Edinburgh in August What to wear?

I was thinking of bringing my llbean warmup jacket with me. I usually wear it through a relitively mild winter. It is a 3 season jacket. I was wondering if that was too heavy. Or would a simple zippered fleece be just at effective. Thanks for your help I really appreciate it.

Hi Rhoda,

I just got back from Edinburgh and I must admit that I was pretty cold most of the time. Granted that I am generally cold all the time, but I would highly recommend bringing clothes that you are able to layer.
The sun was out during the day which added some heat, but it rained at random and the cloudy-ness cooled the city down very quickly. Evenings were pretty chilly as well.

Hope that helps!

Hi Rhoda!
I am so jealous!! Going to the Tatoo is on my list of things to do!! We were in Edinburgh for New Year's 2007 - VERY fun! A bit chilly but not bad at all. Sounds like you are on the right track re: clothes. Items that you can wear individually as well as layer are key. I might add a long sleeved blouse to your list - one of those that button up the front that you can roll the sleeves up - you could wear it over a t -shirt or by itself - gives you one more item to layer. If you are concerned about being cold, pack a set of long underwear - they take up very little space and really do help. A pair of thick soled shoes would be good as well - stone really seems to hold the cold!
If you have a set of long underwear, fleece and a good rainjacket you should be fine if it gets chilly - it can get really windy at the Castle!
They sell lots of plaid scarfs in Edinburgh so if it gets really cold you could buy one there - same with sweaters - lots of nice wool ones
I am sure you will have a fabulous time!!

I've been there many times in late August early September and the weather can vary so layers are absolutely the way to go. I've had temps in the 80's and then also damp in the 50's. One thing to think about doing is planning on buying a good sweater while you're there. You get to combine something useful with a great souvenir that you'll continue to enjoy through many Philadelphia winter.

Since you're going to be there so many days you might want to think about taking a train trip to Stirling to see the castle. If you're a Braveheart fan, Stirling is where the fight happened. Also, while you're in Edinburgh, other places to consider include the Royal Botanical Gardens and the Royal Yacht Britannia in Leith. The walk along the Water of Leith is a good one. You can walk from the Botanical Gardens to the Dean Gallery.

Check out Sandy's Bells in old town if you want to hear some traditional Scottish music.

Pam

Thank you for your help. I usually go for th layered look myself. I like the idea of buying a sweater in Edinburgh. I plan to go to Glasgow by train for a day and the train to Stirling sounds great.

The Tattoo is excellent!

Layers are perfect. They really pack you in the stands so if you are lucky you can get some heat from your neighbors. I was squashed between two strapping men but it was cold so I wasn't complaining!

Edinburgh is one of my favorite cities. Check out the free museums and find the free walking tours.

Citylink is another alternative to the train to Glasgow. They are very frequent and reasonable

http://www.citylink.co.uk/

I second the recommendation to Stirling and the castle. Glasgow is a big city with a large shopping district.

Thanks for the tips I will try citylink.

Rhoda -
I'm SOOOOO jealous! I saw the 2002 Tattoo and it was FABULOUS! Take lots of pics - wish I had digital then!
Layer, layer, layer. The fleece will do wonders for you and a GOOD rainjacket (Goretex) will be worth every penny you paid for it. If it is "waterproof" check and see that it is indeed Goretex. I have used Cabela's "waterproof" jackets before - rest assured it was not. I have used proper Goretex in Scotland and would never go without it.

The idea of buying a sweater in Edinburgh is a good one. Check the Edinburgh Woolen Mill on Prince's Street. You can usually find bargains there. If you notice that the weather is chilly in the evenings, you might want to pick up a pair of gloves for the Tattoo. If you are higher up, the wind will be unrelenting.

If you are planning on going to the Royal Yacht, please consider buying your tickets in advance. We went in August (albeit 6 years ago) and waited for 2 hours in line TO BUY TICKETS. We then had to wait to board the yacht as they only let a certain percentage on at a time. Here is the link to tickets - they advise August visitors to book ahead. I would do it to save time.

http://www.royalyachtbritannia.co.uk/plan-your-visit/visitor-info/ticket-information/

Thanks for your help. I don't understand why I would want to visit a ship. What is the big attraction?

This is the yacht that was the Queen's and she used it for her travels around the world. It's fascinating to visit. A real contrast to all the royal palaces from history. Well, it's historic too, but a more recent history. The tour was quite good. It would be a good idea to buy the tickets in advance. When we went in September there were no lines, but I expect August is different. Everything is different in Edinburgh in August.

Pam

Thanks Pam. I will buy the ticket this week.