To not take coats and boots to Scotland

[Floweryfandango]

We live in Cornwall and have never been to Scotland as a family.

Going up for the first two weeks in August and DH and I can't agree on whether the children (primary-aged) will need coats and wellies. We have a very limited luggage allowance.

Will be doing some city stuff and some countryside walks, though nothing too ambitious.

I think we need mid-season coats, raincoats, trainers and wellies. DH thinks we'll be fine with just raincoats and trainers.

AIBU to pack all this stuff?

Anywhere in the UK in August needs coats minimum as it does rain a fair bit.

This is exactly my husband's logic too.

We'll be several days in Edinburgh and then a kind of loop of the country!

You can easily get four seasons in one day up here so it’s hard to plan! I wouldn’t bother with wellies, but yes to some thin layers, top one waterproof. Pack what you can fit in, and if the weather’s brutal buy some stuff up here.

Light pack away type raincoats shouldn’t use up too much luggage allowance and can be paired up with hoodies etc if it’s chilly. Most of the tourists I saw yesterday were wearing full rain jackets (it was pouring) but they’re not as used to the weather as we are!

Not sure what you'd wear wellies for, we live in Scotland and never wear them- walking boots or sturdy shoes for walking, or walking sandals if going through streams. Wellies only for muddy horse fields.
I'd rarely leave the house in Scotland without a waterproof, it feels very daring to go on a day trip without a waterproof jacket in a wee rucksack!! Definitely being on holiday, it would be rare to have a week without some rain and you just need to go out as otherwise you'll be stuck in. Scotland can be so beautiful, enjoy your time away.

It was torrential rain yesterday, take a light rain jacket and wellies.

wellies are a must in Scotland

Four seasons in one day here. Today is currently dry and sunny. Forecast predicts heavy rain all day. If I hadn’t see that I may have gone out in just a sweatshirt.

Whatever you’d wear in crap weather may well be needed. Waterproof footwear for trails for sure as they will be muddy. Hiking boots are ideal. Lightweight Jackets that dry overnight. Layers for colder days.

Enjoy your holiday.

Thanks all. Think I'm settled on raincoats and layers for the top then.

For the feet less sure. It's fine for me and DH as we'll bring our walking shoes and normal shoes. For the children, they don't actually have walking shoes so was thinking their trainers for that (as they're about ready for the bin anyway) and then some sandals, but maybe they need two pairs of proper shoes.

As someone who holidays in the highlands every year, I would say you need to be prepared for all weathers. We had wet cold and extremely windy in June this year. A few days ago all heat records were broken in Deeside and Speyside.

we’ve had a glorious weekend and then yesterday it bucketed down on and off all day. The forecast for the next week is really mixed. My kids are possibly hardy Scots but seem to wear crocs all summer as they are fine for paddling in the river and walking in the rain and can be dried quickly.

Don't bother with wellies. Take lightweight rain jackets and light zip up hoodies that are easy to put on and take off as you might be doing that multiple times a day. You can wear them to board the plane to save luggage space.

The kind of walking trousers that have zip off legs would be handy too.

Versatility is the key.

Worth bearing in mind that if even minor hill walking is involved it can be 25 and sunny at the bottom and 10 with a howling gale and mist at the top

I’d get waterproof trainers and then you can wear them on walks and around the city if it’s raining. I’ve put my heating on in August to dry out after a day at the fringe!

I'd just keep it simple and bring two pairs of comfortable trainers each if they own them, especially if they have waterproof or water resistant ones. They'll survive without wellies, sandals, smart shoes etc.

I live in Scotland. Jacket yes, winter coat no. We've had a dry summer so far and no need for wellies either.

If it does turn torrential, then we have shops where you can buy wellies.

I live in Scotland and would say August weather is mental!! One minute it will be sunny the next raining - best advice is layers and a light rain jacket, wellies I wouldn’t bother with!

I would not go on holidays to Scotland without a raincoat. That's madness.

Wellies, I wouldn't bother with, but bring spare shoes.

I would take macs and sturdy shoes, their trainers will probably be fine, to anywhere not just Scotland.

If the trainers are ready for the bin anyway I’d go with that, it doesn’t sound like you’ll be doing massive long hikes that need something sturdy just make sure you have a spare dry pair to put on after

DH commutes between Edinburgh and Yorkshire and says Edinburgh is always cooler (and wetter) but noticeably longer days at this time of year.

Edinburgh definitely needs decent shoes for walking around. Its very hilly!

No to wellies -trainers and crocs . Yes to a light waterproof but sometimes it’s better to just get wet rather than boiling in a bag

I live at the West coast of Scotland in a very touristy area and you can tell the tourists who forgot to pack their raincoats because they wear those thin capes you can buy in tourist shops and visitor centres, looking very bedraggled.
I'd take some decent shoes, it's been raining a lot (in the West at least, not further East) and it's boggy.

You would be bonkers to go to Scotland without a good quality waterproof and at least one pair of waterproof shoes. Trudging about with damp feet because you’ve not come prepared is utterly grim.

If not wellies then some waterproof walking boots or shoes, trainers are no good for trail and hill walking especially if they're ready for the bin, the wet rocks and thick tree roots you're likely to encounter are so slippery.

Rain ponchos are usually a good packing option - they can be bought in a big size too, so they don't last just a year.

if budget allows I would get waterproof trainers for the kids. I started wearing my trail running goretex shoes on days out / camping trips and oh my goodness they are so great!!
once youngest grows out of her decent wellies she has atm I’m getting her those instead. (Oldest won’t let me pick her shoes any more and would rather suffer for fashion!)
those or two pairs of ordinary trainers should be fine depending on what u r doing, how much they want to get muddy / soaked and what the forecast is!