Spring in the Scottish Highlands is a superb time of the year when the weather just gets better and better. With the higher temperatures and longer days, it’s the perfect time to book a fabulous Easter staycation in this lovely region of the land.
In short, there are lots of reasons to spend Easter in the Highlands when spring flowers are in full bloom and the native wildlife starts to reappear on the scene. We’ve listed just a few of them here.
Spring flowers in bloom without the midges!
Snowdrops, bluebells, daffodils, rhododendrons and cherry blossoms all come into bloom offering colour vistas over the land. It’s an explosion of colour not to be missed with the added advantage of not having to deal with midges.
There are some wonderful places worth visiting which include Trossachs National Park, Loch Lomond and Loch Katrine. Take a picnic along and enjoy the colourful displays of primroses, wood anemones and a host of other Highland springtime flowers.
Then there’s the Cairngorms National Park which stretches as far as the eye can see. The small village of Dinnet provides a superb location that overlooks tranquil lochs and rugged crags.
It’s the largest National Park in the Scottish Highlands and there’s a ton of things to do and see which includes some of the best walking and cycling routes. It’s also a great place to spy on some of Scotland’s most cherished native wildlife.
Castles are open to visitors again
Exploring the Highlands at Easter means visiting spectacular castles which reopen their doors at the beginning of the season. It’s when Scottish hospitality is at its very best!
This includes Balmoral Castle, a superb example of Scottish heritage which has been the Royal’s residence for decades. Its location on the south side of the River Dee close to Crathie village makes it a firm favourite with visitors to the Highlands at Easter.
But there are other majestic castles just waiting to be explored, some lie in ruins whereas others have stood the tests of time and can be visited on an Easter break in the Scottish Highlands.
Springtime is the Lambing Season
Watching newborn lambs frolic in fields is a delight which makes spending time in the Highlands for an Easter break a lot of fun. It’s the time of the year when many native animals give birth which includes red squirrels, stoats and Highland cows. It’s also a time when the delightful puffins reappear on the scene along with swallows, swifts and osprey which migrate home to benefit from the warmer summer months just a little time away.
Orkney is a must-visit destination where native wildlife can be seen in abundance. The island offers the perfect roosting place for many seabirds which includes puffins, razorbills and hawks.
The added advantage is the crystal clear seas that surround Orkney which provide an opportunity to spy on rarer native wildlife which includes seals, otters and whales!
Explore Loch Lomond and the Trossachs
Loch Lomond is lovely at any time of the year but especially during the springtime. The lush forests, majestic mountains and unspoilt glens all burst into life at this time of the year. The area is vibrant with wildflowers on the banks of the Loch, on the mountain landscapes and superb waterfront vistas.
There are so many interesting corners worth exploring in Trossachs National Park with its lush, open landscapes in the south to sprawling, unspoilt glens and rocky, towering peaks to the north. There’s a fault line that divides the Lowlands from the Highlands that runs across Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park which makes the region a geologist’s dream place to explore.
You can take a cruise along the loch which provides the perfect way to see Ben Lomond, the most southerly Munro in Scotland and the jagged ridges of the Arrochar Alps. You can also visit one of the many 30 islands situated on the loch!
All in all, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park is a great place to explore during an Easter staycation in the Scottish Highlands.
Highland weather at Easter
Easter in the Scottish Highlands is superb and typically it’s nicer than during the summer months. April and May are drier when you’ll enjoy longer sunny days with less chance of rain although it’s never guaranteed! That said, our luxury hotel in Pitlochry offers you the perfect base for your Highland adventure.
You’ll enjoy highs of10°C (50°F) and lows of 2°C (36°F) with some days being lovely, sunny and warm whereas other days it can be cooler, so it’s important to pack the right gear. Wearing layers is the best option so you can add or remove clothing depending on the weather you encounter when exploring the region.
We’ve included a list of things to pack for an Easter break in the Highlands:
- T-shirts, long sleeve shirts and other tops you can easily layer
- Warm jumpers and/or fleeces
- Warm trousers and jeans
- Waterproof jacket, trousers and shell layers
- Insulated jackets
- Scarves, hats and warm, waterproof gloves
- Wool socks
- Hiking boots
- Indoor shoes
- Sun cap or hat
Make sure you plan and book your Easter break in the Scottish Highlands well in advance so you don’t miss out on exploring this enchanting region and all it has to offer. From magnificent landscapes, wonderful native wildlife and unspoilt locations that offer an extraordinary and unique springtime experience like nowhere else in the world.
To book your Easter staycation with us, please call a member of our friendly staff on +44 (0)1882 580444 and find out more about our ‘Linger Longer’ offer. If you prefer you can book your staycation at our luxury hotel in Kinloch Rannoch by emailing us at reservations@dunalastairhotel.com.