December stays on Southern Scotland
A cottage near Southern Scotland
A practical base for the hills
Check dates for an indicative priceExact December prices and availability are checked after you choose a week.What is Southern Scotland mountain weather like in December?
Typical mountain and low-level wind, temperature, rainfall and sunshine for December.
40-year mountain climate
Typical high-ground conditions in December.
Historically, December has been a variable month with a useful share of better high-ground days. Of 1,240 representative high-ground days, 38% were settled for rain and wind, 35% were mixed, and 27% were poor or severe for rain and wind.
Dry days accounted for 44% of the sample. Across the whole year, the settled-day share is 42%, with around 203 wet days, so a region's strongest month should not be mistaken for its usual climate. As a separate check, the Met Office 1991–2020 average at Glenlee is 26 hours of bright sunshine during December. Cloud and views are deliberately kept out of the settled-day score because they vary sharply between individual summits; check the live forecast nearer the trip. These figures describe representative high ground around 843 metres, so coastal and low-level conditions can be milder.
Settled rain and wind38%Historically dry44%High-ground temperature1.0°CTypical maximum gust32 mphStronger days around 46 mphMet Office sunshine context26 hrsAverage bright sunshine in December, 1991–2020 · Glenlee
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 50 · 12 December
What this week is typically like on Southern Scotland high ground.
Across 280 comparable historical hill days, 45% were settled for rain and wind and 19% were poor or severe for rain and wind.
Check the live Southern Scotland forecast →Settled rain and wind45%280 comparable days
Dry and light wind26%Dry, manageable wind19%Mixed36%Poor16%Severe3%
Historically dry51% of daysTypical daily max gust30 mphStronger days around 43 mphTypical high ground0.6°C24-hour mean near 843 mPoor or severe rain/wind19% of daysViews are checked separately in the live forecast
December context: 38% of days across the month were settled for rain and wind; 27% were poor or severe for rain and wind. Read the full December guide.
Valley and low level for this week
Around Newton Stewart.
Representative base · 20 mTypical daily high8.2°CWarmer days 10.9°CHistorically dry54%49% dry with lighter windMaximum wind15 mphStronger days 21 mphTypical overnight low4.0°CCooler nights 1.4°C
Planning a different time of year?Compare Southern Scotland month by month
Valleys and trip bases
Low-level weather around Newton Stewart in December.
Newton Stewart, at roughly 20 metres, provides a practical low-level reference for Southern Scotland. Across 1,240 historical days, the typical daytime high was 8.3°C, with warmer days around 10.9°C.
About 46% of days were dry and 42% combined dry weather with lighter winds. Conditions vary across glens, coasts and villages, so this should be used as regional trip-planning guidance rather than a forecast for every location.
Typical daily high8.3°CWarmer days around 10.9°CTypical overnight low4.3°CCooler nights around 1.3°CHistorically dry46%16% had 10 mm+ rainTypical maximum wind16 mphStronger days around 22 mph
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