Page 44 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Scotland
P. 44
42 INTRODUCING SC O TLAND SC O TLAND THROUGH THE Y EAR 43
Average Monthly Rainfall (Edinburgh) Rainfall Chart Average Monthly Temperature (Edinburgh)
Compared with the Temperature Chart
MM Inches rest of the country, °C °F
100 4 the east coast has 25 77 This bar chart illus trates
the average monthly
80 consis tently lower temperatures recor ded
3 rainfall. The Northern 20 68 in Edinburgh. Though
60 Isles, Inner and Outer 15 59 wetter, the west of
2 Hebrides and Western Scotland tends to be
40 Highlands are likely to 10 50 warmer than the east,
1 have three times as while the Highlands
20 much precipitation 5 41 can be arctic-like, with
as Edinburgh, Fife heavy snowfalls during
0 0 0 32
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec or Tayside. Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec the winter.
Royal National Mod (second and New Year celebrations ball game on the town’s streets
week), venue changes yearly. pro vide a wel come antidote. to welcome the New Year. A
Performing arts competition Haggis sales peak in late January centuries-old tradition (www.
promoting Gaelic language with Burns Night parties. This bagame.com).
and Gaelic culture in general quiet period is probably the best Celtic Connections (second half of
(www.acgmod.org). time of year to visit Scotland’s month), Glasgow. Two weeks of
Tiree Wave Classic (mid-Oct). museums and galleries. ceilidhs and Celtic-themed music
Britain’s premier windsurfing (www. celticconnections.com).
competition takes advantage December Burns Night (25 Jan). Scotland
of the powerful Atlantic swell Edinburgh’s Hogmanay (late celebrates the birth of its
and extreme winds of the Dec into early Jan). World’s national poet with readings
Inner Hebrides (www.tiree biggest New Year celebration. and “Burns Suppers”. Haggis,
waveclassic.co.uk). Several days of events, potatoes, turnips and whisky
Great Scottish Run (early Oct), including processions and are on the menu.
Glasgow. A halfmarathon street theatre, in the capi tal. Up Helly Aa (last Tue), Lerwick,
The rich colours of autumn in Tayside for all to enter (www. The centrepiece is a vast street Shetland Isles. Midwinter,
greatscottishrun.com). party on 31 December (www. Edinburgh’s Royal Mile over flowing with Viking-themed fire festival.
Camanachd Cup Final (early edinburghshogmanay.com). Hogmanay revellers
Autumn
Sep). The most important trophy November Stonehaven Fireball Festival February
The autumn colours can be for the stickandball sport St Andrew’s Day (30 Nov). (31 Dec). Century-old Hogmanay fun to watch (www.stone Glasgow Film Festival (mid-
spectacular on a fine day in the of shinty, usually held in one National day of Scotland’s festival that involves throwing havenfireballs.co.uk). Feb), Glasgow. Showcases
countryside. Scotland may be of the main Highland towns patron saint. Many private fireballs around the streets, then January a range of blockbusters and
beginnning to wind down after (www.shinty.com). and society dinners. heaving them into the harbour. The Ba’ Game (1 Jan), Kirkwall, independent films (www.visitgff.
the summer, but there are still Pedal for Scotland (early Sep). As mad as it sounds and great Orkney Isles. Young men play a glasgowfilm.org).
many attractions to be found Huge cycling event with rides Winter
for the attentive visitor. Schools to suit all, including the 47mile
have a week’s holiday in October, Glasgow–Edinburgh route This is a season of short days
which was traditionally a break (www.pedalforscotland.org). and cold weather, but Christmas
to allow the chil dren to work on Ayr Gold Cup (mid-Sep), Ayr
the potato harvest. Race course. Prestigious flatrace Public Holidays
for horses (www.ayr
September racecourse.co.uk). These public holidays
Ben Nevis Hill Wigtown Book are observed throughout
Race (first Sat), Festival (late Sep), Scotland. Some local
Fort William. Dumfries, Galloway authorities declare extra
Annual race up and Wigtown. Scot holidays.
and down the land’s Nation al Book New Year (1–2 Jan). Two days
highest mountain Town welcomes book in Scotland, com pared with
in Britain (www. lovers and collectors (www. just the one day in England.
bennevisrace.co.uk). wigtownbookfestival.com). Good Friday (late Mar or early
Braemar Gathering Apr). Easter Monday is not an
(first weekend), October official holiday in Scotland.
Braemar, Aber Shot putting at Glasgay (early Oct–early May Day (first Monday in May).
deenshire. One of Braemar Nov). A longstanding Spring Bank Holiday (last
the country’s leading monthlong celebration of Monday in May).
Summer Bank Holiday (first
Highland Games (see p35) with gay culture in several central Monday in Aug).
mem bers of the Royal Family Glasgow venues, involving film, Christmas Day (25 Dec).
usually in attendance (www. theatre, music and club nights Boxing Day (26 Dec).
braemargathering.org). (www.glasgay.co.uk). Walker surveying the winter landscape in the Mamores in the Scottish Highlands
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