Scotland in November is cool, damp and dark early, but it’s quieter and often cheaper than summer, the midges are gone and the Christmas markets open mid-month. Expect daytime highs of about 9 to 10°C (48 to 50°F), lows of around 3 to 4°C (37 to 39°F), and between nine and seven hours of daylight as the month goes on. Edinburgh’s Christmas market opens on 14 November 2026, and St Andrew’s Day on Monday 30 November is a bank holiday.
This guide covers November weather, what’s on in 2026, what’s closed, where to go and what to pack. Dates, prices and opening times were checked in October 2026.
Scotland in November: quick answer
- Weather: highs around 9 to 10°C (48 to 50°F) in the cities, wet in the west, with frost and snow possible on the hills.
- Daylight: in Edinburgh, sunrise moves from about 7.20am to 8.20am, and sunset from about 4.30pm to 3.45pm, over the month.
- Big dates: Bonfire Night (Thursday 5 November), Edinburgh’s Christmas market (from 14 November), Christmas at the Botanics (from 19 November) and St Andrew’s Day (Monday 30 November).
- Good news: no midges, quieter roads and attractions, and Edinburgh Castle open daily.
- Watch out for: short days, winter ferry timetables and some rural attractions and cafés closed until spring.
Scotland weather in November
November is properly autumn turning into winter. It’s not usually freezing in the cities, but it’s damp, often windy, and the light goes early. The west is much wetter than the east: Glasgow’s November rainfall is roughly double Edinburgh’s.
| Place | Average high | Average low | Average rainfall | Sunshine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edinburgh | 9.5°C (49°F) | 3.6°C (38°F) | 74mm | 67 hours |
| Glasgow | 9.3°C (49°F) | 3.6°C (38°F) | 145mm | 58 hours |
| Inverness | 9.5°C (49°F) | 3.5°C (38°F) | 67mm | 52 hours |
| Fort William area | 8.0°C (46°F) | 2.2°C (36°F) | About 200mm | Not published |
On the hills it’s a different story. The first snow of the season often lands on the high tops in October or November, and conditions above about 900m can turn wintry fast. Our guide to does it snow in Scotland explains where and how often. If you’re thinking of coming back when winter properly sets in, our guide to visiting Scotland in February covers what to expect.
Daylight hours in November
| Date | Edinburgh sunrise / sunset | Inverness sunrise / sunset |
|---|---|---|
| 1 November | 7.19am / 4.32pm (9h13m) | 7.29am / 4.31pm (9h02m) |
| 15 November | 7.49am / 4.05pm (8h16m) | 8.01am / 4.02pm (8h01m) |
| 30 November | 8.18am / 3.45pm (7h27m) | 8.31am / 3.39pm (7h08m) |
Plan the day around the light, not the clock. Do your drives, walks and viewpoints between about 9am and 3pm, and save museums, pubs and Christmas lights for the dark afternoons.
Events in Scotland in November 2026
Bonfire Night, Thursday 5 November
Fireworks go off across Scotland around 5 November, but the big council-run displays in Edinburgh and Glasgow are a thing of the past. Glasgow Green’s display hasn’t run since 2019, and several of Edinburgh’s larger events have ended or been cancelled for 2026. Smaller community displays still go ahead in towns and villages, so check local listings for the week.
Edinburgh’s Christmas market, from 14 November
Edinburgh’s Christmas market opens in East Princes Street Gardens on Saturday 14 November 2026 and runs until 3 January 2027, from 10am to 10pm daily (closed Christmas Day). Expect the big wheel, wooden chalets selling food and gifts, and serious crowds at weekends. If you can, go on a weekday afternoon. Our guide to things to do in Edinburgh has plenty for the daytime.
Christmas at the Botanics, from 19 November
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh’s Christmas at the Botanics light trail runs from 19 November to 30 December 2026, its tenth year. 2026 ticket prices hadn’t been published when we checked, but last year adult tickets were about £25 in advance, with cheaper off-peak evenings. The trail takes about 90 minutes, and it does sell out, so book early.
Glasgow’s Winter Wonderland
Glasgow’s Winter Wonderland is set to run at St Enoch Square from 6 November to 27 December, with the ice rink and funfair on Glasgow Green from 20 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. Check the organiser’s site before you go, as dates can shift. Our Glasgow travel guide covers the rest of the city.
Aberdeen’s Christmas Village
Aberdeen’s Christmas Village on Broad Street is due to open from 12 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. Confirm with the organiser before planning a trip around it.
St Andrew’s Day, Monday 30 November
St Andrew’s Day is Scotland’s national day, and in 2026 it falls on a Monday, so it’s also a Scottish bank holiday. Many private employers don’t give the day off, so most shops and attractions stay open, but banks close and you’ll find ceilidhs, concerts and events around the country that weekend. The town of St Andrews is a fitting place to spend the long weekend, and our things to do in Fife guide has it covered.
Things to do in Scotland in November
- Castles in the rain: Edinburgh Castle and Stirling Castle both open daily from 9.30am to 5pm on winter hours. An adult Edinburgh Castle ticket is £23.50 online or £26 on the door.
