A few weeks ago, I had a wonderful weekend spent with some of our closest friends on the Isle of Skye. This was my first time ever staying overnight on the Isle of Skye (I know, I couldnt quite believe it either) and I had such a wonderful time exploring some parts of the island I'd never had the chance to visit before.
One question some of my friends asked me over the course of the weekend was what we do during the winter in the Scottish Highlands. It's something I'd been looking to chat some more about on here. Although winter in the Scottish Highlands might seem like an idilyic winter wonderland, that isn't always the case. So if you want to read below some more of my thoughts of what it's really like to live in the Scottish Highlands during the winter months, read below.
A Lot of Places are Closed
What prompted this conversation with our friends a few weeks ago about the relaities of winter in the Scottish Highlands was the realisation about how many places are closed during the winter months. Coming from Glasgow, this is one part of Highland living that really shocked me. During winter months, a lot of our favourite restaurants and coffee shops close for a well deserved break after the busy summer months.
In order to still enjoy going out on the weekends and being able to support local businesses, I always try to keep up to date with my favourite spot's opening hours on social media. This helps avoid any disappointment and also means I can make a special effort to support my favourite cafes and restuarants when they are open.
It is VERY Dark
Another thing that really shocked me about moving to the Scottish Highlands during the winter months was just how dark it is. I remember when we first moved into our cottage and being totally shocked by just how dark it was when we came home from work at 5 o'clock. This means that, after 4 o'clock in the height of winter, it is too dark to go out with a head torch.
We will often still make an effort to go for a walk with our dog Bru in the dark if we can (with our head torches and a light for Bru's collar). We also try to make the very most of the light during the day, getting outside before it gets dark so we can have a cosy evening at home.
Plans Can Change
I've shared before about how flexible you need to be living in the Scottish Highlands, but this is much more true during the winter months. Quite quickly, it can become incredibly stormy or snowy, without much warning. Last year, we had plans to head down to the Central Belt to spend the weekend with some friends. It was only when we got about 20 minutes away from home that we realised the road was fairly impassable, with heavy snow falling and a lot of other cars on the road unable to keep going. We ended up turning around and heading down the road the next day.
At the time, I was incredibly disappointed but I was also so thankful to be able to turn around and head home before the snow got worse. This kind of flexibility (especially in the winter months) is definitely needed for life in the Scottish Highlands.
It is Very Beautiful
Despite many coffee shops and cafes being closed, the darkness of the evenings and the changeable weather conditions, I actually still love winter in the Scottish Highlands. At this time of year, falling snow makes the hillsides come alive. The lack of light pollution means the skies are shining with all the stars (and sometimes you can even catch a glimpse of the Aurora Borealis).
It's a chance for locals to get out and explore the places we don't get a chance to explore during tourist season and gives us the opportunity to remember why we love our Highland homes so much.