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    Why Visit Scotland in August?

    By Ross Keddie, Marketing Assistant
    More by Ross

    Scotland Lets Its Hair Down

    Scottish August reminds one of turning up late to a party you weren’t sure you were going to go to. A few nervous jitters to begin with, but then everyone seems happy you’re there. The music is more vibrant, and the shows and sights are more satisfying. The evenings seem to last and last, and you never know who you’ll wind up talking to or what you’ll wind up doing. It’s a month for making memories, seeing things you’d never think to see and relaxing in the company as well as ourselves.

    In August, Scotland opens its doors to visitors like no other time of year. So let’s get acquainted with a few of the characters you might meet in this golden month at the end of summer.

    Take Me Straight To:

    How is the weather in Scotland in August?

    Scottish beach viewed in August.

    In a sentence: August is gorgeous in Scotland.

    More precisely, August is warm and inviting. Though there is still the occasional shower, sunny days pave the way to greater adventures than almost any other time of year. Dry weather means that Scotland’s roads open up for road cycling through spectacular scenery.

    Munro tops never looked quite so manageable as when seen on a day without clouds. The lochs and inlets around the coast seemingly beg to be paddled in, and it’s perfect weather for kayaking or canoeing. Whether you prefer lower-level walks, striding up the highest hills or just out for a wander, the quintessential summer weather makes it all a little more pleasant. Stopping to take in the view is easier, there’s no haste in one’s pace, and easy conversation flows with whomever you share your day with.

    So, take a waterproof, as you never know, but pack high hopes and get ready for a summer trip quite spectacular.

    Miss the Summer Crowds

    Everyone has spent a flight behind a fussy child or queueing behind a dozen families of a dozen members each. A slight groan and instinctual tension as we anticipate delays, drama, and disappointment.

    If you’re familiar with these frustrations and prefer to avoid them while travelling the wilds of Scotland, August is ideal for you. Scottish schools generally reconvene in early to mid-August, leaving the month’s end noticeably quieter. Fewer queues, fewer people for miles around, and more peace and quiet to appreciate the great outdoors. You take a step out of the central belt, particularly Edinburgh, and it feels like you can breathe more freely.

    It’s also almost as if attractions such as Stirling Castle and Fort George know that you might like to visit in a quieter moment. Their summer hours are ongoing until at least September. The hills are significantly less busy too – and they were never crowded to begin with. So take it all in. From culture to the countryside, city breaks to coastal visits, all of it is a little more fun when you’ve got a little more space to move.

    Stirling Castle

    What is The Edinburgh Fringe?

    Calling the Fringe the world’s biggest arts festival doesn’t do it justice.

    The Fringe has something for everyone, from childish giggles at inflatable animals to ruckus laughter at dirty jokes. Impressive feats and awe-inspiring acrobatics. Storytelling, dramatics, learning, histories horrible or hilarious. Amateur dramatics and the most serious kinds of theatre. Everything you could wish to see on the stage.

    One can best describe a typical Fringe experience through the example of a single show: Garry Starr Performs Everything. In an hour, one man goes through “every” school and discipline of creative pursuit, often badly and often with audience participation, with an aim to save theatre attendance from dwindling. Dressed in an Elizabethan ruff and wielding self-aware wit, Garry can’t help but captivate your attention. The acts range from burlesque to romantic comedy and much more in between.

    The show ranges from weird to heartfelt. This is the best way to describe the wonderful smorgasbord of experiences available at the Fringe. It has everything, and even if some of it is a bit odd, it’s still fantastic. You can check out his tour dates on the Garry Starr website.

    Garry Starr performs everything.

    For the month of August, Edinburgh transforms into an artist’s paradise. The city’s population has increased by about 50%, and finding parking is a nightmare. However, every space you can swing a cat (and many more besides) is occupied for the month. From the Royal College of Physicians to tiny corners in pubs, you’ll see something interesting everywhere you can have someone stand and a few chairs. Everyone is welcome, from school groups to seasoned professionals, from those with no experience indulging in performance pieces to the grittiest critics. The streets become packed, with every inch of thoroughfare carefully managed so that every artist gets a fair shake.

    Fliers, food, festivities, fun. The city overflows for a month dedicated to the arts, and it is a sight that, once experienced, is never forgotten. The main challenge is picking what to go to as you’re spoiled for choice.

    Street performer at the Edinburgh Fringe.

    A show board at The Fringe, listing the various theatrical performances from the month of August.

    Edinburgh Art Festival

    Mirroring the Fringe is a quieter but no less evocative festival. Instead of the performance piece, it instead focuses on the presentation of art. Edinburgh has some of the best museums in the country, if not the world, and they seem to brighten in the summer rays of August.