- Autumn colour: early November is often the tail end of the autumn colours in Perthshire, especially around Dunkeld, Pitlochry and the Hermitage.
- Leaping salmon: with luck, early November is still possible at the Falls of Shin in Sutherland, which the Atlantic Salmon Federation names as one of the best spots.
- Red deer: the rut winds down in early November, but you can still hear the odd stag roaring in the glens.
- Whisky: most big distilleries stay open in winter on shorter hours. Talisker on Skye, for example, opens 10am to 4.30pm daily from November to February. Always check before you drive out.
- Cosy pubs: this is the month a real fire and a pint start to make a lot of sense. Our pick of the best pubs in Edinburgh is a good start.
What’s closed or limited in November
- Ferries: CalMac’s winter timetable runs from 19 October 2026 to 25 March 2027, with fewer sailings on many routes and some boats taken off for maintenance. Book ahead and check the timetable.
- Cairngorm Mountain funicular: it’s closed for maintenance from Monday 2 November to Monday 9 November 2026, reopening on Tuesday 10 November.
- Skiing: don’t plan on it. Scotland’s ski centres usually aim to open in mid to late December, depending on snow.
- Seasonal attractions: some castles, gardens and small rural museums close from October to March. Historic Environment Scotland’s seasonal sites are the usual culprits, so check each one.
- Rural cafés and B&Bs: in the Highlands and islands, more places close for the winter as the month goes on. Book accommodation before you go rather than turning up.
- Book Week Scotland: if you remember it as a November event, it’s moved to June from 2027, so there’s no November edition this year.
Is November a good time to visit Scotland?
November is a good time to visit Scotland if you’re happy to trade sunshine for quieter sights and cosy evenings, and you’re mostly sticking to cities, castles and day trips. It’s not the month for island-hopping, long Highland road trips or big hill walks, unless you’ve got the experience and kit for winter conditions.
On price, don’t expect everywhere to be empty. Scottish hotel occupancy was still about 74% in November 2024, according to VisitScotland’s occupancy survey. Rates usually dip after the October school holidays and creep back up once the Christmas markets open, especially for Edinburgh weekends. Our guide to why hotel prices change overnight helps you spot a fair rate.
The big plus is the one nobody mentions in summer: the midges have gone. If you’ve ever been eaten alive at a Highland campsite in July, our guide to the worst places for midges in Scotland will remind you why that matters.
Where to go in Scotland in November
| Destination | Why go in November | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Edinburgh | Christmas market from 14 November, castle, museums | Busy weekends once the market opens |
| Glasgow | Museums, food, music and Winter Wonderland | The wettest of the big cities |
| Stirling and Perthshire | Castles and the last of the autumn colour | Short days for driving |
| Aviemore and the Cairngorms | Early snow on the tops, forest walks | Funicular closed 2 to 9 November |
| St Andrews and Fife | St Andrew’s Day weekend, coastal walks | Wind off the North Sea |
| Inverness and Loch Ness | Fewer crowds at the big sights | Some cruises and attractions on reduced hours |
If you’re based in Edinburgh, our day trips from Edinburgh work well in November because most are less than two hours each way, so you’re back before dark. Dundee is another easy one by train, and our pick of the best things to do in Dundee fills a short day. If you’re travelling up from England, the train from London to Edinburgh takes about four and a half hours.
What to pack for Scotland in November
- A proper waterproof jacket, not a “showerproof” one. Scotland knows the difference.
- Warm layers: a jumper or fleece, plus a light insulated jacket for the evenings.
- Waterproof shoes or boots with decent grip for wet cobbles and leaves.
- Hat and gloves, especially for the Christmas markets and anything near the coast.
- A small torch or head torch if you’re walking anywhere in the afternoon. It gets dark sooner than you’d think.
- An umbrella for the cities only. In the Highlands, the wind usually takes care of umbrellas for you.
FAQs about Scotland in November
Is it cold in Scotland in November?
It’s cool rather than freezing. Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness average highs of about 9 to 10°C (48 to 50°F) and lows of around 3 to 4°C (37 to 39°F). It feels colder when it’s wet and windy, and the hills and inland glens can see frost and snow.
Does it snow in Scotland in November?
Snow is possible on the mountains in November, and Cairngorm Mountain reported its first snow of the 2026/27 season on 7 October. In the cities and on the coast, November snow is rare and usually melts quickly. January and February are the snowiest months.
When do the Christmas markets open in Scotland in 2026?
Edinburgh’s Christmas market opens in East Princes Street Gardens on Saturday 14 November 2026 and runs until 3 January 2027. Glasgow’s Winter Wonderland is due at St Enoch Square from 6 November, and Aberdeen’s Christmas Village on Broad Street from 12 November.
Is St Andrew’s Day a holiday in Scotland in 2026?
Yes. St Andrew’s Day falls on Monday 30 November 2026, and it’s a Scottish bank holiday. Banks close, but many employers don’t give staff the day off, so most shops, attractions and transport run as normal.
Are there midges in Scotland in November?
No, or at least not enough to notice. The midge season runs roughly from May to October, so by November they’re gone. It’s one of the best reasons to visit the Highlands in late autumn, as long as you dress for the weather.
