Jemima Kirkwood 10 November 2019
Everyone dreams of a white Christmas. We want to rise out of bed, open the curtains and be greeted by untouched blankets of snow, a crisp glistening frost, and a wintery sky that promises a dry day.
A white Christmas makes everything feel more special and adds an extra level of fun to the holidays with winter sports and snowy activities being added to the agenda. Families are all different when it comes to snow sports. You get the families that are laid back and only undertake snowy expeditions for fun, like a leisurely walk tied in with a bit of sledging. Then you get the families that are keen snow-sport enthusiasts who will drive for miles to seek a snowy mountain edge to ski down. Each to their own we say, and luckily Scotland can cater for all!
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So, whether you are looking for a snowy field to build a snowman, some wild hills for some good old-fashioned tobogganing or snow-covered mountains for skiing and snowboarding, here are the best places to find snow in Scotland for a white Christmas.
*If you are visiting Scotland for the first time, and are inexperienced with snowy weather, it is important to always be prepared with suitable clothing and to respect the unpredictability of nature. Don’t leave your group, stick together and be sensible.
Glenshee
Average snowfall: 60 days a year.
Suited to: Keen snow sport and outdoor adventure enthusiasts. Families with older children (unless booked into ski-school). Couples & groups of friends.
Glenshee, quite often referred to as ‘the Scottish three glens’, is made up of three valleys and is the largest ski resort in Scotland. Located in Aberdeenshire on the A93 road between Blairgowrie and Braemar, it offers more lifts and terrain than any other UK ski centre, boasting 36 runs and 21 lifts. The resort has welcomed skiers since the 1930s and still to this day is a popular spot for tourists and locals alike as it’s within easy reach of Stirling, Dundee, Edinburgh and Aberdeen. With slopes to suit all levels, this is a lovely place for a snowy day out. Opening a week before Christmas, you can tie in some snow-filled fun during your Scottish break.
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Popular activities: Skiing, snowboarding, telemark skiing, winter mountaineering, ski touring and ice climbing.
Facilities
- Café offering hot drinks, food and snacks
- Shop selling gifts, winter warmers and equipment
- Ski hire providing you with the right kit
- Ski school offering lessons for your group
Stay close by: Get your extended family together for a snowy Christmas you won’t forget and stay in Corrydon Lodge (sleeps 8). If you are a couple looking to escape for some Christmas snow-sport fun, The Old Laundry (sleeps 2) will suit you perfectly.
All Aberdeenshire cottages
Cairngorms National Park
Average snowfall: 76 days a year.
Suited to: Keen snow sport and outdoor adventure enthusiasts. Families with all levels of skill from beginner to experienced.
This is one of the best places in Scotland to go for snow, boasting the snowiest days in the country with an average of 76 days of snow each year! As well as being an incredibly popular tourist attraction all year round, it is another one of Scotland’s popular snow sports destinations offering 30km of pisted runs and 10 lifts, suiting a range of ages and levels. It is a treat to spend a day here, shooting around the slopes whilst being surrounded by frosted mountains and views over the valley, Loch Morlich glistening in the distance. For those who would rather not hurtle down the hills, the resort has its own herd of reindeer which both children and adults love. They roam free and are really used to humans, so be sure to wish them well on their travels with Santa.
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Popular activities: Skiing, snowboarding, winter mountaineering, ski touring, tubing and ice climbing.
Facilities
- Shop selling gifts, souvenirs and outdoor equipment
- Café and bar located in the Day Lodge offering home-made dishes and freshly baked cakes
- Ski hire providing you with the right kit
- Ski school offering lessons for your group
Stay close by: Hill View Lodge (sleeps 14) is the perfect base for your Highland adventure offering a luxurious setting for you and your loved ones. Couples will enjoy returning to Birch Croit (sleeps 2) to unwind after a full day of outdoor pursuits.
All Cairngorms cottages
Discover more of what the Cairngorms National Park has to offer with our complete guide to the Cairngorms.
Orkney
Average snowfall: 59 days a year.
Suited to: Families and friends looking for slower and relaxed pace.
One of the surest ways to find snow in Scotland is to head to the most northerly place, rather than setting off for the mountains. The islands of Orkney and Shetland are set off the north coast of the Scottish mainland and are easily reached by ferry from John O’Groats. Orkney is closer and therefore easier to get to and, if you do make the journey, you are bound to come across snow at The Loch of Hundland. Whilst there is no activity centre here to fill a whole day, it is a peaceful place to come and marvel at the beauty of winter. With lots of trails for walking and cycling, you can take on mini adventures with a sledge and find plenty of places to play. With lots of wild ground to cover, this makes for charming days out with the children bird watching, exploring, playing hide and seek, and building snowmen.
