This part of the travel guide will explain when the best time to travel to Scotland is, and what’s on when you get here. There is a whole calendar of events for you to enjoy.

Scottish weather is as changeable as Britain's and many Scots joke about getting 'all four seasons' in one day. However, it isn't just the weather that you should take into account when you travel to Scotland. The seasons also play a major role because the high season brings the crowds and the low season sometimes brings the closure of various popular tourist attractions. It is always a good time to visit Scotland as each season has its pros and cons.

Summer

Summer season is the most popular as the weather is as good as it gets and all the major attractions, facilities and tourist boards are pretty much guaranteed to be open. If you're looking for a tan or can't stand the sight of rain then Scotland probably isn't the destination for you. You will find it is comfortably warm if not breezy with a chance of rain especially in the later months. Nevertheless, you can quite happily sit outside in one of the many fine restaurants to soak up Scotland's ambience.

However, summer is also the busiest season. This means you will be sharing your trip to Scotland with crowds of like minded people, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. A good number of people in the streets or on the ramparts can even enhance your Scottish adventure. Scotland is a friendly place, so a liberal sprinkling of good natured and lively visitors can create a really nice atmosphere. Plus, the Edinburgh festival in August is a huge and very important cultural event that draws people to Scotland from all over Europe.

The days are also the longest at this time of year and the further North you go the less the sun seems to set. Even in the relatively southerly Edinburgh, you will get light until well into 10pm.

The downside is that while crowds of people can create nice ambience, they can also overwhelm many of the more popular tourist attractions. Hotels and other accommodation in Scotland can get booked up and even some of the more remote villages begin to fill up with people. If you're coming to Scotland to get away from it all then you should probably come in another season unless you plan on going somewhere exceptionally far out or remote.

It is also slightly more expensive at this time of year as demand for services such as food and accommodation is higher.

Autumn

Autumn is a great time to travel and is slightly underrated. The weather can be beautiful and very romantic, with crisp leaves underfoot and the chance of sunny and dry days a very real possibility. However, Autumnal nights in Scotland can be rather cool so be prepared for that. Prices will have fallen somewhat after summer and everywhere will be less crowded. Scotland will belong to the Scottish one again and pubs will become slightly more traditional and local as the tourist masses begin to ebb away. However, as it is no longer peak season in Scotland, some of the more remote or less popular attractions may be closed.

Winter

 Scottish Winters are pretty cold but aren't as severe as they have often been made out to be. There are far colder, less beautiful places to visit, put it that way. Golf is still very popular at this time of year but again some of the more exotic and far flung attractions may be closed as may be some of the more isolated country pubs. A good tip for when you travel to Scotland at this time of year is the prices. Flights to Scotland will be the cheaper now than at any other time of year and you will more than likely be able to get discounted rates at most hotels and bed and breakfasts. The only exceptions to this are around New Year and Christmas when of course prices tend to spike again.

It is somewhat dreary and rather brisk but not so much as to put you off going completely. You will certainly miss the crowds but at the same time you may end up missing a lot of the sights as many attractions may be closed and otherwise comprehensive tours cut disappointingly short.

Spring

Although sometimes slow to start, spring could be one of the best times to travel to Scotland. The days are longer than both autumn and winter and let’s be honest, it is just a lovely time of year. The ground and fields are covered by newly blossomed flowers, the smell of freshly cut grass fills the air and one can't help but sense that the world is waking up, life exploding all around. Prices start to go up at this point however in anticipation of the summer season and spring in Scotland can still be quite cold.

Festivals and events in Scotland:

Scotland is host to a great many events throughout the year and I will try to include as many of them here as we can. If you know of any that aren't included let ‘a guide to Scotland’ know and we'll fix it right away. You could also look at our 'Events' in Scotland tab for events uploaded by the organisers themselves.

January:

This month sees Glasgow host its largest and most attended festival, Celtic Connections. It is the largest of its kind in the world and has a wonderful blend of traditional and contemporary music and dance from Scotland's leading artists. It is held at the Royal Concert Hall, which also produces the event and supplies its tickets. It can be found on Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow.

The Poet Robert Burns is celebrated on 'Burns' Night' throughout the country on January the 25th. It is an evening of poetry, oral tradition, whisky and traditional Scottish fare. Expect plenty of Haggis!

March:

On March the 1st just south of Glasgow, in Lanark, the Whuppity Scourie Festival brings some warm and good natured cheer to an otherwise chilly winter. Among the activities on offer are music, singing, dancing and storytelling.

