What to Wear in Scotland

Wondering what to pack for a trip to Scotland? Look no further! We'll discuss rainy days, that Scottish sunshine, and warming up when it gets chilly in the Highlands!

Disclosure: some of the links below are affiliate links. If you purchase a linked item, I will make a commission, at no extra charge to you. I received a dress from Wool& for free. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Updated April ,2020.

Wondering what to wear in Scotland?

Scotland continues to be one of my favorite spots "across the pond," no matter how many other places I visit. Gorgeous landscapes, romantic history, and charming people - what more could you want! 

Scottish charm also comes with quite a bit of rain, mist, and sometimes, a weirdly bone-chilling cold, even though the mercury might not actually be that low. So grab a cuppa, or a pint!, and let's walk through my recommendations for what to wear in Scotland!

If you need more convincing to visit Scotland, check out 5 Reasons to Visit Scotland! 

View of Edinburgh Castle

What to Wear in Scotland:
​Getting organized with packing cubes

No packing article would be complete without recommending my favorite packing cubes, to keep you organized before your trip even starts!

For more travel essentials, check-out my list of Europe Travel Essentials for all the items that I don't travel without!

These cubes keep all your possessions organized before, during, and on the way home from the trip. I love being able to keep small items neat and tidy in cramped European hotel rooms. If you're concerned about germs, you can leave your clothes in the cubes and put them in the hotel drawers.

What to Wear in Scotland:
​A rain coat and umbrella

​It rains quite a lot in Great Britain, though a lot of it is either short-lived or just mist. It's not like a tropical, mid-afternoon downpour; it's more of a constant, light, drizzle. The British don't let it stop them from going about their day, and neither should you!

Urquhart Castle, Inverness, The Scottish Highlands

Of course, you'll want to bring the right clothes. In "shoulder season," aka spring and fall, the right, light, rain jacket is essential.  The average temperature is only between 46 and 57 through most of the fall. Even if it's sunny, it's generally not super warm, but lovely and comfortable (with very little humidity).

For me, there is no better coat for Scotland than a traditional, waxed Barbour coat. It was literally made to withstand that British mist, and you'll definitely look like a local. I bought a hood that snaps on, as well. When the mist ended, I could just pop it down and carry on!

And, while you're at it, might as well pick-up a small umbrella, if you don't already have one! You're going to need it! I try to find one small enough to fit into my coat pocket, when not in use!

What to Wear in Scotland:
​Waterproof shoes

Don't wear shoes that can't get at least a little wet, if you get unexpected rain. The skies may be clear when you leave your hotel, but you could be hit by random drizzle mid-afternoon.

If you're going full country chic, I'd just recommend riding boots. If you're in town and feeling a bit more city chic, booties will do the trick! Don't forget warm socks to go in those boots! On the colder days, I appreciated keeping the toes warm, and it's good to have a bit of cushion if you're going to be taking 20,000 steps in a day!

Should I just wear rain boots?

While I love rain boots, I find them hard to walk in, hot, and extremely difficult to pack (can't wear them on the plane if they don't fit in your suitcase). With the intermittent nature of the rain, I don't think tromping around in rain boots is really necessary, especially when you're popping in and out of different tourist sites.

What to Wear in Scotland: Great jeans

St Andrews Castle, St Andrews, Scotland

To cap off your jacket/rain attire for fall in Scotland, I'd pair it with some pairs of classic jeans that work with whatever boots you've selected for your adventures. Personally, it's often too chilly for bare legs (outside of the height of summer), so if you're rocking a skirt, I'd definitely bring some thick tights/leggings for underneath.

​We found Scotland generally to be pretty casual, but do remember that some European restaurants have stricter dress codes than American ones. If you're going somewhere nice, make sure that jeans won't be a problem.

​Pro tip: if you're going to be rocking the jeans/boots/jacket look, be sure to try it all on together before you go to make sure that it all fits and is comfortable and tucks in at all the right places!

What to Wear in Scotland: A giant sweater

For walking around during the day, or hitting the pubs at night, you can't go wrong with some cozy sweaters! I'm all about Irish fisherman sweaters (I know, I know), as they're just about the warmest thing around! I also like a few turtlenecks, as I find them comfortable under the coat without having to wear a scarf, but a nice scarf is never a mistake! Orvis and LL Bean make some of the coziest!

Craigmillar Castle, Edinburgh

What to Wear in Scotland: Sunglasses

On the days the sun shines (which, generally, are quite a few in the lovely fall!), you'll want to have those shades! I remember sitting on a train to St Andrews from Edinburgh with a lovely couple - as they left the train, the lady said "Enjoy the Scottish sunshine" and it completely made my day!

What to Wear in Scotland: Cozy dresses

When it's not rainy and you're enjoying that gorgeous, Scottish sunshine, why not add a comfy dress the to wardrobe? Add tights/leggings, one of those big, chunky scarves, and whichever pair of boots you opted for, and you're ready to go!

My most recent find is the Clara Shirt Dress from Wool&. It's lightweight, yet warm, and wool that doesn't itch or get that stale wool smell in drizzle and, it's got a great, structured look. It even has pockets and a tie at the waist for some added pizzaz. And hey, it even looks great under a Barbour coat, and since it's machine washable, it's not a problem if it gets caught in surprise rain!

Thanks for stopping by!

The Scotch Whiskey Experience, Edinburgh

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• Visiting the Palace of Holyrood House in Edinburgh
• Exploring Craigmillar Castle, Duddingston

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