Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
accordingly. On the islands, the weather is just a bit more temperate, but can be
typically windy. In the cities, daytime temperatures are higher.
It rains a fair amount in Scotland, but perhaps not as much as age-old myths
would have it: The average annual rainfall in Edinburgh is about the same as that in
London. September can be the sunniest month.
Average Temperature & Rainfall in Edinburgh and Glasgow
JAN
FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC
Temp. (°F)
38
38
42
44
50
55
59
58
54
48
43
40
Temp. (°C)
3
3
6
7
10
13
15
14
12
9
6
4
Rainfall (in.)
2.2
1.6
1.9
1.5
2.0
2.0
2.5
2.7
2.5
2.4
2.5
2.4
3
When You Find Bargains
The cheapest time to travel is off-season: Late
October
up to
Easter
(excluding
Christmas and New Year). Rates for hotels hit their peak in the high season from
June
through
September,
and particularly in Edinburgh during the Festival in
August
rates at some hotels rise noticeably.
Mid-July and August are when many
locals take their holidays, which are increasingly spent inside the U.K., so besides
the higher prices, you'll have to deal with bigger crowds and greater demand for hotel
rooms.
Those coming from abroad should note that airlines are known to offer cut-rate
fares during off-periods. Weekday flights are generally cheaper than weekend fares,
often by at least 10%. The best news for bargain hunters is that many tourist attrac-
tions in Edinburgh and Glasgow are free. Most remain open year-round, which is
not always the case outside these cities.
Spring offers the countryside at its greenest, fall brings on steely skies, and sum-
mer's warmth gives rise to the music and theater festivals. But winter offers savings
across the board and a chance to see Scots going about their everyday lives largely
unhindered by tourist invasions.
Holidays
The following holidays are celebrated in Scotland, although individual cities and
regions will have their public holidays, too: New Year's Day (Jan 1-2), Good Friday
and Easter Monday, May Day (first Mon in May), spring bank holiday (last Mon in
May), summer bank holiday (last Mon in Aug), Christmas Day (Dec 25), and Boxing
Day (Dec 26).
Edinburgh & Glasgow Calendar of Events
For an exhaustive list of events beyond those listed here, check http://events.frommers.
com, where you'll find a searchable, up-to-the-minute guide to what's happening in cities
all over the world.
JANUARY
Celtic Connections,
Glasgow. This celebra-
tion of folk and traditional music is becom-
ing one of the largest of its kind in the
world, drawing musicians from throughout
Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, as well as
further afield—such as the Basque country
and North America. Call
&
0141/353-
8000.
Two weeks toward the end of
January.
Burns Night.
Naturally, during the celebra-
tions to honor Robert Burns, there's much