    One favourite space is Jupiter Artland. It’s a country estate that’s been around since 1622, albeit remodelled in the mid-1800s. It’s a gorgeous artsy space at the best of times, but for the month of August, it is entirely occupied by art. There are installations everywhere, from the otherworldly landscaping outside to generous galleries. It truly is a visual delight, but with varied displays, all your senses will be alight.

    For a reprieve for a quieter sort of seeking, the art festival is well worth attending. Storied and famous works such as Rembrandt’s are shipped into galleries free to the public, where sculptures and paintings jostle for space. It feels more like some great spectacle of nature, a migration of striking visuals into a small space that you have to see to believe. Likeminded people gather here for something beautiful that, once left, is never forgotten.

    Edinburgh International Book Festival

    Last but not least, in our August festival foray fantastic is the Edinburgh International Book Festival. It is simultaneously a quiet space, hosted primarily in Charlotte Square, but it has an intensity to it. As though everyone is trying to get one last tidbit or inspiration from their day before setting off at the close of play. It is very much a “one more page” sort of crowd.

    With homegrown and international authors abounding, the Edinburgh Book Festival welcomes over 250,000 book lovers on an average year. This includes around 35,000 young people whom the August festival has particularly targeted for outreach as part of their ongoing development efforts. With 600 events to choose from, hundreds of authors joining the fray, and a colourful destination to boot, this bibliophilic boutique is a perfect stop on your visit to Scotland in August.

    For more details check out Edinburgh International Book Festival. Whether you’re looking to be inspired or wish to find a quiet spot in a vibrant cityscape, take a moment in this oasis based on crisp pages and open minds.

    A lady reads a book in a nook at the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

    Summer Colours

    We often talk and read about autumn colours. It’s easy to understand why, as the rich reds and oranges are lovely to look at. The change from vibrant green to more comfortable shades is dramatic no matter how well we know it’s coming.

    Autumn isn’t the only stunning colour change in nature, though. The way the hillsides of Scotland take on a royal mantle of most vivid purple each year is incredibly beautiful. From mid-summer to autumn, the mountains seem to take pride in themselves like no other time of year. Swathes of colour an artist could envy grow into life. It somehow seems utterly natural and yet a little jarring when you first see it. As though someone has decked the glen with paint. However, the more you look at these fields of blooming heather, the more it seems to fit utterly into the landscape. It feels timeless and priceless, effortlessly blending into lovely summer evenings.

    Speaking of long evenings, the other colour best associated with August is gold. Not the metal, but the colour of sunsets and pleasing dusks you want to enjoy outside. We’re not far from the summer solstice, so the evenings last and last. The last rays of summer make outside warm enough to enjoy but cool enough that wrapping up is extra comfy. These golden evenings will make any photographer dream of visiting Scotland in August. They’re not alone, if you enjoy the outside air, then August is the perfect month for you.

    Scottish summer evening with golden light.

    What wildlife can I see in Scotland in August?

    Scotland in August is bursting with activity. From seabirds diving to squirrels rustling in the underbrush, there’s always something to be seen. If you pause in almost any natural space, you’ll have a little company, but there are some stand-out guests.

    Minke Whale

    Minke whales are a sight to behold for any summer visitors to Scotland’s coast. There’s something special about whale sightings – something so impactful yet out of reach. Colossal but somehow untouchable in the depths. With the herring in pre-spawn, the seas around Scotland’s coast are perfect hunting grounds in August. That means that whale spottings increase drastically, especially around the Outer Hebrides.

    Minke Whales

    Puffins Breeding

    Puffins spend most of their lives out to sea, but for the summer months, many of them come to Scotland to breed. This means you can see the clownish little rascals knocking their beaks and strutting about as they seek partners. They then build burrows and lay a single egg which hatches and fledges some weeks later.

    When the chicks are almost independent, the adults take flight back to sea almost in unison. That means the skies above their breeding sites and the rocks they nest amongst are busy in mid to late August. With their natural trusting nature, they’re easy to get close to, so you can witness these characterful feathered friends first-hand. That is, if you manage to get there before they fly off for the season!

    Puffin in a burrow, one of Scotland's August visitors.

    Otters on Long Evenings

    Otters can be seen all year round across Scotland. In this case, it’s not the animal whose behaviour changes but the conditions. The lovely golden evenings of August mean the dusk conditions, which otters love to hunt in, last for longer periods of time. That also means the conditions for spotting otters are perfect! You can typically find them processing a catch on rocks or beaches by the water, ready for another dive.

    "An otter seen on a Scottish beach.

    To experience all of these wonderful facets of August, and many more, check out our August Trips Page.

