Scotland in March

[Marc Antoine]

Hello everyone. I am considering a cycling trip through Scotland in 2025. I would like to know if March is a suitable period for this. Thanks in advance for your response.

[bjlabuk]

Anyone's guess! Scotland's weather is so unpredictable! Come equipped for all seasons and all weathers!

[Blondie]

It could be cold and wet, it could be cold and dry, it could be mild and dry, it could be mild and wet, it could be cold and icy. Late March you are more likely to be ice free, which means good to ride.

[roubaixtuesday]

It depends on what sort of cyclist you are, and also which part of Scotland.

There's a decent chance up in the Highlands of snow at that time of year (and some chance anywhere).

It's pretty unlikely to be settled and fine, though by no means impossible.

[Mike Sales]

March is a good month for avoiding midges, which can make life a misery, especially if camping.

[Pebble]

Scotlands a big country with a very varied climate
Any time of the year for the south east
But the NW highlands, late winter and early spring can be as good as it gets and its midge free - so march can be a good choice

But Scotland is Scotland and getting all 4 seasons in a day is something that happens on a regular basis - spectacular country with spectacular weather, in all its forms, and not always well predicted by the forecasters

(based on doing all the Munros, most of the Corbetts and a lot of cycling)

[Pebble]

.

[gloomyandy]

As others have said it is really hard to say. I visited the Ullapool area (NW Scotland) to walk and climb, every year for 16 years from 1994 and we had pretty much every weather you could imagine. Some years it was almost a heatwave and you needed sun cream, others we had a serious amount of snow (needing crampons and ice axes on the tops) plus of course we had a fair bit of wind and rain! On the plus side we never had an issue with midges! Must say though in all of those years the only time we were limited in getting out was when there were restrictions due to foot and mouth and we decided to cancel (as we stayed on a working estate).

One thing to be aware of is that a lot of businesses may close down for the winter and many will not reopen until Easter (or even later), so places to eat and stay may not be as common as the rest of the year.

Personally I've changed my regular Scottish trips from early May to early June, usually still no midges and typically better weather and more places open.

[Traction_man]

If it has to be March, pack for all eventualities!

April recently has been an excellent month in SW Scotland.

[Cyclewala]

If it has to be March, pack for all eventualities!

April recently has been an excellent month in SW Scotland.

This is good to hear. I’m planning a week over Easter, which is mid-April.

Kintyre Peninsula to Inverness.

[Pendodave]

I've always considered April/May/early June the optimum time to visit Scotland. Out of curiosity, I googled rainy days, and I think that it provides a least a little evidence that this is the case :
https://www.statista.com/statistics/609 ... otland-uk/
As for March, well it could be OK, especially towards the end of the month, but I certainly wouldn't bet on it. If possible, I would be as flexible as possible depending on the weather forecast. Maybe that's not practical for you?
One way to give yourself the best chance is to wait until the last possible moment before planning your route. East and West coast often have very different weather. East normally being drier.
I recently did a trip to the highlands, and the advantage of offseason travel is that hotel accommodation is often cheaper and more widely available at short notice. Have a range of booking apps available. You might be lucky, but I wouldn't be relying on camping out.
Good Luck.

[rualexander]

March can be very good, I've had a few great warm (relatively), sunny weeks in March particularly the second half.
But there's no guarantees of course

[Marc Antoine]

many thanks to everyone! I plan to take the ferry from Amsterdam to Newcastle on 17 March and then take the train to Iverness. There I would like to ride the North Coast 500. Afterwards, I will return by bike towards Newcastle to take the ferry on 11 April.

[Traction_man]

If it has to be March, pack for all eventualities!

April recently has been an excellent month in SW Scotland.

This is good to hear. I’m planning a week over Easter, which is mid-April.

Kintyre Peninsula to Inverness.

Sounds excellent, Easter is very late in 2025, second half of April should be a good time to be there, have a good trip

[gbnz]

many thanks to everyone! I plan to take the ferry from Amsterdam to Newcastle on 17 March and then take the train to Iverness. There I would like to ride the North Coast 500. Afterwards, I will return by bike towards Newcastle to take the ferry on 11 April.

You'll have reviewed the options, but what route are you taking to Newcastle, once South of the England/Scotland border ?

Based on a "straight line" ideal, you've got some stunning North to South routes down the East Coast, Berwick and/or Coldstream towards Newcastle, likewise stunning West to East routes Carlisle to Newcastle, 2000yr's of built history (Nb. Hadrians Wall et al)

But worth bearing in mind that South East Northumberland (Nb. Newcastle hinterland), was a post industrial wasteland, even 35yr's back. Much of the cigarette smoke has blown away, but says something of that patch.......the opencast coal mines from the 70's form some of the most attractive bits of the landscape. Jumping on the train the last 20 miles into Newcastle? Worth it