Local Climates of Scotland

The best and worst of Scotland's climate - and everywhere in between

The main influences on the climate of the UK are its island location at the eastern end of the Atlantic Ocean and its proximity to the mainland of Europe.

Generally the south and east of the country is warmer, sunnier and drier than locations in the north and west. However there are many surprising exceptions due to local geography - and such local factors can also cause significant variations in climate for locations within relatively close proximity to each other.

One of the main causes of these local variations is altitude, as less dense air at greater heights doesn’t hold heat as well as denser air at lower levels. Another is the topography, or shape of the local terrain – for example a village in a valley will often experience a different climate from a neighbouring village on higher land. A valley that runs from north to south is likely to have different climate charcteristics from a nearby valley that runs from east to west. Hills and mountains have a major effect on local weather especially when moist air is forced upwards and subsequent cooling causes rainfall or snow.

Wind and air convection currents are also important. In the UK, wind from the east can bring warm air from the continental landmass in summer or particularly cold air in winter, whereas winds from the west generally bring moist but relatively mild air from the Atlantic Ocean.

Land heats and cools more quickly than water which means that inland areas are generally warmer in the summer and colder in the winter.

Dense urban areas tend to retain heat which can often protect them from extreme night time lows. Wooded areas absorb sunlight differently fromopen farmland which can also cause local variations.

All of these factors contribute to a tapestry of local climates within the UK. Knowledge of these variations has been used by farmers for millennia. They know where to plant different crops, where to graze their livestock and where to erect their buildings.

Most of us will be aware of general climate differences within the UK but will probably be unaware of the substantial local variations that can exist. Such variations can affect the general amenity of a local area and have implications for energy usage and generation.

This survey has being conducted to provide detailed data about the local climates of the UK. It catalogues the climate characteristics of around thirty-five thousand locations throughout the UK and compares individual climate data for locations in Scotland, Northern Ireland, England and Wales.

Scotland is sub-divided into Western Scotland, Northern Scotland and Eastern Scotland. England is sub-divided into North-West England, North-East England, Midlands, Eastern England, Southern England and South-West England.

The climate of Scotland is often characterised as wet, dull, windy and cold. There are some locations in Scotland where such a description is apt but, as with the UK in general, there is a significant variation in the climate experienced by different parts of the country. There are locations throughout Scotland that have a relatively favourable climate, many of which are comparable to locations much further south.

This survey of Scotland's climate is divided into three regions - West Scotland, East Scotland and North Scotland.

Photograph attributions:

1. Tiree - By Milady G [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], from Wikimedia Commons

3. Cuillins - By Paul Lucas from Leicestershire, UK (The Cuillins on a still morning) [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

4. Inverness - Wikimedia Commons

5. Edinburgh view - Wikimedia Commons

6. Pass of Glencoe - By Kim Traynor [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], from Wikimedia Commons

7. Greenock - no photographer details

8. Isle of Harris - Sunnydesert [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], from Wikimedia Commons

9. Glasgow, Buchanan Street - user:kilnburn, Wikipedia Commons

10. Aberdeen, Union Street Gardens - Ragazzi99, Creative Commons

11. Portmahomack - Rudhach at English Wikipedia [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)]