    Scottish Tours in August

    TripDatePriceAvailabilityBook
    Self Guided - The Dingle Way1st Aug - 10th Aug 2024£02 place(s) leftBook Now
    Wilderness Walking - Northumberland and the Lake District3rd Aug - 9th Aug 2024£2,2957 place(s) leftBook Now
    Wilderness Walking - Isle of Skye3rd Aug - 9th Aug 2024£2,5758 place(s) leftBook Now
    Wilderness Retreats - The Highlands3rd Aug - 9th Aug 2024£2,4958 place(s) leftBook Now
    Road Cycling - Arran, Islay and Jura3rd Aug - 9th Aug 2024£2,7958 place(s) leftBook Now
    Sea Kayaking - Introduction Course3rd Aug - 7th Aug 2024£9955 place(s) leftBook Now
    Road Cycling - Scotland's National Parks3rd Aug - 9th Aug 2024£2,4958 place(s) leftBook Now
    Wilderness Walking - Wilds of Assynt3rd Aug - 9th Aug 2024£2,2958 place(s) leftBook Now
    Wilderness Walking - Outer Hebrides: Uists, Barra and Mingulay3rd Aug - 9th Aug 2024£2,4758 place(s) leftBook Now
    Wilderness Walking - Outer Hebrides & Skye3rd Aug - 9th Aug 2024£2,5758 place(s) leftBook Now
    Self Guided - The Wicklow Way4th Aug - 9th Aug 2024£02 place(s) leftBook Now
    Wilderness Walking - The Orkney Islands4th Aug - 10th Aug 2024£2,5758 place(s) leftBook Now
    Self Guided - The Dingle Way4th Aug - 13th Aug 2024£02 place(s) leftBook Now
    Wilderness Walking - The West Highland Way5th Aug - 12th Aug 2024£2,59516 place(s) leftBook Now
    Self Guided - The West Highland Way5th Aug - 14th Aug 2024£1,4854 place(s) leftBook Now
    Family Adventure - Treasure Highlands5th Aug - 11th Aug 2024£1,3255 place(s) leftBook Now
    Self Guided - The Dingle Way8th Aug - 17th Aug 2024£02 place(s) leftBook Now
    Wilderness Walking - Outer Hebrides: Uists, Barra and Mingulay10th Aug - 16th Aug 2024£2,4758 place(s) leftBook Now
    Sea Kayaking - The Isle of Mull10th Aug - 15th Aug 2024£1,9955 place(s) leftBook Now
    Sea Kayaking - Outer Hebrides10th Aug - 16th Aug 2024£1,6956 place(s) leftBook Now
    Wilderness Walking - Argyll & the Isles10th Aug - 16th Aug 2024£2,3958 place(s) leftBook Now
    Wilderness Walking - The Knoydart Peninsula10th Aug - 16th Aug 2024£1,87510 place(s) leftBook Now
    Wilderness Walking - The Coast of Cornwall10th Aug - 16th Aug 2024£2,3958 place(s) leftBook Now
    Road Cycling - Tour of the Borders10th Aug - 16th Aug 2024£2,4958 place(s) leftBook Now
    Road Cycling - Outer Hebrides10th Aug - 16th Aug 2024£2,7958 place(s) leftBook Now
    Wilderness Walking - High Points of the Cairngorms National Park10th Aug - 16th Aug 2024£2,3958 place(s) leftBook Now
    Wilderness Walking - National Parks of the UK11th Aug - 20th Aug 2024£3,0958 place(s) leftBook Now
    Self Guided - The Wicklow Way11th Aug - 16th Aug 2024£02 place(s) leftBook Now
    Self Guided - The Dingle Way11th Aug - 20th Aug 2024£02 place(s) leftBook Now
    Self Guided - The West Highland Way12th Aug - 21st Aug 2024£1,9354 place(s) leftBook Now
    Self Guided - The Dingle Way15th Aug - 24th Aug 2024£02 place(s) leftBook Now
    Self Guided - The Wicklow Way15th Aug - 20th Aug 2024£02 place(s) leftBook Now
    Wilderness Walking - Glencoe and the Highlands17th Aug - 23rd Aug 2024£2,4957 place(s) leftBook Now
    Wilderness Walking - Outer Hebrides & Skye17th Aug - 23rd Aug 2024£2,5758 place(s) leftBook Now
    Road Cycling - Highland Coast to Coast17th Aug - 23rd Aug 2024£2,4957 place(s) leftBook Now
    Self Guided+ Cycling - The Caledonia Way17th Aug - 23rd Aug 2024£1,4653 place(s) leftBook Now
    Road Cycling - The Grand Tour17th Aug - 23rd Aug 2024£2,5956 place(s) leftBook Now
    E-bike - The Outer Hebrides17th Aug - 23rd Aug 2024£2,5754 place(s) leftBook Now
    Wilderness Walking - Isle of Skye17th Aug - 23rd Aug 2024£3,4658 place(s) leftBook Now
