By Marie Mulrooney
Ireland and Scotland are popular tourist destinations for travelers from
Europe and throughout the world. Factors that affect the best time to travel to Ireland and Scotland include weather, average temperature, festival dates and whether or not you're concerned about avoiding tourist crowds.
Rainfall
Scotland tends to be rainiest from October through January. Ireland is at its wettest in December and January of most years.
Pagan Festivals
You may still find revelers celebrating the traditional Celtic new year's date of Samhain on November 1 in both countries. Beltane, an ancient fire festival, is still celebrated by some on May 1.
Modern Scottish Festivals
Hogmanay, a raucous new year's celebration on December 31st, is one of the most popular contemporary festivals in Scotland. The Hebridean Celtic Festival is a four-day celebration of music, held on the Isle of Lewis in July.
Modern Irish Festivals
St. Patrick's Festival in early March is cause for celebration of all things Irish. The Belfast Festival at Queens in mid-to-late October is the largest of its kind in Ireland, featuring all kinds of performance art, from literature to music and theater.
Tourists
You're likely to encounter crowds of tourists during the warmest, fairest months of the year, July and August. Consider traveling in spring or fall to avoid the crowds.
Off Season
If you're willing to brave the cold and wet, traveling in from October to March may give you a taste of authentic Ireland and Scotland because many major tourist attractions will be closed.
About the Author:
Marie Mulrooney has written professionally since 2001. Her diverse background includes numerous outdoor pursuits, personal training and linguistics. She studied mathematics and contributes regularly to various online publications. Mulrooney's print publication credits include national magazines, poetry awards and long-lived columns about local outdoor adventures.
