visiting Scotland in November

[Rick-sta]

I'm getting married in November hopefully (after moving the wedding from May earlier this year due to covid) and we're planning a 2 week honeymoon trip in the UK since there's too much uncertainty at the moment around booking a holiday abroad. So we're putting our proper abroad honeymoon trip to Barbados on hold until things get better.

We've done Cornwall quite a few times now, and are due to go again in February, so we were thinking of possibly heading up north and visiting Scotland for a week before heading back down and visiting other places like the Lake District on the way back down south.

Question for members who either live in Scotland or have visited during November before, is November a ok time to visit Scotland or will the weather be too rough? Heard it can get pretty windy in the winter months. We're looking at going in the 2nd week of November.

Also and suggestions on places to visit would be great. We really want to do route 500, see Loch Ness, and the northern lights if we're lucky with conditions.

Cheers

[Graham1961]

Hi Rick.

I live in East Lothian, with the weather you will just have to take your chance, but there are so many areas to see, i have been up the Highlands many times and yes the scenery is out of this world.

Speyside is a beautiful area, Grantown on Spey, Aberlour, Boat of Garten, further up you have Inverness and the Black Isle.

Up the West you have Ullapool which is just stunning with its Lochs and Glens.

The North Coast 500 is a road I would love to do, I have been to John o groats and Dunnet head but that really would be weather dependent, there are so many areas of natural beauty to choose.

[RPWC]

If you are heading to Scotland via the east side of the country Rick, you could take in the north east on route. Northumberland is a beautiful county with plenty of places to see, although like alot of areas in November there may not be much open. However there is the Northumberland coast which boasts beautiful beaches and castles, with the Holy Island of Lindisfarne being an interesting place to see too. It is cut off from the mainland at high tide , and accessible by the causeway which os submerged at high tide There is also Keilder Water, the largest mam made lake in Europe. Just a few of the things on offer, I thought I would chip in to promote our neighbouring county to give you an idea to perhaps take in a bit more of the country on your trip

[Simondi]

Great choice Rick.

I stay on the Costa del Clyde, just south of Glasgow. To be honest weather wise November is much the same as any other month. You can have rain, sun, snow, hail cold and warm, gale force winds or dead calm - all in the one day.

I'm intending to do the NC500 next spring. Try and head up Glen Coe, it's stunning

[Les4048]

I stay near Elgin in Moray and it’s a beautiful area with a nice climate, well most of the time

[stocktake]

We have stayed in the Isle of sky 3 times now breath taking scenery on the way up, stopped off of the way up at Ben Nevis and took the cable car up the mountain great views. On the way back stopped off overnight at Falkirk, visited the Falkirk wheel during the day and a visit to the Kelpies at dusk to see them in the light and illuminated after dark.

[clarky81]

Originally Posted by clarky81

I completed the NC500 today and it has been absolutely amazing. I would recommend doing it anticlockwise as the scenery is so much more dramatic heading over to the west and on the west coast itself. We did it with 4 overnight stays (stayed in Inverness after completing the route) averaging approximately 130 miles each day. We did a few detours, including a circuit of Skye. If stopped at every photo opportunity we would on the route for at least a year.



There are a lots of single track roads, where you are in second and third gear a lot but every time you come around a bend there is a fantastic view awaiting you. The Applecross Pass is stunning. It was busy but I never felt I was being held up too much. The amount of camper vans on the road is unbelievable but going a bit slower allows you more to admire the scenery. We didn't notice any animosity from the locals, so long as you let those who look like they are working pass you and you will always get a wave. Be courteous and considerate and you can't go wrong.



Not sure about doing it in November though, some very high routes with some very steep roads, a bit of ice or snow on some of those roads would definitely lead to some squeeky bum moments.



My cdti cruised around the route and I arrived at each stopping point fresh and ready to go.



If you do decide to go for it book in advance as there were lots of places with no vacancy signs. The roads will be a bit quieter outwith the usual school breaks.

I completed the Applecross Pass with both a huge smile and grimace at the same time.

Sent from my ANE-LX1 using Tapatalk

[Rick-sta]

Thanks all for the suggestions. Unfortunately with the way things are going we've decided to not go to Scotland. Think we'd enjoy it more anyway if we go during the summer months one year.

So back to the drawing board. Probably just have to book a lodge in a couple different locations to spend our two weeks away on a mini moon until we can book our proper honeymoon again.

[skellum]

Probably good thinking Rick-sta.
We're in Stornowy, and by Late November the days are very short. By Christmas we have just 6 hours and 20 minutes of gloomy daylight.
The time to do the far North is May/early June or late August/early September.
July wet and full of midges.
We have some really great driving roads, but in November you'd be driving them in the dark. Hope to see you up this way sometime though.

[Simondi]

A wise choice, fingers crossed for next year