We'll be in Edinburgh & then the Lake District at the end of Sept. and then move south through England, ending in Cornwall about mid Oct. Would a turtleneck be a good idea for that time of year or will it still be fairly warm?

Hi - I was in England and Wales last October, and I wore light cotton turtlenecks every day...sometimes this was all I needed, but I also brought a fleece vest, and a lightweight rain coat with fleece lining. Layering is the answer! I also brought some silk long underwear, but never needed it. For pants, I had corduroy slacks and jeans.

A turtleneck by itself will NOT be sufficient - esp in Scotland. (We were there in July and it was windy, drizzling and in the high 40's one day.)

You will need a waterproof jacket, a couple of sweaters, a sturdy umbrella, 2 pairs of sturdy waterproof walking shoes - plus a selection of long and short-sleeve tops - since you might still get some warmer days in the south.

I'm not sure what a turtle-neck is (some sort of jumper/sweater?) but you'll definitely need to bring some warm clothes with you (and more than one!).

September is often still nice (but not exactly T-shirt weather) but October can be cold and wet. Not absolutely freezing, but damp and unpleasant.

On the other hand, it could still be quite nice overall - but 'brisk' and 'refreshing' with bright but not especially hot days.

so bring a range of stuff you can layer and yes, you definitely need a decent coat as well (waterproof a plus, esp. in Lake District!)

To be honest if you can switch the areas I'd head to Cornwall first as you have a much better chance of good weather still there in Sept, then head north once it's pretty much guaranteed to be less nice. Otherwise you could hit grotty weather throughout the whole trip as Scotland/Lake District are less likely to still be nice in Sept.

Why don't you google up average temperatures/rainfall for those times of year for those areas. That would give you a good idea.

I recommend a fleece vest that zips up to be a turtleneck,

A waterproof fold up jacket or raincoat, preferably with a hood. Lightweight will do.

Warmish long-sleeved shirts.

Undershirts or tees if you are prone to chill.

You also need a warm hat (knit or fleece) and a warm scarf.

Land's End and L.L. Bean sell all this stuff cheap, on clearance.

azzure is right that layering is the key. I'm prone to get chilly, so I always pack silk longjohns. They are extremely travel friendly. They weigh nothing.

Shoes need to be waterproof FOR SURE.

Umbrellas you can in a train station there, but I prefer a waterproof coverall with a hood, the kind that folds up into its own pocket.

Nona 1,
I'm pretty sure a "turtle neck" is what we (UK) would call a polo neck jumper.

Regards.

Not sure you need scarf, gloves and hat - it's not Siberia after all - but you will get fall weather - similar to what you would in NYC or Boston - but with Scotland more like Canada - if that's any guide.

Thanks for al the good advice. I've been trying to think how to describe a turtleneck and finally went to a dictionary. "A high, close fitting, turned-over collar on a garment."

I already planed to take, in addition to warmer weather clothes, a waterproof longish raincoat with hood, a light fleece jacket, long-sleeve shirt, an umbrella, gortex hiking shoes, a warm close-fitting hat and light gloves because my hands get cold at the beginning of a cool hike. The turtleneck would take the place of a scarf.

Sounds like I could need it all! I'm still considering longjohns and wondering about a different kind of waterproof boot/shoe. I have good Bean shoes, but they are not good for walking any distance.

nona1 -- I hope we don't fall into your worst-case scenario. ;-) Unfortunately, it's too late to change plans. I guess we'll just have to determine to enjoy it no matter what the weather.

Trust me, you'll want a hat and a scarf not because of Siberian-snow (?) but because of the chance of windy rain.

Wintersilks has great online deals for lightweight silk long underwear as an insurance policy. It's light as a feather.

Shoes are tricky. I always avoid heavy hiking boots. All weather mocs are more comfortable for me. Comfort is really paramount. Leather sneakers can work, although I prefer something that comes up just a little higher, for puddles. If you buy new shoes, be sure to break them in well!

Have a great trip. My experience of wet weather in that area is that it comes and goes, often leaving beautiful rainbows in its wake.

PS: I like fleece scarves because they are so lightweight and shake off water. (I also like them for airplanes!)

http://www.nextag.com/fleece-scarf/search-html

Here is what I pack for Europe in shoulder season.

http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=1440268

Think lightweight layers for warmth and a good water-wind proof shell to stay dry plus water proof shoes.

If it gets wet, you will be ready. If not, the layers will allow you to dress comfortably but keep the shell in your daypack. I got very wet after dropping off my shell on a beautiful day.

This all sounds very negative. The first week in October was for many years a favourite week for us to take a break in the UK - after the summer rush and before things close for the winter and the realy bad weather sets in. We have been all over, including the Lake District, Scotland and Cornwall and generaly had quite decent weather. After a bright week with frosty mornings in Scotland one year, we were caught out by a warm spell in Cornwall the following year, with temperatures in the early 20s C.

Of course, the weather in the UK is never guaranteed but if we're lucky enough to experiance one of our "Indian summers" it could even be reasonably warm. Take layers and be prepared for anything - even some sunshine.

I am going at the end of Oct for a week and was feeling a little discouraged reading this.

I don't think anybody should feel discouraged. I live in Italy, by the seaside, and most days I never leave the house without making sure I have enough to protect myself against a sudden dip from warm to chill, especially if I won't be home until after dark.

And in the UK, I've seen some pretty dramatic drops in temperature and increases in moisture in autumn.

The reason I like scarves as opposed to turtlenecks is not only because a day can turn sunny, but I often find that restaurants and other indoor spaces are kept very warm. It's easier to take off a scarf than a turtleneck.

zeppole - lucky you for living in Italy on the seaside

Yup!

We don't know where the OP is from - and for someone from the NE US the weather would be similar - can be warmish some dys but more lokely to be brisk - but not really cold (we don;t get really cold often until Sept). In Oct there's no reason yuo can't be outside all day in a shirt, sweater and light jacket - or shirt and midweight jacket. We do it al the time. (Unless of course you're from someplace relaly warm andstart to put on sweaters as soon as the temp goes below 70.)

I lived in the Northeast of the US most of my life. The UK is much wetter and chillier in autumn, and even most of the year.

Packing layers is good advice.

I had trouble finding truly waterproof shoes that are comfortable for walking and don't weigh a ton. I'm now on my second pair of New Balance "off trail" type shoes, soo comfortable, lightweight and really waterproof. Mine are model #964 but the 965 model looks and sounds similar. Made for both men and women. They are the first thing into my suitcase when heading for UK or Ireland.

Layers are indeed the key. You might be surprised with lovely warm weather, but it would be wise to be prepared. I never travel to Scotland without a fleece jacket - which I've needed every time - and we always travel there in August! I'd bring a lightweight wool scarf (like pashmina weight) instead of the turtlenecks and you will have far more flexibility - and it can dress up or dress down your outfit.

Nifty link, bdjtbenson!