I’m a southerner who has moved to Newcastle. I find the winters up here long and the darkness in the morning and evening takes it out of you. However, I much prefer the summers here to the south. Extra hours of sunlight makes a big difference to my mood in the peak of Summer. Overall I feel healthier in the peak of summer.
For that reason, I’m wanting to go even further north into Scotland.
I’m considering North West Scottish islands as I’ve heard the weather tends to be better that side (despite still being very unpredictable).
Looking for lots of sun (I know it’s not always the case) and considering going in July as it’s possibly the warmest month with long days still (eg it’ll be light’ish at 11pm).
I like to look after my health and fitness so will probably doing some hikes, sea swimming, getting in the sun etc.
Anywhere you’d recommend? Is July a good month?
6 comments
East Coast of Scotland is ~~dryer~~ *drier*.
West Coast of Scotland is wetter.
West Coast gets the sunsets, but with midges.
I fished from a place called port Logan in October, beautiful beach there and scenic
Just remember the further you go, the longer the dark mornings and afternoons in the winter.
I moved to Northern Ireland 2yrs ago and I love it. In the summer time I could go for a walk at midnight without a torch. But in the winter it doesn’t get fully light till just before 9am, and it’s dark by 4pm.
I did a driving tour a few years ago in August. Went to Fort William – Skye – Mull – Oban – Islay. We had a full week of 20c sunshine, no rain.
I lived rural highlands, (for 4 years) on the coast: town was called Buckie, Moray.. hour from Inverness / Aberdeen house overlooked the sea.. It was always call the Sahara of Scotland, Summer it never seemed to get dark.. not true dark.. and always had gorgeous weather, stunning beaches along the coast line.. scenery with the Cairngorms so close was stunning. Never got a lot of snow, but if you drove 15 minutes out of the town.. the difference in depth was amazing..
Remember the first night (in the summer), we got there.. unpacking throughout the night, looked out to the sea at the horizon, it was so bright I thought it has to be about 07.00.. nope was 02.00.. unreal..
Do not underestimate the fearsome Midge
If you are prone to them (I’m sure it’s person specific) consider rural far SW England instead for sunlight hours (though you wouldn’t have that Northern Mid summer not dark thing but not bad and good stars …and the sun sets later than places less far west)
(Sennen Cove, Cornwall sunsets at 1706.. NewcastleUT 1631 today)