Packing is one of our favourite (and least favourite!) things to do when travelling. It totally builds excitement to our travels, but it also brings a huge amount of stress:
- Do I need trousers, shorts, skirts or all three?
- How many t-shirts is too many?
- Are boots necessary for our beach trip?
And the one question I genuinely believe everyone stresses over:
- Are 14 pairs of underwear enough for a week away?
It is far too easy to go overboard when packing for a holiday. Because we are from the UK and mostly travel on budget airlines (where you pay extra for hand luggage and through the nose for checked luggage) we have become super savvy at packing just what we need.
To avoid the headache, we make a list of everything we need and go from there. Now there will always be times where your basic list of things needs to be altered, for example, sun cream for hotter countries and more layers for colder places, but a base list is always important!
Keep reading to see what you will need for a one-week trip to Scotland during spring.
“I heard it rains every day in Scotland”
Whilst this is not that far from the truth sometimes, what we consider the most important thing to be aware of when travelling to Scotland in spring is that you are not guaranteed the warm, sunny days that you may see online. We have some of the most changeable weather in the world, I have seen blue sky and sun turn to rain and wind no more than five minutes later, I even remember seeing snow in July one year!
The average temperature in spring (March, April and May) is usually about 11 Celsius (52 Fahrenheit) however each month is distinctly different weather wise.
March can be a particularly cool month, but the cold bite of the winter has usually faded slightly.
With April comes the famous phrase April Showers, however statistically the month of April is our least rainy month both by rainfall and rainy days! April is also when you’ll start to see less padded jackets out and about as the air turns slightly warmer.
Then we have May, which is one of my favourite months for weather, we always seem to have such glorious sunny days that you wish would stay forever. It’s also around about May that our landscape starts to return to its luscious best and the bright colours of nature start to pop as you roam around the country.
What clothes will I bring?
With that said, when coming to Scotland you need to be prepared for all weathers – sun, showers and snow!
Our basics would be:
- Underwear – I feel like this is an obvious one, but I have travelled with my sister who forgot to bring all her underwear once so it’s best I mention it.
- 2 Pairs of Trousers – We tend to travel in jeans for short haul flights around Europe so we always have these with us. They are heavy enough for the cold but light enough to be worn if it’s warmer. I also take a pair of leggings as they are so easy to pack and it’s such a handy way to have more outfit options. For the men out there, Liam tends to take two pairs of jeans or if he requires his walking trousers he subs them in.
- 2 Skirts/Dresses – Particularly in May it can sometimes get quite warm. I’ve seen myself in a little summer dress at BBQ’s in May, so having a dress or skirt with you is always smart. It’s also handy as you could be lucky enough to be invited to something exciting and need a wee dress!
- 2/3 Jumpers – As I have said Scotland can be chilly and jumpers are always a great layer to have. I practically spend every day from October through to March in a jumper. Bring them and expect to wear them!
- 4/5 T-shirts – Again there is quite a demand for layering your clothes when it is cold, and t-shirts are perfect for under those jumpers! It’s also handy if you get a good day and you just need a wee jacket and t-shirt. Make sure you have enough! If you can get into an Airbnb with a washing machine you could probably bring this number down further.
- Hat, Scarf and Gloves – Spring is when we stop seeing so many of these being worn however sometimes we have particularly cold days, and they need to be dragged back out so if you’re coming to Scotland in the spring, I would highly recommend a set being packed!
- Waterproof Jacket – Perfect for the unpredictable spring weather, a waterproof jacket is a must. You will be happier for having it when a rain shower appears from nowhere. It should not be too heavy for the warmer spring temperatures and just large enough that it allows for layering underneath in case the temperature drops.
- Boots and Trainers – Footwear is so tricky as it depends on what your itinerary is, but I always think in the spring in Scotland you can’t go wrong with boots and trainers. I always travel in my trainers and boots are handy for rainy/muddy days. Liam always brings his walking shoes so he has a pair he doesn’t mind getting a bit more messy. Also, in later spring, a pair of sandals would not go amiss for those warmer days.
Anything else I need to bring?
Now that’s what we usually travel with clothing wise in our carry-ons. Our carry-ons are standard size and we always prefer to travel with just them and a rucksack as it speeds up the process on the other end.
In terms of other miscellaneous items, there’s the basics: your passports, headphones, chargers, kindle/book, other toiletries etc. But one thing I always think that many people wouldn’t consider when coming to Scotland is the need for coins when you exchange money.
We are a nation that still loves a pound coin here and there for various things, specifically if you are hiring a car! Our car parks are notoriously odd when it comes to amounts. For example, our local car park requires £2.30 per hour to park AND the machine doesn’t give change, so you need the exact amount. Moral of the story is: try to keep a stash of £1s, 50ps, 20ps and 10ps as they will always be handy.
What do I not need to bring?
If you’re a seasoned traveller then you probably have a fair idea of things you can leave behind when travelling to certain areas of the world. If not, this section is for you.
It’s hard to know if certain items are going to be necessary when abroad, especially if you’ve never been so I’ve tried my hardest to think of things that I feel could make those suitcases have even more room for souvenirs:
- Body wash – In most Scottish hotels this will already be provided so if you are looking to free up space or weight then this could be an item you leave behind. Also, it’s super cheap to purchase from any supermarket, Boots or Superdrug type stores.
- Hairdryer – Again, looking to free up space? Every place we stay in the UK always has either a hairdryer in the room or you can request one from reception. They are such a clunky item to pack so you could definitely leave yours behind.
- Printed Boarding Passes/Attraction Tickets – We are really bad for this; however, we are trying to improve! Most airlines and attractions now only require the email/digital version of a ticket as it makes their lives far easier too, so make your life less stressful and try to only print the things that are required to be printed!
And there you have it folks, a handy little packing guide for a week in Scotland in the Spring!
We have also made a PDF version which you can download to print or just for reference!