On the tail end of March you can catch a weeklong celebration of Scottish theatrics on the Isle of Mull. For the duration of the last week in March, the Isle becomes the theatrical capital of Scotland because of the Mull Drama Festival in Tobermory, where theatre companies throughout Scotland converge for a celebration of their art.

April:

Edinburgh has always been a hot bed of scientific thinking and so it is befitting such a rich heritage that two weeks in April are devoted the world's largest science festival. The Edinburgh International Science Festival uses various venues to display its 250 shows, workshops, exhibitions and lectures- lots of fun for children and adults alike.

Go online at www.sciencefestival.co.uk or call             0131 530 2001

The Melrose Seven is an annual Rugby event that features seven of Scotland’s best players on either side. It is held in Melrose in mid April.

Call             01343 542 666  for a more detailed description of what happens and when.

The RAW: Real Art Weekend is held in Glasgow every year and is easy to spot as its usually camped under a rather huge tent in Glasgow's George Square. Art Galleries from across the UK set up stall and show off their up and coming artist's work. This is one of the biggest shows of its type and is on in mid April.

May:

Pitlochry has an annual theatre season which is named, unsurprisingly, The Pitlochry Festival Theatre. It starts at the beginning of May and on offer are a series of events and games for every age group. For more information call             01796 484 600  or visit their website which can be found at www.pitlochry.org

The Scottish FA Cup Final is held in Glasgow every year in may. For the unacquainted this the final and deciding match in Scotland's premier (top division) football cup tournament. What ever you do, if you plan on attending the game or hanging around Glasgow at this time of year, don't call it soccer!

Perth has an annual Festival of the Arts in the last week of May where it showcases local and international artists and performers. It is a celebration of not only music but also dance, theatre, drama and all forms of art. For more information call             01738 47 2706  or check out their website at www.perthfestival.co.uk

The Children's International Theatre Festival is showing on the last week of May in Edinburgh. It is Scotland's largest festival celebrating the theatrical talents of the nation’s youth. There is representation from loads of major companies as they sponsor shows, workshops and storytelling in a bid to nurture budding artisans. It is primarily aimed at people under 15 but there will be plenty to keep parents entertained as well. For further information call             0131 225 8050  or go to www.imaginate.org.uk

We love jazz at a guide to Scotland and the very best in contemporary and old school jazz music is being played at the end of may in a series of late night concerts during the Dundee Jazz Festival. The three main venues are the Dundee Rep Theatre, the Westport Bar and the Dundee Contemporary Arts Centre. Call             01382 223 530 . Nice.

June:

During the Common Riding, hundreds of riders parade around Selkirk, Hawick, Annan and other Border towns in a magnificent display of horsemanship. The event commemorates a 16th century battle that left only one survivor to sound the alarm for the city. This is on throughout the month.

The Orkney Isles play host to the energetic St Magnus Fest, a vibrant music festival that showcases new singing and composing talent and mixes up modern and classical sounds to the delight of fans. While music is the primary concern of this festival, the other arts also get a showing, as does a selection of local arts and crafts. It is on in the third week of June. Have a look at their website at www.stmagnusfestival.com.

One of the main attractions for those with a passion for the countryside is the Royal Highland Show based in Ingliston, near Edinburgh. It is a traditional agricultural and food fair that gives you the chance to get up close and personal with all manner of prized livestock and tasty homemade and locally sourced foodstuffs. There are also loads of flowers, crafts and the occasional country pursuit such as show jumping, just don’t forget to bring your ‘wellies!’

July:

There is more jazz to be enjoyed this month as Glasgow hosts the Royal Bank Glasgow Jazz Festival. All the top Scottish and international Jazz musicians arrive in the city and for a long weekend of concerts. Call             0141 552 3552  or visit www.jazzfest.co.uk for more information.

T in the Park is held in Balado, Fife and is thought of as Scotland’s answer to Woodstock. It is a massive outdoor music festival that gets loads of press and radio coverage and so gets all the major artists performing there. It is held annually and is the biggest pop festival in the UK, not only Scotland. Best selling artists from the UK and the United States play to huge crowds across five stages; fans enjoy good food, craft stalls and plenty of camping space because this is a full weekend of fun. Take a look at www.tinthepark.com. It is held in the second week of July.