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Popular activities: Walking, cycling, running, bird watching, fishing.
Nearby attractions
- Kirbuster Museum – an authentic museum of an old working farm
- Skara Brae prehistoric village – a stone-built Neolithic settlement
- Ring of Brodgar – a Neolithic henge and stone circle
- Barony Mill – Orkney's last remaining water mill
Stay close by: Couples can retreat to Neuketineuks (sleeps 2) in Kirkwall after days out adventuring the island.
All Orkney cottages
Eskdalemuir, Dumfries and Galloway
Average snowfall: 20 days a year.
Suited to: Families and friends looking for slower and relaxed pace.
Most would head straight for the north if they were asked to seek out snow in Scotland, but the village of Eskadalemuir in the Scottish Borders has been known to be a great place to find it. Apparently, during the period 1981 – 2010, the village saw snow fall on an average of 50 days a year; there is less snowfall now but it’s a safe bet between the months of December and March. With lots of surrounding fields and hills, there are plenty of places to spend a relaxing morning of sledging, igloo building, snowman creating and snowball fighting. After hours spent rolling about in the snow, you can pop to the Eskadalemuir community hub where you can warm up next to the fire with some home-made food, soup and baking.
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Nearby attractions
- Traquair House – Christmas events and a nice stop for tea and cake
- Lockerbie Ice Rink – ice skating and roller skating
- Grey Mares Tail Nature Reserve – National Park
- Dino Park – indoor and outdoor play areas
Stay close by: For two, Cuddies Lodge (sleeps 2) is the perfect getaway and base to explore from whilst Tweedsmuir School House (sleeps 6) promises any family a stylish and comfortable stay.
If you are interested in spending Christmas, New Year, or a winter break in Scotland with the added experience of snow, you want to look at planning your holiday between the months of November and March. If you aim for then, you have a higher chance of catching the snowfalls in Scotland. View our collection of luxury cottages for winter breaks and plan your holiday today.
Cottages for Christmas
For inspiration on how the Scots do it, read our guide on a traditional Scottish Christmas.
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing, please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.
FAQs
Where can I have white Christmas in Scotland? ›
William Hill has named Glasgow and Edinburgh as the locations with the best chance of a white Christmas. Both of the Scottish cities are priced at 2-1 for the chance of a white Christmas, with forecasts of snow throughout December.
Where is the best place for snow in Scotland at Christmas? ›- Ben Nevis.
- Cairngorms National Park.
- Glencoe.
- Loch Ness.
Scotland recorded white Christmas in 2022, Met Office says | The National.
Where does it need to snow in UK to be a white Christmas? ›United Kingdom
An "official" white Christmas is defined by the Met Office as "one snowflake to be observed falling in the 24 hours of 25 December somewhere in the UK", but formerly the snow had to be observed at the Met Office building in London.
Cairngorm Mountain is the destination with the most snow guaranteed during the season.
What is the snowiest town in Scotland? ›Cairngorms
The weather station at the Cairngorm chairlift has the highest average number of days of snow falling, with snow falling on 76 days throughout the year (based on 1981-2010 averages), while the station at Aviemore records 66 days.
It chilly during the time of the year as temperatures drop to an average of 41.9 degrees Fahrenheit (5.5 degrees Celsius). Snow white Christmases are typical in Scotland as it snows severely.
What month is it most likely to snow in Scotland? ›December, January and February are generally the coldest months in Scotland, with the average maximum temperature usually around 5°C (41°F). The average number of days with snow falling in Scotland ranges from 15 to 20 days. However, the peaks and mountains of the Highlands experience around 100 days of falling snow.
Which town in the UK is most likely to have a white Christmas? ›| Ranking | Location | Chance of snow |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Moray, Scotland | 95.9% |
| 2 | Highlands, Scotland | 91.2% |
| 3 | Perth and Kinros, Scotland | 90.5% |
| 4 | Pendle District, England | 86.3% |
The Scottish capital is currently 3/1 to see the white stuff on December 25, according to Gambling.com. The site has just launched its White Christmas 2022 page, with Glasgow also appearing at the top of the list. The page will be regularly updated as weather patterns change in the run-up to Christmas.
What are the chances of a white Christmas in Edinburgh? ›
...
2022 White Christmas Odds.
Christmas Day is expected to be cloudy and light rain expected to develop by the afternoon, and mild conditions will remain with temperatures reaching highs of 8C and lows of 3C.
