Scotland in winter: what closes and what stays open

Winter in Scotland can be beautiful: low light, snow on the mountains, empty roads and cheaper rooms. It also means short days and many places closed. Plan for both.

Last checked 11 November 2026. Timetables, prices and opening dates change: check the operator before you travel.

What typically closes

Exact dates vary each year. Check each attraction's own website before planning around it.

• Many Historic Environment Scotland sites close from October to March or open with reduced hours. Big sites such as Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle and Urquhart Castle stay open most of the year with shorter winter hours. Some smaller sites are closed altogether in winter.
• Many National Trust for Scotland houses close from late October to around Easter, though gardens and grounds often stay open.
• Privately owned castles such as Dunvegan, Duart, Inveraray, Blair Castle, Cawdor and Dunrobin are generally seasonal, roughly spring to October. Eilean Donan closes for part of the winter.
• Boat trips to Staffa, the Treshnish Isles, the Isle of May and Mousa, and wildlife cruises, mostly stop at the end of September or October.
• Seasonal ferries such as Glenelg–Kylerhea to Skye and the John o' Groats passenger ferry to Orkney do not run in winter.
• The Jacobite steam train runs in its season only, roughly spring to autumn.
• Accommodation, cafés and restaurants in small Highland and island villages often close from October or November to March or Easter. Some fuel stations shorten their hours.
• Distilleries often reduce tour times, and some close their visitor centres in winter.

What stays open

• Edinburgh and Glasgow: museums, galleries, the castle, restaurants. The national museums and galleries are free.
• Most major towns: Inverness, Fort William, Aviemore, Oban, Portree, Stornoway, Kirkwall and Lerwick all have year-round accommodation and food.
• Main CalMac and NorthLink routes, on winter timetables, which often have fewer sailings.
• Ski areas at Cairngorm, Glencoe, Nevis Range, Glenshee and the Lecht, when there is enough snow.
• Landscapes, of course. Glencoe, Skye and the Cairngorms are open to anyone, and spectacular under snow.

Roads in winter

• Main routes such as the A9, A82 and A87 are gritted, but can still be closed temporarily by snow, ice or accidents.
• Snow gates close high roads in bad weather, notably the A93 Glenshee road to Braemar, the A939 between Cockbridge and Tomintoul (the Lecht), and some other high passes. Check Traffic Scotland before you travel.
• The Bealach na Bà to Applecross is often impassable in snow and ice.
• Single-track roads are rarely gritted. Drive slowly and avoid them in icy conditions.
• Carry warm clothes, water, a charged phone and some food. Do not rely on mobile signal.

Daylight

Around the winter solstice, Edinburgh has about 7 hours between sunrise and sunset, and the far north less than 6. That means a full day's sightseeing has to fit roughly between 9am and 3.30pm. Plan shorter driving days, and do not plan long single-track drives in the dark if you can avoid it.

Is winter a good time to visit?

It can be, if you choose well. A winter trip based in Edinburgh, with a few nights in the Highlands at a hotel that stays open, works well. Islands are possible but need more flexibility for ferry cancellations. Bring warm, waterproof clothing and accept that some plans will change with the weather.