![]()
Expect four seasons in a day on the west coast of Scotland, or indeed cruising up through the Great Glen on the Caledonian Canal. Most cruises run between mid April and mid October, with temperatures ranging from single figures to teens. And nights can dip well below 10°C even in summer. Days are long in summer, however, with the sun setting around 10pm and later, depending on latitude. And unlike other countries in Europe, the light for photography is wonderful during this time, bathing everything in a warm glow. As for rain, it happens, with May the driest month in the Hebrides with only 17 days of rain.
Skye Weather Chart
MIN °C
MAX °C
RAIN (mm)
JAN
1
6
214
FEB
1
6
140
MAR
2
7
173
APR
3
10
108
MAY
5
13
105
JUN
8
15
127
JUL
10
16
144
AUG
9
16
161
SEP
8
14
229
OCT
6
11
245
NOV
3
8
248
DEC
2
6
242
When to go cruising in Scotland, month by month
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2027: 29 Apr, 10 May, 15 May, 14 Jun, 30 Jul, 14 Aug, 18 Aug, 26 Aug, 8 Sep, 9 Sep, 13 Sep
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Responsible travel recommends
Marie McGhee from our partner, The Majestic Line:
“Cruise off season! April and October are often better for sunny weather with excellent scenery and wildlife spotting opportunities. And the price is cheaper!”
“Cruise off season! April and October are often better for sunny weather with excellent scenery and wildlife spotting opportunities. And the price is cheaper!”
Colette Dubois co-founder at our Scotland cruising partner, St. Hilda Sea Adventures:
“The best time to see birdlife and other wildlife in Scotland, where we take our guests, is June. The autumn is also a lovely time but you will see fewer birds. For the weather, June is often also the best month. People do worry about midges in Scotland, but we absolutely never have midges on the boat because there is always a breeze. And when we go onto the mainland, we always carry Avon Skin So Soft which is a fantastic product to stop the midge bites. But on the boat we never get them.”
“The best time to see birdlife and other wildlife in Scotland, where we take our guests, is June. The autumn is also a lovely time but you will see fewer birds. For the weather, June is often also the best month. People do worry about midges in Scotland, but we absolutely never have midges on the boat because there is always a breeze. And when we go onto the mainland, we always carry Avon Skin So Soft which is a fantastic product to stop the midge bites. But on the boat we never get them.”
More Scotland cruising articles
We've picked out the three main things to consider when choosing a small ship cruise.
Scotland’s west coast promises some of the world’s most pristine wildlife watching habitats.
These islands form one of the most popular routes on the west coast of Scotland.
On a journey into the furthest reaches of Scotland, you might awaken something in the deep.
Cruise the Caledonian Canal, a 100km short cut dug by Victorian engineers.
From family escapes to wildlife watching, or brushing up on your painting skills.
travel advice from our expert partners, and previous happy travellers.
How your holiday engages you with local communities and the marine environment.