Where in the UK are you guaranteed snow at Christmas? ›Cairngorms. For the best chance of British snow, you need to head upwards.
Where is a guaranteed white Christmas? ›One of the coldest cities in the world, Fairbanks, Alaska, gets its fair share of snow during the winter. It also has a 100% chance of snow on Christmas Day.
Does Edinburgh Scotland get snow? ›Generally speaking, the weather in Edinburgh is at its coldest in January and February, with the minimum mean temperature averaging roughly 1.5°C. It can be gusty at times and we do occasionally get snow which makes the city look even more magical – so have your camera at the ready!
Where is it most likely to snow on Christmas? ›The state with the snowiest Christmas in the U.S. is Michigan, with a 36% chance of snowfall on December 25th. The state with the least snowy Christmas in the U.S. is Hawaii, with a 0% chance of snowfall on December 25th. Alaska has the highest median snow depth in the U.S., at 11.71 inches.
Can you see the northern lights in Scotland? ›Shetland lies closer to the North Pole than any other part of Britain, making it one of the best places to see the northern lights in Scotland. Over winter, the locals will vouch that you can expect to see the auroras several times with a mix of low-level displays and one or two really spectacular ones.
What is the most magical place in Scotland? ›Isle of Skye
If ever a unicorn would prance, it would be on this mist-shrouded, mountainous island. Skye is undoubtedly one of the most magical places to visit in Scotland.
Rovaniemi, Finland. Lapland, the northernmost region of Finland, has become synonymous with Christmas and Santa Claus. The town of Rovaniemi is known as "the official hometown of Santa Claus" and visitors to the charming Santa Claus Village can meet St.
Is it worth visiting Scotland in December? ›Scotland in December is as beautiful a month as any, with its own subtle charms, and year-topping highlights you won't forget. There's festive atmosphere galore, perfect cosy retreats and bright winter days.
How many times has it snowed Christmas Day in Scotland? ›
They were 1906, 1917, 1923, 1938, 1956 and 1970. Snow has been a little more frequent further north with 1995 bringing immense drifting snows to Shetland and the north of Scotland bringing down power lines and cutting off communities.
Is it worth visiting Scotland in winter? ›Is it worth travelling to Scotland in winter? Absolutely! There are so many reasons why travelling to Scotland in the offseason is a good idea – it's cheaper, less crowded and the snow-capped peaks of the Highlands are breathtaking.
Does it snow on the Isle of Skye? ›It's not uncommon to see snow on the Isle of Skye due to how north it is. You can usually expect to see snow between the months of December to February. In milder winters you can just expect to see a lot of rain so make sure you come prepared.
Where in Scotland does it snow in December? ›', the country's spectacular mountain ranges are most likely to receive a dusting of snow through the winter. As well as the Cairngorms National Park and Glencoe, remote areas in the Highlands and the Isle of Skye are highly likely to see snow and are some of the best places for snow in Scotland.
Is Christmas a good time to go to Scotland? ›December is a great month to travel to Scotland. It's still easy to drive around and visit the top attractions, including its lovely towns, historic sites and natural highlights. Here are some of the best places to visit in Scotland in December: Visit, shop and eat your way around the historic capital, Edinburgh.
Where is guaranteed snow in December in Europe? ›To find a truly white Christmas in Europe, it's best to head to the Alps or to Scandinavia. The further north you are, the stronger the chance of snowfall.
What months does it snow in Glasgow? ›The snow season generally starts in November and ends in April but, while temperatures can get pretty low in winter, snow is not always expected. In fact, it's pretty unlikely for Glasgow to receive snow at all, and when it does, for it to stick around long enough to enjoy it.
How cold does Scotland get in December? ›Scotland Weather in December
Winter is in full swing, so expect a nationwide average of between 2°C and 7°C. Glasgow is the coldest among the major cities, with lows of 0.9°C and highs of around 5°C.
January through March, November and December are months with snowfall. In Edinburgh, during 1.7 snowfall days, 12mm (0.47") of snow is typically accumulated. In Edinburgh, United Kingdom, during the entire year, snow falls for 9.2 days and aggregates up to 66mm (2.6") of snow.
When was the last white Christmas in Scotland? ›Parts of Scotland reported a white Christmas last year (2021), with snow falling across Aberdeenshire, Perthshire and Shetland on December 25. Prior to that, other than a few snowflakes, Scotland has only had a widespread covering of snow four times since 1960 – in 1981, 1995, 2009 and 2010.
