£100 and £200 off this cottage price.
This will be a lovely year for Summer and Autumn weather in Scotland. Skiing and Winter walking will be good as well. A good weather forecast and low cost cottage holidays will mean an upsurge in self catering bookings, say the experts.
First, and most important, Scottish weather should be good this year. Also, when people feel hard up they stay at home for high value, low cost holidays. UK Hotels bookings this year may be in trouble, bed and breakfast will hold their own, but holiday cottages should have a boom time. Book your holiday deal as soon as possible.
Weather prospects good for Scotland Last year skiing in winter was fabulous and it should be so agsain. The signs are that the weather will be brighter this year for Spring and Summer holidays in Scotland. Long range weather forecasts start in the North and South Pacific.
According to the renowned US Climate Prediction Centre, the Gulf Stream has
stabilised over the North Atlantic, creating good weather conditions for the UK and
in the Pacific, the warm waters of La Nina have disappeared this year so the jet
stream winds should be back to their normal course.
The Gulf Stream affects Scotland particularly as it comes close enough to the West
coast to create a Mediterranean climate effect in the western parts of the Northern
highlands. For the past two years the jet stream has been pushed off course causing
two of the wettest and windiest summers that Britain can remember. But not this coming year,
say the US forecasters.
All of this makes for a prediction for a sunnier Spring Summer and Autumn. Even
a warm end to the Winter is predicted by the more than usually accurate Paul Simon
The Time’s meterological correspondent.
A third but rather more controversial indicator is this year’s increase in the
number of Sun spots. This kind of solar activity has been associated with warm
weather conditions in the UK in the past, and bodes well now for the Summer weather.
On the economic front things look good for Scotland’s self-
The high cost of sterling, and rising air fares have made the Continent very
unattractive for British tourists many of whom will holiday at home. At the same time, tourists to Scotland from Germany and the USA are expected to increase. The credit crunch has come at exactly the right time for Scotland before most people have booked their holidays.
It is expected that this Summer people will look to the best holiday value for money, and in
uncertain economic conditions they will book late.
Without doubt, British families will realise that a Cottage in Scotland, hired for a
week, can give each person a cost per night of just £14. That is one-
cost of a hotel, and just over half the cost of Bed and Breakfast.
In Scotland there are over 10,000 cottages and chalets offered for self catering. Look to the home page on this site for 12 of the best ones spread around the country.
There has been a growing tendency for late booking and this is expected to increase
this year, but families should not leave it too late because the best properties are
snapped up for the high season before the end of March.
The peak season for self catering in Scotland is in the school holidays -
includes Easter and the May holiday. These dates are usually filled up early. But
cottage owners offer lower rates for folks booking slightly off season. A couple can
save £100 a week or more if they book slightly off the main season.
In Scotland also, some cottage owners in the right districts make a strong feature of
offering very low cost winter breaks. In the mountain areas, cottages are often sold
out for March and April, and even February can be booked up. At this time of year
the cost per night for self catering is around £9 per head. That is truly exceptional, yes?
This photo was taken in late November last, showing the hills of Morven, from nearby Glencoe.
Who said Scotland’s weather is no good? It can be absolutely brilliant at any time of year.
This coming Summer and Autumn weather is forecasted to be the best for years. The long range weather forecast for Scotland is exceptional. Scotland in the sunshine is unbelievably beautiful. The hills are green, the Autumn colours are red and gold. Families are booking late holidays this year. There are last minute cottage deals around but you’ll need to book them now to get the best holiday deals. Book a direct holiday with the owners of the best holiday cottages in Scotland Just go to our Home page