When to go on a Scotland rail tour

You don't go to Scotland for the weather, you go for what the weather creates.![]()

In many ways it is your train driver who dictates when to go on a Scotland rail vacation. Timetables are not to be messed with. Apart from that, just go when you feel like it because you are never going to go for the weather anyway. The further north you go, the shorter the days become in winter, however, and some tourism businesses shut up shop for the season. The small towns and islands are quiet in spring and autumn, and wonderfully atmospheric, with wild and windy highlands, snow capped Cairngorms, stupendous sunsets and even Northern Lights in autumn if you are lucky.
When to go on a rail vacation to Scotland
Scotland by railway vacation
Experience authentic Scotland independently and car-free
From
£1395 to £1525
8 days
ex flights
Scotland guided rail tour, Skye & Glencoe
Visit Scottish castles and beautiful gardens by train
From
£2095 to £2200
7 days
ex flights
West Highlands guided rail tour in Scotland
Discover Scotland's Highlands & distinctive islands by train
From
£2325
7 days
ex flights
West Highland Line railway vacation in Scotland
Take the world's best rail journey to the Isle of Skye
From
£1175 to £1245
5 days
ex flights
Grand rail tour of Scotland
A leisurely self-guided fortnight touring Highlands and islands
From
£2595
15 days
ex flights
Scotland island hopping vacation, car free
Explore three contrasting Scottish islands car-free
From
£1645 to £1745
8 days
ex flights
Edinburgh & Lowlands Weather Chart
MIN °C
MAX °C
RAIN (mm)
JAN
0
6
66
FEB
0
6
47
MAR
1
8
57
APR
3
11
46
MAY
5
14
57
JUN
8
17
56
JUL
10
18
62
AUG
10
18
70
SEP
9
16
71
OCT
6
13
73
NOV
2
8
69
DEC
1
6
63
Our top trip
Scotland by railway vacation
Experience authentic Scotland independently and car-free
From
£1395 to £1525
8 days
ex flights
Tailor made:
This trip can be tailor made from April to the end of October.
This trip can be tailor made from April to the end of October.
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Scotland railway or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help.

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Responsible Travel recommends
Robert Kidd, Director at one of Scottish railway vacation partners, McKinlay Kidd:
"Everyone wants to go on our rail vacation to Scotland in May or June, but actually I think the nicest times are actually in the autumn. The weather can be a bit more mixed, but you get the autumn colours and especially the heather from late August, and then in September the trees begin to turn, and then later in the autumn when the leaves fall off the trees, the views are much more open. So I think the autumn can be rather beautiful. We also just don’t really organise these trips in the winter, due to train disruption and so on. I wouldn’t go in the depths of winter to be honest. What is really special about Scotland is that even in the middle of July you can find a beach that is completely empty."
"Everyone wants to go on our rail vacation to Scotland in May or June, but actually I think the nicest times are actually in the autumn. The weather can be a bit more mixed, but you get the autumn colours and especially the heather from late August, and then in September the trees begin to turn, and then later in the autumn when the leaves fall off the trees, the views are much more open. So I think the autumn can be rather beautiful. We also just don’t really organise these trips in the winter, due to train disruption and so on. I wouldn’t go in the depths of winter to be honest. What is really special about Scotland is that even in the middle of July you can find a beach that is completely empty."