October - December

Scotland`s second shoulder season occurs in the month of October, and in November the country retreats into the low season. Some accommodations and attractions close at this time, only to reopen in the spring, but many stay open year-round. Flights and hotels tend to drop in price beginning in the first part of November and stay low through the rest of the year, with the only exception being the two weeks leading up to Christmas. The Northern Highlands experiences beautiful fall foliage beginning in late September and continuing through October.

Rain chances rise across Scotland, particularly in the western part of the country. Snow is not unheard of beginning in the month of December. The Shetland Islands will see temperatures average in the mid-to-upper 40s, with lows between 40 and 45. Inverness and Aberdeen will begin the month of October with temperatures averaging in the mid-50s during the day and low 40s at night, declining by December to the low 40s during the day and the low 30s at night. Glasgow and Edinburgh will see their average highs cool from the mid-50s in October to the mid-40s in December. Lows average between 38 and 45 the final three months of the year in Glasgow, with temperatures anywhere between 3 and 5 degrees cooler on average in the mornings in Edinburgh. The Scottish Borders will see similar daytime temperatures to Glasgow and Edinburgh, with low temperatures one or two degrees cooler than Glasgow.

Holidays and Festivals:

October - Royal National Mòd. The largest festival of Scottish Gaelic culture, music, dancing and language in the country, sponsored in part by the government and the Gaelic broadcaster BBC Alba. It will be held in Glasgow in 2019, Inverness in 2020, Perth in 2021, and Paisley in 2022.

Early October to early November - The Enchanted Forest, Faskally Wood, Perthshire. A very popular sound and light event set in the middle of Faskally Wood. It has won many awards and people travel from all over the UK to attend.

First Monday in October - Autumn Holiday (Public holiday in Carnoustie and Monifieth area, Dundee, Inverness, and Perth.)

Second Monday in October - Autumn Holiday (Public holiday in the Scottish Borders.)

Mid-October - Shetland Accordion and Fiddle Festival, Lerwick, Shetland Islands.

Third Monday in October - Autumn Holiday (Public holiday in Elgin and Fife.)

Late October - Bank of Scotland Great Scottish Run, Glasgow.

October 31 - Halloween. Today, many people celebrate Halloween as we know it in the modern age, as well as in its original form as the Celtic festival of Samhain (spelled `Samhuinn in Scottish Gaelic). The largest and most popular of these events is the Samhuinn Fire Festival, held in Edinburgh`s Old Town.

First Monday in November - Samhuinn holiday (Public holiday in Inverness.)

November 5 - Guy Fawkes Night, commemorating the failed Gunpowder Plot bungled by Guy Fawkes on this day in the year 1605. The night is celebrated with fireworks, bonfires, and effigy-burning of Guy Fawkes.

November - Glasgow Whisky Festival. The largest Scottish whisky festival in Glasgow, it is held each year in Hampden Park.

November 11 - Remembrance Sunday, honoring the Scottish servicemen and women who participated in the two World Wars and later conflicts. Two minutes of silence are observed nationwide at 11:00 and people wear poppies on lapels.

November 30 - St. Andrew's Day, commemorating the patron saint of Scotland. Scottish flags featuring the St. Andrew`s Cross fly from all public buildings on this day. It now doubles as a bank holiday. (Public holiday across Scotland.)

December 24 - Christmas Eve (closures)

December 25 - Christmas Day (Public holiday across Scotland.)

December 26 - Boxing Day (Public holiday across Scotland, closures except for sales at shops.)

December 31 - New Year`s Eve (Hogmanay in Scottish Gaelic). Scots celebrate across the country with parties, fireworks, food, gift-giving, and visiting with friends and family. After midnight, the person who sets `first foot` into a friend`s house must give gifts which are seen be tokens of good luck and fortune for the coming year. The largest celebrations occur in Edinburgh on High Street (broadcast each year on BBC Scotland and BBC Alba); in Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, with the Stonehaven Fireballs Festival; and in Comrie, Perth and Kinross, with the Comrie Flambeaux. (some closures)