We are planning to go to Scotland in 2005 for 2 weeks. Our choices are to go either in May or August. Any suggestions as to when the best time to go would be appreciated.

Thanks,
pabb

May for sure; flowers, birds, fewer tourists, no midges.

the later in the month the better

Oh, yes, definitely May!

August is the height of tourist season -- if you dislike crowds (not that scotland is THAT crowded, even in season!) go in May.... lovely flowers everywhere!

The only down side is that days are shorter in May. However, since the daylight lasts from 5am to 11pm in August, that's not too terrible!

Having lived in Edinburgh and visited many times, I must say, trying to pick a "best time" weather-wise in Scotland is always iffy- and if you could put your trip off a month to September, then I'd say you'd really have the best chance of having some really good weather-but with the two choices, I'd still have to say August-the Festival/Fringe/tourist season notwithstanding. The month of May is, generally speaking, quite cold and- dare I say it?- dreary even though everything is quite green and the flowers are in bloom ("dreich" (dreary) days in Scotland is not saying much though!)
August should be quite a bit warmer, and maybe sunnier- it helps that the days are so long at this time of year, making it feel a bit more "summery." At any rate, I've always enjoyed the Aug-Sept. months in Scotland more than May-because an Edinburgh spring is just too cold for me.

I went to the Highlands a few weeks ago at the end of May. The weather was fine, the gardens were looking beautiful and the birds were in full song, including lots of cuckoos.

We were in Scotland during part of the 2nd - 3rd weeks of May this year and had beautiful weather. Temps were cool to downright hot one day in Edinburgh but we had no rain at all. It didn't get dark until almost 10 PM so we had plenty of daylight. The crowds were light at Stirling Castle and other places we visited. I thought it was the perfect time to go.

Well, you can certainly have the odd warm day in May, but generally speaking, May is cold. I just checked the 5 day weather forecast for Edinburgh-rain every day this week, with highs of 64 degrees. That's pretty typical-I prefer it warmer.

We checked the weather forecast before we left home and it was just rain, rain and more rain. But after the first day when it really did rain, we only had one other little shower a few days later. I decided then that you can't trust weather forecasts for the UK!

It's not that you can't trust UK weather forecasts, it's just that with Scotland's latitude, with so many fast moving low-pressure systems going through- more so than in England-and particularly for the coastal areas, that it's just simply hard to predict for any given day or week what the weather will be-it's rarely just one thing or the other-but you can generally count on cloudiness, at least part of every day (and I'm speaking chiefly of the Edinburgh area). There can be forecasts of rain every day, and there might be a little or a lot, every day or, no days. It's not unusual to have wind, rain, sunshine and snow all in the same day. I read somewhere that the hottest temp. ever recorded in Scotland was in fact, last July in the Borders area, and it was something like 94 degrees. If one doesn't mind cool weather, then May is fine. But if you like it warmer, then generally speaking, August would be the time to go, but, then again, who knows what May or August will be like, weather- wise, a year from now?

I'd say May for sure between those two months. Nice, crisp, Scottish type weather, although it was very warm a few days this past May when we were there. Depends how far north you are going...sometimes. August, as others have said is a "mess" with tourists,(compared to May!!!) and Edinburgh itself is not typical because of the Festival/Tatoo with hoards of people.
We've been in October and that is great also, but then we don't mind a little rainy, cooler weather...in face love it. (I believe the heather blooms in August???, and because we never go then, we have missed it.) But the spring flowers, daffodils and loads of bright colors are beautiful in the spring. AND you can stay at nicer places for less in May,,,than in the height of the tourist season in August.
(AND no waiting in lines!)

And one more thing (since I'm a bit fixated on Scotland at the moment) I would not be overly deterred from visiting Edinburgh in August, provided that you affix your accomodations early, and have that out of the way. Really, the Edinburgh Festival is something not to be missed-the theater, opera, music venues, the Fringe, the Military Tattoo-talk about a massive culturally enriching experience! Crowds there are, but it can be exciting to be part of the scene! (mind, I'm speaking as a tourist, not a local-many locals naturally take holidays during that time) Everybody who's anybody in the arts scene, it seems, shows up there for at least a few days. I still remember from several years back the Dublin Abbey Theater performance of Sean O'Casey's the Plough and the Stars- 'twas awesome!

Having grown up in Edinburgh, where my family still lives, I would say May. The only reason to go in August would be if you wanted to go to any to the Festival events in Edinburgh, or the Tattoo.

My mother insists that the climate is changing and getting warmer!

In May, the rhododendrons will be in flower and they are wonderful to see. All the historical sites, stately homes, etc. will be open for the season, but here will be fewer people.

As bettyk pointed out, it is light till late then, probably roughly the same as it would be in August.

While there have been occasions when there was wind, rain, sunshine and snow all in the same day, I wouldn't go so far as to say it's not unusual. I think it's pretty rare with snow too, although the other three happen quite often.