When to go on a small ship cruising vacation in Scotland
Forget about the weather on these trips. That is for the skippers to worry about. Start thinking more in terms of beautiful light, soothing morning mist, and extraordinary western sunsets.![]()
Expect four seasons in a day on the west coast of Scotland, or indeed cruising up through the Great Glen on the Caledonian Canal. Most cruises run between mid April and mid October, with temperatures ranging from single figures to teens. And nights can dip well below 10°C even in summer. Days are long in summer, however, with the sun setting around 10pm and later, depending on latitude. And unlike other countries in Europe, the light for photography is wonderful during this time, bathing everything in a warm glow. As for rain, it happens, with May the driest month in the Hebrides with only 17 days of rain.
Skye Weather Chart
MIN °C
MAX °C
RAIN (mm)
JAN
1
6
214
FEB
1
6
140
MAR
2
7
173
APR
3
10
108
MAY
5
13
105
JUN
8
15
127
JUL
10
16
144
AUG
9
16
161
SEP
8
14
229
OCT
6
11
245
NOV
3
8
248
DEC
2
6
242
Our Scotland cruising Vacations
Wildlife vacation in the Isle of Mull, Scotland
Spot whales, otters and eagles on Isle of Mull, Scotland
From
£575 to £790
5 days
ex flights
Skye and the Small Isles sailing vacation
Sail Scotland's Small Isles and visit spectacular Skye
From
£1520 to £2480
9 days
ex flights
Isle of Mull and west coast of Scotland cruise
Cruise the idyllic coast around the Scottish Island of Mull
From
£2400 to £3200
7 days
ex flights
Hebrides cruise, Mull, Islay, Luing, Shuna and Jura
Sail by the spectacular islands of the Southern Hebrides.
From
£1140 to £1860
7 days
ex flights
St Kilda and the Outer Hebrides cruise, Scotland
Scottish Cruise to St Kilda and the Outer Hebrides
From
£4950
11 days
ex flights
Scotland private charter sailing vacations
Private Charter a small ship around the Scottish Islands
From
£7188 to £16410
7 days
ex flights
Scotland cruising, month by month
Our top Scotland cruising Vacation
Wildlife vacation in the Isle of Mull, Scotland
Spot whales, otters and eagles on Isle of Mull, Scotland
From
£575 to £790
5 days
ex flights
Tailor made:
This trip can be tailor made from late April to the end of September
This trip can be tailor made from late April to the end of September
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Scotland cruising or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help.
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Responsible travel recommends
Marie McGhee from our partner, The Majestic Line:
“Cruise off season! April and October are often better for sunny weather with excellent scenery and wildlife spotting opportunities. And the price is cheaper!”
“Cruise off season! April and October are often better for sunny weather with excellent scenery and wildlife spotting opportunities. And the price is cheaper!”
Colette Dubois co-founder at our Scotland cruising partner, St. Hilda Sea Adventures:
“The best time to see birdlife and other wildlife in Scotland, where we take our guests, is June. The autumn is also a lovely time but you will see fewer birds. For the weather, June is often also the best month. People do worry about midges in Scotland, but we absolutely never have midges on the boat because there is always a breeze. And when we go onto the mainland, we always carry Avon Skin So Soft which is a fantastic product to stop the midge bites. But on the boat we never get them.”
“The best time to see birdlife and other wildlife in Scotland, where we take our guests, is June. The autumn is also a lovely time but you will see fewer birds. For the weather, June is often also the best month. People do worry about midges in Scotland, but we absolutely never have midges on the boat because there is always a breeze. And when we go onto the mainland, we always carry Avon Skin So Soft which is a fantastic product to stop the midge bites. But on the boat we never get them.”
More about Scotland cruising
Our small ship cruising travel guide to Scotland takes you through nautical nirvanas, feasting on fine Scottish fare.
From Hebrides to inland Highlands, canals to kyles, discover our top tips on Scotland’s cruising highlights.
Wildlife or photography? The Hebrides or Caledonian Canal? Family or solo? You probably have a lot of questions, but don’t worry – we’ve picked out the three main things to consider if you’re unsure about how to choose a small ship cruise in Scotland.
Scotland’s west coast promises some of the world’s most pristine wildlife watching habitats in Europe.
Cruising to Skye and the Inner Hebrides is one of the most popular routes on the west coast of Scotland.
A small ship cruise into the Outer Hebrides is a journey into the far reaches of Scotland and the UK.
Cruise the Caledonian Canal, a 100km short cut dug by Victorian engineers, letting ships sail coast to coast.
Find out what we rate as our top 10 cruises in Scotland, whether you’re looking for a wildlife-filled, on-the-water adventure, a family escape or a chance brush up on your painting skills.
Scotland small ship cruising travel advice from our expert partners, and previous happy travelers.
Responsible tourism on Scotland cruise vacations engages you with local communities and the marine environment.
