When is the Best Time to See Snow in the Scottish Highlands

Throughout the winter months, one of the biggest questions we get from tourists visiting the Scottish Highlands is "where should I go to see snow?" To be honest, it's kind of an impossible question to answer. With ever warming tempretures and a predictably unpredictable weather throughout the year, it's really hard to tell when and where you're likely to get any snowy weather.

Contary to what you might think (and what I often hope for), in the five years I've been living in the Scottish Highlands, I've rarely seen snow in December. I'm always hoping for a white Christmas, but that doesn't seem to happen often. The three months where you are likely to get snow is November and January and Februry. Over the last couple of years, these months have had at least one day of snow.

For me, the best places to see snow in Scotland are the mountainous regions. I love driving through Glencoe during these times of year, especially when Buachaille Etive Mor or the Three Sisters are covered in snow. Another region that often gets a lot of snow is the Cairngorms area, which is also home to one of Scotland's ski resorts. A bit closer to home for me is Cluanie and the Five Sisters of Kintail, which is one of my favourite viewpoints in the Scottish Highlands and is especially beautiful in the snow. If you're coming to the Isle of Skye in the winter, make sure you allow time to see the Five Sisters in the snow. You won't regret it.

With all the joy I get from seeing the Scottish Highlands covered in snow, I think it can be easy to forget the problems that come with this time of year and with this wintery weather. Snow can cause a lot of disruption. With the snowy weather often comes road closures, public transport cancellations, and the closure of the coffee shops and restaurants that remain open at this time of year.

At the start of January, the Scottish Highlands were hit with a massive spell of cold, snowy and icy weather. Although it was beautiful and we spent a good few days enjoying the snowy walks close to home. However, this snowy weather did come with challenges. We had friends of ours stay at our house for New Year, with a plan to leave on the 3rd of January. When they initially tried to leave on the 3rd, our friends only managed to get about a mile from our house before getting stuck in snow and realising they would have to turn back. When we tried again the next day, their abandoned cars had to be dug out of the car and we ended up having to follow them and push their car until we got to the main road.

Seeing the Scottish Highlands covered in snow is truly one of my favourite ways to experience this beautiful place, but it does come with some challenges. Make sure to check out my helpful tips below.

Some Tips for Visiting the Scottish Highlands during the Snow

• We sure to check the weather forecast prior to leaving for the day, as there might be a weather warning in place. We had an amber snow and ice warning at the start of January, which meant that we were discouraged from taking non-essential journeys. If you want to know more about what the various weather warning levels mean, check out this helpful article from the MET office.

• If the snow starts to come quickly, be aware that quieter roads won't always get gritted. Generally most of the major trunk roads (any road with A at the start) are looked after by a government agency called BEAR Scotland and are maintained by gritters and snowploughs throughout the winter months. However, local roads are not covered by BEAR, meaning there isn't the same necessity to keep these roads clear.

• If you're expecting snow during your visit and planning on driving, I would highly recommend making sure you have winter tyres on. During snowy and icy weather, they are needed for being able to get your car up the hilly roads that make up the Highlands and Islands. A lot of hire car companies will only give you summer tyres, so be aware of this if you are planning on hiring a car for your Highland adventure.

• If you're planning a visit during the winter months, I would pack with cold, wet weather in mind. If you want more helpful tips, be sure to check out this blogpost.