Where is the perfect Christmas town in the UK? ›
Bakewell
With a plethora of quaint cafés, snowy riverside walks, and cracking Christmas displays, it is easy to see why this is one of the best places to go for Christmas in the UK. As well as the attractive town centre, the magnificent Peak District National Park is waiting to be explored.
There was no record of snow falling at any station in the UK in 2018, or in 2019. The last widespread white Christmas in the UK was in 2010.
Will it be a white Christmas in Edinburgh? ›Christmas is just days away so looking ahead to the weekend, we have gathered the current weather forecast for Edinburgh to cover Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Edinburgh may not be getting a white Christmas. (Image: Getty 2022.)
Is Christmas a big deal in Scotland? ›For many Scots, Christmas is one of the year's biggest events. It's a time for gathering with friends and family to enjoy the festivities and take part in local traditions. Visit Scotland in the run-up to Christmas, and you'll see the country decked out in its festive finest.
Where is the best place in the world to have a white Christmas? ›Rovaniemi, Finland
The magic of Christmas doesn't have to be confined to December – at Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, the holiday is celebrated year-round.
The average number of days with snow falling in Scotland ranges from 15 to 20 days. However, the peaks and mountains of the Highlands experience around 100 days of falling snow. The snowsports season varies each year, but generally it runs from November to April.
When did it last snow in Glasgow on Christmas Day? ›“Naturally with Scotland being in the North, the odds have tumbled on Glasgow and Edinburgh airports, even though the country hasn't seen snow on Christmas day since 2010 it is still the most likely according to forecasters.” You can find this story in My Bookmarks.
Is it a white Christmas anywhere in the UK? ›Meanwhile in the UK, 2021 was the last white Christmas with 6% of stations recording snow falling, but less than 1% of stations reported any snow lying on the ground. The last widespread white Christmas in the UK was also in 2010.
Where is it most likely to snow on Christmas UK? ›| Ranking | Location | Chance of snow |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Moray, Scotland | 95.9% |
| 2 | Highlands, Scotland | 91.2% |
| 3 | Perth and Kinros, Scotland | 90.5% |
| 4 | Pendle District, England | 86.3% |
How often does it snow in Glasgow? The snow season generally starts in November and ends in April but, while temperatures can get pretty low in winter, snow is not always expected. In fact, it's pretty unlikely for Glasgow to receive snow at all, and when it does, for it to stick around long enough to enjoy it.
Can you ski in Scotland in December? ›
When is the best time to ski in Scotland? The season usually runs from December through to early April, but this varies depending on snowfall. Snow conditions are very changeable, but are generally best from January to April, so make sure that you are ready to visit at short notice.
What town has a white Christmas every year? ›Mammoth Lakes, California
Thanks to its high elevation of nearly 8,000 feet, the town of Mammoth Lakes sees long, snowy winters.
Along with Strasbourg, Croatia's capital, Zagreb, has been repeatedly named Best Christmas holiday destination in Europe by European Best Destinations.
Does Scotland have snow at Christmas? ›Snow in December
It chilly during the time of the year as temperatures drop to an average of 41.9 degrees Fahrenheit (5.5 degrees Celsius). Snow white Christmases are typical in Scotland as it snows severely.
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What's the weather like in winter in Glasgow?
| MONTH | AVERAGE HIGH | AVERAGE LOW |
|---|---|---|
| December | 6°C | 1°C |
| January | 5°C | 1°C |
| February | 6°C | 0°C |
Experts at OLBG have announced their yearly white Christmas page for 2022, with Glasgow sharing the top spot for snowfall alongside fellow Scottish city Edinburgh, and just south of the border Newcastle.
Where does it snow in Scotland in December? ›', the country's spectacular mountain ranges are most likely to receive a dusting of snow through the winter. As well as the Cairngorms National Park and Glencoe, remote areas in the Highlands and the Isle of Skye are highly likely to see snow and are some of the best places for snow in Scotland.
Which part of Scotland gets most snow? ›Cairngorms
The weather station at the Cairngorm chairlift has the highest average number of days of snow falling, with snow falling on 76 days throughout the year (based on 1981-2010 averages), while the station at Aviemore records 66 days.
- Quebec City, Canada.
- Lapland, Finland.
- Reykjavik, Iceland.
- Glasgow, UK.
- Midwest, USA.
- Salzburg, Austria.
- Budapest, Hungary.
- Tromsø, Norway.
1: Rovaniemi Lapland Christmas Village (Finland) Lapland is top of the list of the best Europe destinations for a White Christmas experience, and Rovaniemi is the ULTIMATE White Christmas destination. WHY? Because Rovaniemi is known worldwide as THE Official Home Town of Santa Claus, and the Santa Claus Village.