North Highlands in March. Am I being daft?

[Mauvg]

I'm planning a short break in early March next year. I'm leaning towards a place in the north highlands. However, I'm worrying that it's going to be too cold for my liking (though the collie will probably think it's heaven!). I don't really mind the cold, but I live in Manchester, so it doesn't really get that cold in comparison to the northern parts of Scotland. Can someone please reassure me that I'm just being daft and me and collie will enjoy our short break?

Yes you're being daft, it's the highlands not the Arctic circle. We often go up for a break in October and have a ball. Just pack layers.

Where abouts? Had snow and the usual lashings of rain in caithness this march, just bring a decent waterproof and crack on!

Are you camping? If not, you'll be fine

It will be cold and definitely still frosty/windscreen scraping weather. I'd recommend Northwest Highlands which will be a lot milder than east coast and lot less likely to be snowbound. I'd go late rather than early March. I've had great holidays in Highland and Lowland Scotland in March with some stunning bright days. March is one of the least rainy months although you might not think that! Have you ever been in farthest Southwest Scotland -around the Solway and Kirkudbright? I'd prefer it for March - more hotels and places to eat. Very quiet in March and more to do if weather too bad to spend day outside.

I'm looking at a lodge park over in the Northeast Highlands. When I travel with the collie, I prefer to go self catering, so hotels and places to eat aren't important.

@thatllberight

Yes you're being daft, it's the highlands not the Arctic circle. We often go up for a break in October and have a ball. Just pack layers.

But in March wouldn't the concern be lying snow and possibly more snow restricting travel?

Not an issue in October, but in March you're dependent on what the preceding winter was like.

Of course it depends on what you mean by 'north highlands' because once you get past the real mountainous bits, snow is probably less of an issue.

We live in NE Scotland, it usually snows in March here. My 9 year old was born early March and has only had 2 birthdays without snow!

Some of the roads can be pretty brutal and the rail lines have been closed off in the past especially after last year's landslip so travel disruptions are the biggest inconvenience.

October is about five degrees warmer than March though.

Googling a bit it doesn’t look that much colder than Manchester though. But even in Edinburgh we’ve had a few real unpleasantly cold Marches over the last few years.

@BarbaraofSeville The place I'm looking at is near Invergordon. I've tried googling it and it doesn't look mountainous. That said, appearances can be deceiving with photos of an area.

@thatllberight

Yes you're being daft, it's the highlands not the Arctic circle. We often go up for a break in October and have a ball. Just pack layers.

October is significantly warmer than March and doesn't generally have 2 months of snow sitting on the ground it's not comparable.

March can be really unpredictable OP. The NE tends to be drier but also colder

You'll be nice and cosy in a lodge.

Of course it will be cold. Its northern and winter. But that doesnt mean you dont go, just take suitable clothing and rent somewhere with heating.

It's not the arctic circle. But there may well be snow.

I think it's colder in March than October - it doesn't really get cold imv until mid November. Whereas it doesnt' really get warm until end of April (I'm in the S of Scotland). It will be freezing I think but that can be bracing. A friend worked for a gas company in Scotland and the greatest demand for gas each year was around Valentine's day. Not mid winter as you would expect. Are you going long hikes (bit risky on your own) or just tootling around short walks and look at the scenery?

Invergordon is low lying and close to the sea though Ben Wyvis inland is over 3000 feet. I lived for a while on the Black Isle a short distance across the firth. The weather is unpredictable and snow or good weather are both possible in March there was some snow in April this year. At low level its unlikely to linger long and roads will mostly be passable. Traveling up on the A9 or railway you would need to pass over higher ground with more risk of accumulated snow. It is however unlikely that the road is closed for more than a few hours.

We're likely to either stay in the park or the local area depending on the weather.

We had snow in May this year and it's just starting to hit 20 degrees this week. Normally we are around 8 to 12 degrees in march If that's any help. Get some water proofs and jumpers it'll be fine. Lovely place to visit (I may be biased)

I may have just peeked at the streetview for where I'm planning to go. That was a bad idea. A very bad idea. I want to move there.

So, after consideration, I decided to move the originally planned March trip to October this year.
I'm looking at potentially going to a different holiday park next June. However, I know that June is midge season. From my research, would I be correct to think that, I'd be better looking at either southern Scotland or the Eastern side to avoid the worst of it? I can get repellent for me, it's just trying to get any onto the collie before they're wriggling around and wanting to go.