What's January Really like in the Scottish Highlands
- heatherfifi
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
January in the Scottish Highlands. It's a time of year that challenges all of us who call this beautiful region home. The festivities of the Christmas period are over for another year, yet we are still in the depths of winter.
In many ways, I would say January is the quietest month here in the Scottish Highlands. It's a month when a lot of businesses close for a seasonal break. This also might mean you may struggle to find coffee shops, restaurants, shops and hotels open if you're visiting in January. I know a lot of tourists end up feeling disappointed when places they had hoped to visit end up being closed for a winter break.
January is a pretty slow month for myself normally. After a busy end of the year with our business in the run up to Christmas, January is a month that we try to rest and recover and plan for the year ahead. We often try to get outside as much as the weather permits during this month, and we've been on some fantastic adventures in January over the years. Some of my favourites include:
January is probably the month where you are most likely to experience all the intensity and wonder of winter weather. At the start of January 2026, we had an incredible couple of days of intense snow. I love seeing the landscapes that I know so well completely blanketed in the most beautiful white snow. The cold weather also gives the perfect oppurtunity to coorie in at home and slowly settle into the New Year.
The intense winter weather can also lead to plans needing to be changed or altered. After New Year this year, we had friends who ended up staying at our house for an extra night because they couldn't get home in the wintery conditions. I would always say that a bit of extra thought and planning needs to go into planning a winter's trip to the Scottish Highlands, so if you looking for some extra help when planning a winter's trip, my Guide to Winter in the Scottish Highlands might be for you.
Some events happening this January in the Scottish Highlands
10th-11th January: The Strathpuffer
28th-31st January: The Snow Queen at Eden Court, Inverness
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