Best time to visit Southern Scotland for mountain weather.
Across a typical year, 42% of high-ground days were settled for rain and wind, with around 203 wet days.
Settled high-ground days42%Dry with manageable model-grid gustsWet days per year203At least 1 mm of precipitationTypical annual precipitation1,368 mmRepresentative high-ground gridAnnual bright sunshine1,215 hrsMet Office 1991–2020 · Glenlee
Sunshine is a separate Met Office long-term average from Glenlee, used for regional context. It is not included in the settled-day score and does not promise summit views.
Plan beyond the forecast
Choose an area and week.
Saturday dates are highlighted because they usually unlock the widest choice of seven-night cottage stays. Other arrival days still work.
Typical conditions, not a forecastThis describes representative high ground. A difficult hill day can still be suitable for a lower-level plan.
Week 37 · 12 September
What this week is typically like on Southern Scotland high ground.
Across 280 comparable historical hill days, 44% were settled for rain and wind and 15% were poor or severe for rain and wind.
Check the live Southern Scotland forecast →Settled rain and wind44%280 comparable days
Dry and light wind24%Dry, manageable wind20%Mixed41%Poor14%Severe1%
Historically dry48% of daysTypical daily max gust28 mphStronger days around 38 mphTypical high ground7.9°C24-hour mean near 843 mPoor or severe rain/wind15% of daysViews are checked separately in the live forecast
September context: 45% of days across the month were settled for rain and wind; 11% were poor or severe for rain and wind. Read the full September guide.
Valley and low level for this week
Around Newton Stewart.
Representative base · 20 mTypical daily high16.0°CWarmer days 17.8°CHistorically dry51%48% dry with lighter windMaximum wind14 mphStronger days 18 mphTypical overnight low11.0°CCooler nights 9.1°C
Planning a different time of year?Compare Southern Scotland month by month
January to December
Southern Scotland weather by month.
Each month has a detailed guide comparing high-ground hill days with typical conditions at a representative valley or low-level trip base.
January35% settled rain/wind
High ground: 37% mixed · 28% poor or severe for rain/windNewton Stewart: 45% dry · 7.7°C daily high
February36% settled rain/wind
High ground: 36% mixed · 28% poor or severe for rain/windNewton Stewart: 47% dry · 8.0°C daily high
March39% settled rain/wind
High ground: 42% mixed · 19% poor or severe for rain/windNewton Stewart: 50% dry · 9.4°C daily high
April45% settled rain/wind
High ground: 46% mixed · 9% poor or severe for rain/windNewton Stewart: 54% dry · 11.2°C daily high
May51% settled rain/wind
High ground: 41% mixed · 8% poor or severe for rain/windNewton Stewart: 57% dry · 14.1°C daily high
June47% settled rain/wind
High ground: 47% mixed · 6% poor or severe for rain/windNewton Stewart: 54% dry · 16.1°C daily high
July43% settled rain/wind
High ground: 52% mixed · 5% poor or severe for rain/windNewton Stewart: 52% dry · 17.6°C daily high
August40% settled rain/wind
High ground: 52% mixed · 8% poor or severe for rain/windNewton Stewart: 48% dry · 17.5°C daily high
September45% settled rain/wind
High ground: 44% mixed · 11% poor or severe for rain/windNewton Stewart: 53% dry · 16.0°C daily high
October37% settled rain/wind
High ground: 44% mixed · 19% poor or severe for rain/windNewton Stewart: 45% dry · 13.4°C daily high
November38% settled rain/wind
High ground: 40% mixed · 22% poor or severe for rain/windNewton Stewart: 44% dry · 10.2°C daily high
December38% settled rain/wind
High ground: 35% mixed · 27% poor or severe for rain/windNewton Stewart: 46% dry · 8.3°C daily high
Strongest historical signals
Best weeks of the year for Southern Scotland mountain weather.
These are the six week bands with the largest historical share of settled rain-and-wind days. Views are not included; use the live forecast nearer the trip.
- 01Week around 1 May52% settled rain/wind · 7% poor or severePlan this week →
- 02Week around 22 May52% settled rain/wind · 10% poor or severePlan this week →
- 03Week around 15 May51% settled rain/wind · 8% poor or severePlan this week →
- 04Week around 19 September50% settled rain/wind · 12% poor or severePlan this week →
- 05Week around 12 June49% settled rain/wind · 5% poor or severePlan this week →
- 06Week around 29 May48% settled rain/wind · 6% poor or severePlan this week →
20 mountain areas
Compare another part of the UK.
The comparison uses the whole year, rather than putting each region's single best month beside another's typical conditions.
Angus GlensScotland · about 184 wet days · 1,047 mm rain · 1,411 sunshine hrs41% settled annually Argyll and Loch LomondScotland · about 213 wet days · 1,933 mm rain · 1,179 sunshine hrs39% settled annually Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons)Wales · about 170 wet days · 1,161 mm rain · 1,422 sunshine hrs50% settled annually CairngormsScotland · about 197 wet days · 1,135 mm rain · 1,209 sunshine hrs42% settled annually Clwydian Range and BerwynsWales · about 175 wet days · 1,054 mm rain · 1,573 sunshine hrs48% settled annually DartmoorEngland · about 154 wet days · 942 mm rain · 1,494 sunshine hrs54% settled annually Eryri (Snowdonia)Wales · about 195 wet days · 1,355 mm rain · 1,458 sunshine hrs43% settled annually Lake DistrictEngland · about 194 wet days · 1,447 mm rain · 1,225 sunshine hrs43% settled annually Lewis and HarrisScotland · about 206 wet days · 1,204 mm rain · 1,256 sunshine hrs37% settled annually LochaberScotland · about 218 wet days · 1,931 mm rain · 1,005 sunshine hrs38% settled annually Mid Wales and Cambrian MountainsWales · about 180 wet days · 1,159 mm rain · 1,279 sunshine hrs48% settled annually Monadhliath and Creag MeagaidhScotland · about 202 wet days · 1,307 mm rain · 1,091 sunshine hrs41% settled annually North PenninesEngland · about 178 wet days · 1,037 mm rain · 1,421 sunshine hrs47% settled annually Northumberland and CheviotsEngland · about 152 wet days · 761 mm rain · 1,535 sunshine hrs50% settled annually Northwest HighlandsScotland · about 231 wet days · 1,860 mm rain · 1,044 sunshine hrs33% settled annually Peak DistrictEngland · about 164 wet days · 916 mm rain · 1,383 sunshine hrs49% settled annually Perthshire HighlandsScotland · about 198 wet days · 1,483 mm rain · 1,142 sunshine hrs43% settled annually SkyeScotland · about 230 wet days · 2,031 mm rain · 1,200 sunshine hrs36% settled annually Southern ScotlandScotland · about 203 wet days · 1,368 mm rain · 1,215 sunshine hrs42% settled annually Yorkshire DalesEngland · about 183 wet days · 1,219 mm rain · 1,154 sunshine hrs46% settled annually