Best of Scotland —September—packing tips for rainy weather

I took this tour a couple years ago and we had great weather. We did get rain, but I don't remember a day where it rained all day. I have an Eddie Bauer rain jacket (to mid thigh with a hood) that I always take when I travel as a lightweight jacket I can supplement with a light sweater or a fleece vest. For my Scotland trip I took extra socks in case my feet got wet and a pair of flats rather than my usual sandals as my 2nd pair of shoes in case my tennies needed to dry. I didn't even bring my travel umbrella as I knew they are easy to buy if really needed. I hope you are as lucky with weather as I was. It's a wonderful tour.

I found that rain pants were a necessity, and also added warmth, especially on a dreary night. An OP here found some reasonable priced Icreek rain pants ( about $29) on Amazon, and you have a choice of colors!
Have a wonderful trip!

If your rain jacket has a hood, take a ball cap with a long bill. Wear it under the hood. This will prevent the hood from flopping down over your eyes as many are prone to do. Also, take a pair of dry socks in a zip lock bag in your day bag. Have come in handy a couple of times.

My tour was in a June and it was the only time on any tour I wished for rain pants. We got deluged on on the Mull/Iona day.

I traveled to Orkney and Shetland last August and found that it worked to put my waterproof rain jacket and rain pants in a large compression packing cube and then put them in my day pack that way. I also had a ball cap (not a ball cap wearer) to wear under my rain hood to keep the water off my face, plus had glove liners.

I recommend waterproof shoes as well. I use Altra Lone Peak waterproof shoes but you should use whatever brand fits your feet the best!

Also plan to layer under your rain jacket - I usually go with a short sleeve tee topped with a quarter zip dri fit pull over. That is plenty warm for me but if you are from someplace that is pretty warm you might want a puffy vest or jacket to layer under.

IF you are going to buy rain pants, try to go to someplace like REI where you can try on various brands. Wear the shoes you plan to take so you can see if you can get the pants on over your shoes. It's a PIA to have to take off your shoes when it's wet and muddy!

We took the 8 day Scotland tour in May. What a lovely country. I was concerned about slippery and uneven pavement/cobblestones, so I got Altra waterproof trail runner shoes at REI, and they were fabulous. Enjoy your trip!

We took the tour in late June and early July this year. There was a lot of rain in the forecast, for me to take into account when packing. I wanted to be able to keep my feet dry so I bought a pair of waterproof shoes. I chose Vessi sneakers, and I was very glad to have them. Right out of the box, they were very comfortable for walking. It rained on several days when we were on the tour, but this rain didn't spoil the tour. It was never an all-day rain, it was more intermittent. Most of the showers were brief. The sky would be cloudy and grey, then it would rain for 20 or 30 minutes, then it would stop. It seemed like the locals were ignoring it, with only tourists pulling out umbrellas and pulling up rain coat hoods! I usually pack a very small, light travel umbrella when traveling but this time I took a larger and sturdier one. I had to use it one time. We got caught in an unexpected 30 minute downpour while attending a local Highlands games, with no place to seek shelter. My decent sized umbrella kept me dry and stood up to the wind. The weather, for our June/July tour, was in the high 50's and low 60's on many days. I wished I'd brought more sweaters! Layering is the key.

I did the tour a few years ago in early spring and the secret is layers. I travel with a Marmot rain jacket and rain pants. They pack small and are good for both rain and as a windbreak on cold, windy days. A fleece and wool sweater ensure I am ready for all temperatures. I also typically take a scarf, hat and gloves. I have needed them even in August in Ireland. And, of course, waterproof shoes. My feet like Merrills. This tour is great fun! Enjoy!!