There’s no such thing as bad weather…

It has been a long hard winter in Scotland. Here in the Highlands we had snow lying above 100m at the beginning of May, and hail caused all sorts of chaos. People wonder why on earth we talk about the weather so much in the UK, especially in Scotland, perhaps it is because we can have 4 seasons in one day and we are at its mercy!

However, there are things we can do to mitigate the effects of the weather. Pull on an extra pair of socks, put on an extra layer under your jumper and make sure that your rain jacket is actually waterproof. If you are heading out into the Scottish countryside for your holidays this year instead of oversees to warmer climes it pays to be prepared. I will never forget when dear friends from North Carolina came to visit us in the middle of summer and froze because we barely saw a day over 15 degrees celsius. Needless to say we kitted them out with extra jumpers and hats!

Here are a few top tips for keeping warm and dry

• Always have an extra pair of socks with you to change into if you miscalculated that jump over the burn or to layer up, especially under wellies. Try these for extra warmth. STROLLING Men’s anti-blister merino socks, size 7-11 – MacSwiss
• It’s a great idea to have a hot water bottle to warm up the kids when they get out of the water, or to tuck under your jumper to keep you cosy when you’re sitting outside or to put into the foot of your sleeping back so that you can fall asleep faster with toasty feet. Check out this bottle with its super cosy cover. Trespass HUGME – hot water bottle – MacSwiss
• Why not carry some extra hot water in one of these slim line flasks? Perfect for a quick cuppa to warm your insides. Caddo 500ml thermal flask, bronze – MacSwiss
• There’s nothing worse than leaving your dry clothes on the beach while you go for a dip only to watch as a passing shower soaks everything in its path. Dry bags are great for stuffing things in that you want to keep dry and no longer need to be the reserve of hard core enthusiasts, although these are great for that too! Trespass EUPHORIA – 2pack drybag set – MacSwiss
• Finally, these rucksack covers are a must if you are hiking, especially if you are carrying over night supplies. They come in three sizes, so a half day hike in the rain will not result in having to dry out the contents afterwards. Trespass RAIN – Rucksack cover black, size L = 60-70 litres – MacSwiss

With all these tips and products enabling you to get outside and stay outside for longer, don’t forget to check out the Scottish Outdoor Access Code before heading into the great outdoors.