    Sea Kayaking - The Atlantic Coast17th Aug - 22nd Aug 2024£1,7952 place(s) leftBook Now
    Wilderness Walking - Arran: Scotland in Miniature17th Aug - 23rd Aug 2024£1,9457 place(s) leftBook Now
    Wilderness Walking - The Orkney Islands17th Aug - 23rd Aug 2024£2,5755 place(s) leftBook Now
    Self Guided - The Dingle Way18th Aug - 27th Aug 2024£02 place(s) leftBook Now
    Self Guided - The Wicklow Way18th Aug - 23rd Aug 2024£02 place(s) leftBook Now
    Self Guided - The West Highland Way19th Aug - 28th Aug 2024£1,485Trip Full
    Self Guided - The Dingle Way22nd Aug - 31st Aug 2024£02 place(s) leftBook Now
    Self Guided - The Wicklow Way22nd Aug - 27th Aug 2024£02 place(s) leftBook Now
    Self Guided - The Great Glen Way23rd Aug - 2nd Sep 2024£1,550Trip Full
    Road Cycling - Outer Hebrides24th Aug - 30th Aug 2024£2,7958 place(s) leftBook Now
    Wilderness Walking - Northumberland and the Lake District24th Aug - 30th Aug 2024£2,2955 place(s) leftBook Now
    Road Cycling - North Coast 50024th Aug - 30th Aug 2024£2,7958 place(s) leftBook Now
    Wilderness Walking - Cairngorms National Park & Royal Deeside24th Aug - 30th Aug 2024£2,3958 place(s) leftBook Now
    Sea Kayaking - Introduction Course24th Aug - 28th Aug 2024£9957 place(s) leftBook Now
    Sailing and Walking - Knoydart, Skye & The Small Isles24th Aug - 30th Aug 2024£2,4958 place(s) leftBook Now
    Self Guided+ Cycling - North Coast 50025th Aug - 31st Aug 2024£1,6751 place(s) leftBook Now
    Self Guided - The Dingle Way25th Aug - 3rd Sep 2024£02 place(s) leftBook Now
    Road Cycling - England Coast to Coast25th Aug - 1st Sep 2024£2,87512 place(s) leftBook Now
    Self Guided - The Wicklow Way25th Aug - 30th Aug 2024£02 place(s) leftBook Now
    Wilderness Walking - England Coast to Coast25th Aug - 6th Sep 2024£4,19510 place(s) leftBook Now
    E-bike - The Orkney Islands25th Aug - 30th Aug 2024£2,29512 place(s) leftBook Now
    Wilderness Walking - Highlights of the Highlands26th Aug - 4th Sep 2024£4,9755 place(s) leftBook Now
    Self Guided - The West Highland Way26th Aug - 4th Sep 2024£1,9354 place(s) leftBook Now
    Wilderness Walking - The West Highland Way26th Aug - 2nd Sep 2024£2,59516 place(s) leftBook Now
    Self Guided - The Dingle Way29th Aug - 7th Sep 2024£02 place(s) leftBook Now
    Long Distance Trail - Hadrians Wall Path29th Aug - 6th Sep 2024£1,050Trip Full
    Self Guided - The Wicklow Way29th Aug - 3rd Sep 2024£02 place(s) leftBook Now
    Sea Kayaking - The Isle of Mull31st Aug - 5th Sep 2024£1,9958 place(s) leftBook Now
    Road Cycling - Scotland's National Parks31st Aug - 6th Sep 2024£2,4958 place(s) leftBook Now
    Wilderness Walking - Wilds of Assynt31st Aug - 6th Sep 2024£2,2958 place(s) leftBook Now
    Wilderness Walking - High Points of Torridon and Wester Ross31st Aug - 6th Sep 2024£1,9954 place(s) leftBook Now
    Sea Kayaking - Outer Hebrides31st Aug - 6th Sep 2024£1,6957 place(s) leftBook Now
    Wilderness Walking - Isle of Skye31st Aug - 6th Sep 2024£2,5755 place(s) leftBook Now
    Wilderness Retreats - The Highlands31st Aug - 6th Sep 2024£2,4958 place(s) leftBook Now
    Road Cycling - Arran, Islay and Jura31st Aug - 6th Sep 2024£2,7958 place(s) leftBook Now
    Wilderness Walking - Outer Hebrides: Uists, Barra and Mingulay31st Aug - 6th Sep 2024£2,4758 place(s) leftBook Now

    Meet the Author: Ross Keddie

    “Having grown up in Glasgow, I've always had restless feet. They've taken me across the ocean to North America, around Europe and all over Scotland. Having paused to get a degree in Adventure (yes, literally!) I'm incredibly lucky to be able to pursue my passion for writing and travel with Wilderness Scotland.”

    View profileMore by Ross

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