When is the Best Weather on Skye?

Quick answer - April and May.

Longer answer - yes, visit Skye in April and May, but bring thermal underwear just in case!

I am inspired to write this post because we are enjoying the most wonderful spell of settled calm, sunny weather at the moment  (and as it happens, it was much the same weather this time last year). It is just wonderful to be working on the allotment or walking Cupar in warm sunshine with the bluebells twinkling and a sparkling sapphire sea in the distance. I have almost forgotten where I have hung my waterproofs.

We enjoy a maritime climate here on the north west coast of Scotland. That means the weather is always unpredictable. As a broad over-view, I would suggest our weather is almost always chilly, often wet, and also usually windy.

Statistics will show that May is the driest month on Skye. But statistics also show that on occasions, May has been the wettest month in that particular year....!!!  But the spring brings other benefits -  the wild flowers... an often-blue sky and an even bluer sea... and a dawn chorus that you don't mind being waken up by...

Daylight hours are longest in June. In mid-month, dawn is at stupid o'clock, and it is still fully daylight at 10.00pm. You don't get to see the stars in June.

View from Roskhill - 10.00pm - 21 June 2010
The 'Longest Day'

The busiest tourist months of July and August are usually the mildest months - but don't plan to sunbathe. Come in mid summer and you are still likely to need your waterproofs, and I would suggest packing your thermal underwear too... just in case... (oh - and don't forget the midge repellent...)

Then, of course - you might like snow. We don't get a lot of snow around the coast of Skye (which is where most people live). though the higher hills usually have snow-cover for much of the time between November-ish  and March-ish. If you REALLY want winter snow - you are better off heading west and inland to the Cairngorms.