Hello All,
we're traveling on the Best of Scotland Tour, July 30-August 11. I'm a light packer but am a little stumped by the rain jacket requirement. I know it won't be as warm as it is here but will I need a jacket? Also, I see lots of varying recommendations as to the kind of rain jacket I should bring. Ideally I'd like to bring a packable one. Any recommendations? Thanks all.
Yes you will want a rain jacket. Preferably something windproof and breathable too. It can (and does) rain at any time of year here in Scotland. To give you an example - today here on the Isle of Skye it is unseasonably warm and sunny, but we have snow forecast this coming weekend.
Skyegirl, Thanks very much. Here -in NJ - it's 70 F. Hope you don't get too much snow.
Ooh it's probably low 60s here and won't get much hotter than that on Skye all summer.
I'm still waiting for the warm and sunny here in Duluth. As of yesterday, we broke the record for most snowfall in a single season - we're currently at 138.5 inches (351.79 cm). I think it's waiting till I get to Scotland in 12 days to warm up. 😊
Hello,
I appreciate your dilemma because I often travel to rainy Belgium, and I too am a light packer! My solution is to carry a rain jacket with me tied around the handle of my wheeled carry on bag (LLBean H2O-Off with zip our lining) and wear a fleece jacket onto the plane (LLBean WindPro). I get double duty from the fleece jacket by folding it inside out to use as my travel pillow. For especially rainy seasons or a lot of outdoor activities, I also take a pair of thin rain pants. Add a wool underwear top and bottom, and you'll be ready to layer for a variety of weather conditions.
Have fun and stay dry!
A few things to keep in mind. Full length is best because the wind in Scotland can definitely blow the rain around and you'll wind up with wet thighs and shins. Get one with a hood, but remember this: many hoods are too short to really be effective, or are too limp and just fall down in front of your eyes. The solution is to carry a baseball cap with a long visor and wear it under the hood. That will keep the rain off your face and the hood out of your eyes. On a slightly different note, take a pair of dry socks with you in a zip lock bag in your day bag. You might not need them, but if you do they are heavenly. They've saved the day for us several times. Some say use waterproof shoes, but we've never done so and are none the worse for wear. But do take two pair of shoes in case one pair does get wet. Hope this helps.
I apply waterproofing spray to my comfortable travel walking shoes. It hasn't worked for me to buy waterproof shoes, comfort- wise. I've found the spray to be very effective.
Safe travels!
If it rains you’ll certainly wish you had it. It poured on two days (non continuously) during my last visit. Having been there before I arrived equipped and managed to enjoy in spite of the rain. We only had rain in Edinburgh and that was during the five days before my tour began in mid August.
I always pack my Marmot rain jacket. Wooks well and doesn’t take up much room. Marmot is an excellent brand of rainwear.
The jacket is for wet rather than warmth. A lightweight, packable one that fit over layers worked well enough for me in very early summer.
I travel to London a lot. Usually in the Fall. Love the rain jacket I purchased from Ex Officio. Especially love all useful pockets. I bought a man’s jacket as I despise how the woman’s is cinched at the waste.
The jacket is breathable, lightweight and practical. Have I worn it in a torrential downpour? No. Light rain? Yes. No issues.
Linda has a good idea. Just tie the jacket around the luggage handle or like me, I just wear it on the plane or tie it around my waist. Sometimes the plane can be chilly so the jacket may come in handy. It's not much fun being out and about getting soaked in the rain.
Always think layering. We are leaving in a day for a hiking trip, been checking the weather and looks to rain every day. I am packing a fleece jacket, long sleeve shirts and a light down vest. On colder days I'll wear all these items under my rain jacket. If weather gets warmer, I start peeling off layers, down vest first, then keep going as necessary.
A down vest or a fleece jacket is your best lightweight layering piece for under a rain jacket IMO.
A few years ago I purchased a long rain jacket for city wear from Kuhl...https://www.kuhl.com/kuhl/womens/outerwear/ws-jetstream-trench/?color=Blackout I've worn that layered over a long (costco) down packable jacket that is about 10 years old now !
And as another poster stated, bring a ball cap and wear that under your rain hood so you can see ! The brim will keep the brim of the hood out of your eyes and makes the jacket work that much better.
PS> I always pack a small umbrella too... came in very handy touring Stirling Castle when the drizzle just wouldn't stop