July truly is a great month for jazz because not only do you have the Royal Bank Jazz Festival but you can also enjoy the countries longest running jazz festival in the form of the Edinburgh International Jazz & Blues Festival. For the duration of the festival the entire city opens its doors to the worlds very best jazz and blues musicians. These are not only home grown Scottish artists but the cream of the crop from across the globe. The best thing about it is the dynamic and fluid nature of the events; venues are confined to classic concert halls – pubs, bars, theatres and even street corners are transformed into jazz clubs with all manner of different styles on display. For more information call             0131 667 7776  or direct your browser to www.jazzmusic.co.uk. It is on in the last week of July and on into August.

August:

August is an absolutely massive month for Scotland’s festivals and activities. The highlight of Scotland’s cultural calendar is the Edinburgh International Festival and Edinburgh Fringe Festival, both in August and both absolutely outstanding. Since its inception in 1947 the Edinburgh Fringe Festival  has played host to a great many of the most cutting edge and highest calibre artists and performance companies from the four corners of the earth. The kind of shows that are on offer are eclectic in their variety and offer something for everyone. There is loads of classical music, opera, ballet and theatre for you to enjoy, and that’s only the International Festival, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival runs alongside it and offers a completely different flavour.  It allows people from any background, whether professional or none professional, in a group or solo, to put on a show wherever there is an empty stage or street corner. Often the kind of shows found at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival are entirely different from those found at the International Festival for they tend to be centred around comedy, a perfect accompaniment to the classical splendour of the latter. Look at www.edfringe.com   and www.eif.co.uk

As if those two weren’t enough there are also lots of other festivals happening besides the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. In Charlotte square there is the Edinburgh International Book Festival which has become a huge annual event in literary circles, attracting the likes of JK Rowling and Toni Morrison. Another large and arty event is the Edinburgh International Film Festival, the Jazz Festival and the Edinburgh International Television Festival. Not only that but the world famous Edinburgh Tattoo is also on in August, it is a spectacular event celebrating the UKs military and sees the iconic Edinburgh Castle floodlit and illuminated in many exciting ways. There is military marching, exercises and much more to be experienced so why not have a look at www.edinburghfestivals.co.uk for a full rundown on everything on offer during this spectacular month.

The largest bagpipe band gathering, the World Pipe Championships, take place  every year in Glasgow. Nearly 200 bands from around the world gather at Glasgow Green to compete for the highest honours in piping. It’s especially good because the event creates a very sporting feel and the competitors pipe for all their worth. It takes place over an entire weekend and there are even some Highland games as well.

September;

To mix with the Royals you could head to the Braemar Royal Highland Games& Gathering, one of the largest and most prestigious Highland games that is pretty much always attended by members of the Windsor family, the UK’s Royal Family. Their palace can be found nearby and the grounds make excellent walking. On offer, apart from the chance to ‘Pap’ some Royals, you can indulge in watching some dancing, piping and tests of strength and endurance. Call             01339 755 377  or email www.braemargathering.org

Quite a unique opportunity presents itself in September when many buildings that are usually private and closed to the public are actually opened up. This is known as the Doors Open Days event and allows visitors a chance to see the inside of many historic and architecturally important buildings that they wouldn’t under normal circumstances be able to see.

October:

The Royal National Mod moves from city to city and each year can be found in a different location. It is a large festival of Gaelic culture such as Gaelic music, dance and song. Sometimes it can be held in some of the northernmost isles as that is where Gealic culture predominantly remains, however you are best off checking out where it is this year to make sure you are able to get to it. The performing arts and arts and crafts representative of true Gaelic culture make the event a must see so check out their website on www.the-mod.co.uk for more info. On in Mid-October.

November:

St Andrew’s night is a festival celebrating its namesake the patron saint of Scotland, St Andrew. Festivities include exhibits, concerts, fireworks displays and plays and they are shown in the medieval town of St Andrews itself and other cities around the country. I’m sure the Scots would love to see St Andrews day become as big as Ireland’s St Patricks day and with it receive all the benefits that the positive publicity brings them, however, nature is against them as St Paddy’s is in Sprightly march while St Andrews in gloomy November.

December:

At the close of the year, Scotland’s Hogmanay creates a wonderful atmosphere of events and activities that last for an entire week. There are tonnes of free outdoor and indoor events finishing with the New Years Eve Street Party, rock concert and fireworks display. Glasgow also has Hogmanay celebrations that usually include outdoor concerts in the city centre. Log onto www.edinburghshogmanay.org to find out more.