Are Yorkshire/Scotland too cold for a holiday in early November?

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We'd like to go on a nice break to celebrate my DHs birthday and the anniversary of our first kiss (it's been seven years and for some odd reason it feels like a milestone!) I really like the idea of it, but also don't want to be soggy and cold (especially with a doggo and a 3yo)

April is very different to November.

I live in Cumbria - it'll likely be wet, muddy and windy. Not fun when you have a dog and a toddler. Honestly, rent a cottage with space so everyone can dry off and stay warm without being piled on top of each other.

You'll also need space to dry out wet gear, socks, shoes, dog kit etc.

We picnicked outdoors
almost every week through Oct, Nov and Dec in 2020 in Harrogate's RHS Harlow Carr Gardens. I'm an RHS member; DIL joined to be able to do this with her baby and a toddler, wrapped up warm and wearing wellies. It's a matter of mindset. Mind you, we were all born in God's own county!

I wouldn't take a 3 year old on a 'hike'. Why not join the National Trust?
They have playgrounds and cafes and places to walk the dog. (Membership of the Scottish NT used to be cheaper than the English, and if you joined that you could access English NT properties using the Scottish card. That may still be the case.)

I wouldn't recommend Hadrian's Wall, either, for that age. Though on a nice day it could work.

November isn't Scotland's warmest month, no - but we survive! Would I want to go on holiday here at that time? I'd certainly be checking the weather forecast before I booked anything and spent a heap of money on an outdoor-type holiday with a dog and 3 year old who both need a lot of exercise.

I wouldn't take a 3 year old on a 'hike'.

3-4 is about the worst age for a hike I reckon - too big to easily carry, too small to walk very far. The paths in the Yorkshire dales aren't generally buggy friendly iirc.
Re national trust, unfortunately many of their properties don't allow dogs in (or only in limited areas). One good exception is Fountains Abbey, you can have quite a decent walk there as well as being interesting.

For 5 days/week you need to probably narrow down the locations. Yorkshire, Scotland, potentially Northumberland for hsdrians wall stuff, you're going to be just travelling a lot.
Choose one place, then you have somewhere warm to come back to easily rather than having to travel to the new place in the evening/morning and take warm waterproof clothes for you all.

Yes, do check the travel times between places in 'the north' and work out something realistic. It's about 4 hours drive (each way!) from York or Harrogate to Edinburgh, for instance. I live in the northwest, most of the places mentioned bar parts of the dales are way too far for a day trip, certainly not with a 3yo and a dog.

If you stayed somewhere near Harrogate you've got a nice town, Fountains Abbey, southern dales (Bolton Abbey/wharfdale is very nice), could get to York, brimham rocks... lots to do from there.

For hadrians wall you'd need to stay somewhere further north.

Re NT vs NTS membership. Yes, NTS is cheaper, and gets you into NT properties free.

However, you can't book in advance into NT places unless you have NT membership (NTS doesn't work). And where there's a country place with just an unstaffed car park, NTS cards don't work, so you have to pay.
Speaking from recent experience.
NT & NTS are completely separate from each other.

I love either for a winter weekend with friends, but you need somewhere nice to stay so If it’s bucketing down you can retreat.

In gets dark early, so you might want to base yourself in a city (Newcastle, Glasgow, Edinburgh all great, York smaller but nice) so you can do that and go out into the country on decent days.

Or stay West and go to somewhere near Bath/Cardiff/Bristol/Totnes/wherever you haven’t been where the weather will likely be a bit better.

You are going to spend most of the morning travelling to your locations then it will be lunchtime then it will be getting dark at 4.30/5 so you will need to be travelling back, I really think you are underestimating how far everywhere is.

We went to York in November just before covid. The weather was really nice, better than I expected. We had coats obviously, but had really good weather.

You'll definitely need a jacket of sone kind here in Scotland; not necessarily a heavy winter coat but something to keep you warm nonetheless. And it'll probably rain, too. It rains a lot here, near Glasgow. We've had no more than half a dozen bright, sunny and hot days all summer. 😔

I used to regularly visit Yorkshire in November/December and of course it was pretty cold. Cold is ok though, as you can wear warm clothing. It's the rain that can make it miserable. And speaking as someone from NI, I know all about endless, dreary, wet weather. I always took my chances and visited Yorkshire in November anyway and there was usually a mixture of wet and dry weather. Beautiful, beautiful place. Worth a visit any time of year.

I have only ever visited Scotland in summer, but imagine it's similar to NI - cold and wet!

Are you intending to stay in one lace and travel for day trips? That won’t work.

Some of us spend all winter out on the hills in Yorkshire/ "The North." We dress appropriately (gloves with our running shorts on very cold days).

You'll want your Big Coat.

Original idea is to drive as far as we can the first evening. We're confident we can make it all the way to Nottingham. Then base ourselves for a couple of nights in Harrogate, and the two other nights further up.

Or the more ignorant who vote for her?

Yorkshire is about a degree or so colder than the south generally speaking, so not a major difference. Scotland seems to have the worst weather generally. If you look at the weather forecast you'll see how the temperatures vary throughout the country

You're massively underestimating the distances "up north", and nobody can tell you what it will be like in November. Could be mild enough for a light jumper. Could be snowing.

Pick one location (South Lakes or North Lakes, or Yorkshire Dales, or Northumberland, or North Yorkshire Moors or Scottish Borders, or Dumfries & Galloway. Find a cosy doggo friendly cottage. Pack wellies, boots waterproof trousers, massive fleece, waterproof coat, hat, gloves and plenty of thin layers too. Enjoy.

This isn't a thread for Scottish politics

The difference between the average November temperature in the West Country and Yorkshire is more like 3-4 degrees. We often go to Northumberland in October half-term and find this is the last week we can reliably be outside much, plus it is just before the clocks change so the days are a bit longer. The east of the country is often cooler and drier than the milder, wetter West, but this doesn't mean you won't encounter rain!

TBH I would go before the clocks go back if you want to do anything outdoorsy. If you must go in November then stay in a city - they are a couple of degrees warmer than rural areas and there will be things to do after dark (ie 4pm). A shepherd's hut in November is an objectively terrible idea even before you factor in a dog and a three-year-old.

As long as you go prepared it's fine! Layers are your friends! We've visited in November before and it's hot and miss as to how cold/ dry it is, but still lovely, even in the cold or the rain. Especially in Yorkshire, you'll find plenty of pubs with roaring fires to warn you up and dry you out!

@Malie tell us more about your holiday! Were you staying on the Island of Shyte, reading about the weather in MadeUppisfield?
if you don’t like Scotland or Scottish people it’s fine, but stop disrupting the thread.

I live in Scotland and November is my favourite time of year. Crisp sunny days and the last of the autumn leaves. Midgies have died off too. Of course it could also rain solidly for a week and be freezing.

You're not wrong about the midgies! I always forget about them, look forward to nice summer days camping and then we go.... and I remember!

April in my favourite time of year for the weather (I'm from Scotland). I am very happy in spring! Autumn can be really beautiful too... You need to take each day you can enjoy and make the most of it!

Lot of nonsense. No we don't.