Page 45 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Scotland

SC O TLAND THROUGH THE Y EAR  43

Average Monthly Temperature (Edinburgh)
Temperature Chart
°C °F This bar chart illus trates
25 77 the average monthly
temperatures recor ded
20 68 in Edinburgh. Though
wetter, the west of
15 59
Scotland tends to be
10 50 warmer than the east,
while the Highlands
5 41 can be arctic-like, with
heavy snowfalls during
0 32
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec the winter.
and New Year celebrations ball game on the town’s streets
pro vide a wel come antidote. to welcome the New Year. A
Haggis sales peak in late January centuries-old tradition (www.
with Burns Night parties. This bagame.com).
quiet period is probably the best Celtic Connections (second half of
time of year to visit Scotland’s month), Glasgow. Two weeks of
museums and galleries. ceilidhs and Celtic-themed music
(www. celticconnections.com).
December Burns Night (25 Jan). Scotland
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay (late celebrates the birth of its
Dec into early Jan). World’s national poet with readings
biggest New Year celebration. and “Burns Suppers”. Haggis,
Several days of events, potatoes, turnips and whisky
including processions and are on the menu.
street theatre, in the capi tal. Up Helly Aa (last Tue), Lerwick,
The centrepiece is a vast street Shetland Isles. Midwinter,
party on 31 December (www. Edinburgh’s Royal Mile over flowing with Viking-themed fire festival.
edinburghshogmanay.com). Hogmanay revellers
Stonehaven Fireball Festival February
(31 Dec). Century-old Hogmanay fun to watch (www.stone Glasgow Film Festival (mid-
festival that involves throwing havenfireballs.co.uk). Feb), Glasgow. Showcases
fireballs around the streets, then January a range of blockbusters and
heaving them into the harbour. The Ba’ Game (1 Jan), Kirkwall, independent films (www.visitgff.
As mad as it sounds and great Orkney Isles. Young men play a glasgowfilm.org).

Walker surveying the winter landscape in the Mamores in the Scottish Highlands

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