Best time to tour Scotland in motorhome: seasonal guide

Like the rest of the UK, Scotland’s great in summer, and suitable for all types of motorhome holidays from romantic breaks to family fun to mates’ weeks away. But while summer is the most popular time for holidays here, touring Scotland in a motorhome can be incredible in any season. You’ll find heaps to see and do at any time of year! Read on to discover the best time to tour Scotland in a motorhome depending on the type of road trip you want.

Touring Scotland in a motorhome in winter or autumn

No beating about the bush: Scotland can get cold in winter! But that shouldn’t stop you winter camping in Scotland. It’s an awesome place to visit in the colder season – think snowy peaks, lakes still with cold, deer rutting and seals pupping. And of course, winter Christmas markets and the world-famous Hogmanay celebrations in Edinburgh to ring in the new year.

Scotland is especially magical in winter and autumn. The air is fresh and crisp, less tourists are on the road, and sharp winter light rays mean landscapes are a haven for photographers. Hike around lochs, alongside rivers, around hills and into valleys, before dinner and a hot whisky in a cosy pub then retiring to your motorhome – perfect.

Tips for touring Scotland in winter

• Hire a motorhome that is capable of coping with extreme weather, well insulated and has a heating system. Winter tyres are a bonus too, in case you face some poor road conditions.

• Bring plenty of warm clothes, especially waterproofs (jacket, trousers and hat).

• Have back-up plans if some amenities or attractions aren’t open in the low season.

• Be flexible! You might have to change your route if the weather takes an icy turn.

• Check in advance that the campsites you want to stay at are open (especially if you’re driving north), as many close from October to April or run on reduced winter hours.

• Be prepared for the lack of daylight hours and the impact this may have on the amount of driving you do each day: it can get dark as early as 3.30pm in some parts of northern Scotland.

Equipped with these tips, here are some top places and activities to enjoy on a motorhome tour across Scotland in the colder seasons.

Autumn and winter attractions in Scotland

Equipped with the above tips, here are some top places to visit on a motorhome tour across Scotland in the colder seasons.

• Loch Ness and Exhibition Centre – open all year round

• Glencoe – this valley is breathtaking at any time of year

• The Isle of Skye – accessible by road all year round

• Galloway Forest Park – visit from late September to early November to catch a glimpse of red deer rutting, one of the most spectacular and famous wildlife sights in Scotland

Autumn and winter activities in Scotland

Touring routes

Routes such as the North Coast 500/NC500 and the west coast of Scotland have become hugely popular, so autumn and winter are an ideal time to motorhome along the route. Make sure you’re experienced in driving a motorhome and you hire one equipped for cold or snowy weather. We have more tips in our**NC500 road trip guide**.

Festivals

Edinburgh’s known worldwide for its August festivals, but there’s plenty going on in winter. Check out Edinburgh Christmas Market (and Glasgow Christmas Market) in the lead up to the festive season. After that, Hogmanay (31 December) and Burns Night (25 January) celebrations will be held all over Scotland. St Andrew’s Day is 30 November.

Snow sports Scotland has five ski centres, including Glenshee Ski Resort in Aberdeenshire, which is the biggest in the UK. Another centre set in jaw-dropping winter beauty is in the Cairngorms National Park, a Scottish snowboarding and skiing haven. It’s worth making the trip here even if you don’t ski, as visitors can take a funicular railway to Scotland's highest restaurant.

Touring Scotland in a motorhome in summer or spring

Given the warmer weather, is summer the best time to tour Scotland in a motorhome? Yes and no... no because Scotland is stunning in every season, and yes because visiting Scotland in peak season will make for a magical holiday.

Scotland summer weather averages temperatures of 18–22 degrees Celsius – just right for hitting the beach without braving the high temperatures reached in the south of England. Spring flowers in Scotland bring blazing colour as bluebells carpet forest floors; in summer, purple covers moors and slopes. Finally, daylight hours are lengthy in mid-summer, with sunrise at early as 3am and sunset as late as 11pm.

Plan a summer holiday in Scotland to take advantage of beautiful secluded beaches, balmy days to explore long stretches of rugged coastline, green hills and glens, shimmering lochs and much more. It all makes ideal terrain for a wealth of outdoor activities on those longer days!

Tips for touring Scotland in summer

• Book your campsites in advance – areas like the Highlands/west coast and the NC500 are popular in high season

• Be aware when planning your route that many campsites have a two-night minimum stay for motorhomes in the summer months

• The Scottish weather is highly changeable – even in summer you could get rain and wind alongside sun within a couple of hours. Pack layers and waterproofs.

• Keep midges at bay with a good insect repellent; it’s worth getting the best you can. The coast is less prone to these biting insects in the height of midge season (July and August).

Places to visit in Scotland in summer or spring

Now that you know how to approach touring Scotland in a motorhome in summer, here are some top attractions to visit while you’re there!

• Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and Royal Botanic Garden Glasgow – beautiful in blooming weather

• Inner Hebrides and the Isle of Mull – a must-see on a Scottish trip; ferries don’t sail in low season

• Beaches – East Beach at Lossiemouth, the beaches of Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Ayr, and the beaches around Dalbeattie, Eyemouth and the Highlands are all highly recommended

• The West Highland Railway and a train ride past the Glenfinnan Viaduct

Best things to do in Scotland in summer or spring

Outdoor adventure You'll find outdoor activities all over Scotland, and Spring and summer are top times to try them out. Hire boats, canoes or kayaks at Loch Lomond, try water sports at Strathclyde Country Park in Motherwell, or go mountaineering around Torridon and 6 Wester Ross. Scotland’s also well known for its excellent mountain biking, including the 7stanes mountain biking centres' award-winning trails across the south. Don’t forget Fort William, either – the “outdoor capital of the UK”.

Festivals

The Edinburgh International Festival, Edinburgh Festival Fringe and lots more make up the spring and summer season in Scotland’s capital city. Also make sure to see the annual Highland Games, held throughout the country from April to September, or the World Pipe Band Championships held in Glasgow in August.

Sightseeing tours The hop-on, hop-off bus tours that run all year round in cities including Edinburgh and Glasgow are much more enjoyable in warmer weather! There are also plenty of city walking tours available around Scotland, such as the Edinburgh Treasure Trail or the guided city tour.

Get ready to explore Scotland in any season

When you've decided when and where to visit, the next step is to choose your motorhome. With Camplify, you can hire a private rental anywhere in Scotland depending on where you’re starting your holiday!

Need some more holiday inspiration? See our**best road trips around Scotland** and**Wild camping in Scotland guides** for heaps of Scottish destination ideas.

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