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Got some time off at the start of march and me and the good wife fancy having a drive around scotland and seeing a few sites , loch ness , john o groats etc and was wondering what weather to expect ? .. cold or cold and snowy ??
Yes you will have weather in March.
In Scotland any day of the year, you can have 4 seasons in a day
Do a bit more research, john o'groats is a horrible place.
Expect any combination of cold, wet, dry, snow, wind, sun, hail, grey sky, blue sky.
Doing john o groats just to say weve been, nothing else !
have only ever been up to scotland once and that was edinburgh and really enjoyed it.
[quote=stumpy_m4 ]Doing john o groats just to say weve been
Thats a long drive just to do that, personally I wouldn't bother. Waste of time and fuel.
@ bruneep , yeah understand that , looking around 12-1300 miles over a week !! ... just fancy a bit of a roadtrip with the mrs and she mentioned scotland .. nothing more ! .. had 2 foreign hols this year and want to see a bit more of the uk.
Expect any combination of cold, wet, dry, snow, wind, sun, hail, grey sky, blue sky.
It's the northern tip of a North Atlantic island. Likely cold, windy and depending on how cold, wet or snow. Good fleece and waterproofs and happy to go with what the weather dictates and you will be fine. Do be aware that in early March some tourist places and places may be closed/not really open.
Fwiw, I have been sunburnt in t-shirts and shorts the last two March's, and had many fabby days up hills as the last of the snow goes.
Although I wouldn't be fussed about John O Goats, there's an awful lot that can be on the way there and on the way back to make it worth it.
I'd plan for outdoor and indoor options for most days.
Go to Fort William then go north up the left hand side, go along the top to John O Groats, if you must then come down the right hand side which is crap.
I wouldn't do that in March though, the weather will probably be crap most of the time, the ferry/minibus to Cape Wrath will be shut etc etc, do it another time when the weather will be crap most of the time but things will be open.
Aye - it'll be great. Head up the West Coast then around the North Cost to John o'Groats and back via Loch Ness.
Keep your plans loose, and adjust to suit the weather at the time...
AT LEAST THERE WON'T BE ANY MIDGES!
re John O'Groats, some accurate opinions here - see Dunnet Head(*more northerly, good view of Old Man of Hoy, esp in right light)
on way down (top of E side)
stacks of Duncansby
Whaligoe steps
*apparently Britains remotest hotel - http://www.garvaulthotel.co.uk/ - we liked it
Wot Scotroutes said.
Or, west coast either way and calmac hopscotch ticket through the west coast islands....
If you HAVE to see jog, don't plan on a meal there - the only place is a pretty crap hotel - head back to wick for something decent, or head on to gills bay and take a 45 min ferry/15 min drive to Kirkwall - worth it IMO.
So long as you accept that this might be all the sightseeing you can manage
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Go for it 🙂
scotroutes nailed it. it's a risk because you don't know what the weather will be but that's always the case. north coast - smoo cave near durness, well worth a visit annd take the tour if it's on. dunnet head is the most northerly point on the uk mainland and there's nothing there but a lighthouse and a view - well worth a visit. john o'groats is a grade A shithole but there is a passenger ferry over to south ronaldsay which offers a decent chance of seeing orca, minke whales, porpoises or dolphins. might be worth checking times to see if they fit with you
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[i]In general[/i] you'll get little snow at road level going around the coast, especially up the west, as the Gulf Stream maintains a warm sea temperature. However, you should see lots of snowy mountains and it will, most likely, be stunning.
I know it can be a bit of a pain, but try to book accommodation before you go. Lots of places will be shut down until Easter.
Take a pair of boots, a warm jacket, hat and gloves and get out of the car for wee walks in the fresh air. It should be bracing but comfortable. If you are after some pleasant little walks, visit the [url= http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/ ]WalkHighlands[/url] website and you'll find stuff suitable for the weather/your abilities.
I'd avoid the islands (nice as they are) as any bad weather could see you losing a day or two waiting on a rescheduled ferry. However, the Mallaig/Armadale ferry might be worthwhile as you'll get a wee spin over to Skye and it's a scenic trip in its own right. You'll not get to see Kintail that way but the delights of the far North West still await you.
Although there are lots of nice cafes etc., don't rely on them being open. Take some snacks and a flask of hot drink with you each day [i]just in case[/i].
As above -
Booking accommodation can be a pain but you can get some real bargains:
The Altnahhara hotel took a group of us (cycle-touring) off-season for the price of a decent B&B. It was luxury!
http://www.altnaharra.com/
The Clachaig Inn is just down the road - you have to stop for a tea and a cake in what must be the remotest inn in Britain. There are hotels every so often no matter how remote you go - so you won't starve.
Personally I'd head to Fort William and head north from there. Maybe a night in the Torridon area and take some time to read the geology signs in Wester Ross. I'd give JoG a miss, but if you insist go to Duncansby Head/Dunnet Head instead.
Enjoy!
Cant think of a better time to go.
Like others have said you can get the whole 4 seasons in a day so there's never any guarantees but deffo no midges and all of the beasties will come down from the mountains so should be in plain sight.
Again John o'groats wouldn't bother. West coast is a must and I suggest heading for Loch Torridon. But also don't miss out on the Balmoral area & Braemar through the stunning Cairngorms.
If you can Glen Affric would be a real highlight too.
Dunnet Head you say?
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Supposed to be nice up there but in March?
Don't bother, it is December here and the weather is rubbish, just like March will be. 😉
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