Inverness

Highlands Weather in October

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in the Highlands, the United Kingdom in October.

Thinking about venturing to the Highlands, the United Kingdom this October and curious about the weather conditions to expect? This page holds all the key information you seek, responding to your question:

What to Expect in the Highlands in October

The Highlands, the United Kingdom is a region in the United Kingdom. October in the Highlands generally has temperatures that range from cold to mild, with precipitation levels ranging from moderate to heavy.

Temperatures

The average maximum daytime temperatures vary from cold in Kingussie at 11°C (52°F) to mild in Balintore at 14°C (57°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 7°C (45°F) in Balintore and 4°C (39°F) in Kingussie.

To learn more about the conditions in specific areas of the Highlands, the United Kingdom, check out the map below.

Precipitation

In October, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Cromarty with an average of 87 mm (3.4 in) to heavy rainfall in Arisaig with 254 mm (10 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine tends to be more scarce in many locations. Inverness gets roughly 86 hours of sunlight. For sunnier alternatives, check our weather planner to find destinations with better conditions.

Explore the Highlands by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in the Highlands — and find the best time to visit. (based on Inverness)

Best Places to Visit in the Highlands in October

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across the Highlands.

perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in the Highlands

What is the weather like in October for some of the most popular destinations in the Highlands, the United Kingdom?

Temperature range in the Highlands (October)

Precipitation variation in the Highlands (October)

Inverness

In October Inverness generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 13°C (55°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 6°C (43°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

September
October
November
Max temperature
16°C (61°F)
13°C (55°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
9°C (48°F)
6°C (43°F)
3°C (37°F)
Monthly sun hours
115 hours
86 hours
48 hours
Monthly rainfall
81 mm (3.2 in)
96 mm (3.8 in)
85 mm (3.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
19 days
19 days
19 days
Weather conditions

Fort William

In October Fort William generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 12°C (54°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 5°C (41°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

September
October
November
Max temperature
15°C (59°F)
12°C (54°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
8°C (46°F)
5°C (41°F)
3°C (37°F)
Monthly sun hours
87 hours
75 hours
46 hours
Monthly rainfall
169 mm (6.7 in)
198 mm (7.8 in)
186 mm (7.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
23 days
24 days
23 days
Weather conditions

Fort Augustus

In October Fort Augustus generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 11°C (52°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 5°C (41°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

September
October
November
Max temperature
15°C (59°F)
11°C (52°F)
8°C (46°F)
Min temperature
8°C (46°F)
5°C (41°F)
2°C (36°F)
Monthly sun hours
115 hours
86 hours
48 hours
Monthly rainfall
114 mm (4.5 in)
137 mm (5.4 in)
130 mm (5.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
22 days
23 days
23 days
Weather conditions

Nairn

In October Nairn generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 13°C (55°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 7°C (45°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

September
October
November
Max temperature
17°C (63°F)
13°C (55°F)
10°C (50°F)
Min temperature
10°C (50°F)
7°C (45°F)
4°C (39°F)
Monthly sun hours
115 hours
86 hours
48 hours
Monthly rainfall
78 mm (3.1 in)
91 mm (3.6 in)
77 mm (3 in)
Monthly rainy days
19 days
19 days
19 days
Weather conditions

Drumnadrochit

In October Drumnadrochit generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 12°C (54°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 5°C (41°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

September
October
November
Max temperature
16°C (61°F)
12°C (54°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
8°C (46°F)
5°C (41°F)
3°C (37°F)
Monthly sun hours
115 hours
86 hours
48 hours
Monthly rainfall
88 mm (3.5 in)
108 mm (4.3 in)
100 mm (3.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
21 days
21 days
21 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in the Highlands, in the United Kingdom.

Popular cities in October

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in the Highlands in October.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Inverness 13°C (55°F) 6°C (43°F) 96 mm (3.8 in)
Fort William 12°C (54°F) 5°C (41°F) 198 mm (7.8 in)
Fort Augustus 11°C (52°F) 5°C (41°F) 137 mm (5.4 in)
Nairn 13°C (55°F) 7°C (45°F) 91 mm (3.6 in)
Drumnadrochit 12°C (54°F) 5°C (41°F) 108 mm (4.3 in)
Grantown on Spey 12°C (54°F) 5°C (41°F) 99 mm (3.9 in)

The Highlands weather in October: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in the Highlands, the United Kingdom in October?

In October, the Highlands, the United Kingdom generally has unpleasant weather conditions. Inverness sees daytime temperatures near 13°C (55°F), with nights cooling to roughly 6°C (43°F).

What is the average temperature in the Highlands, the United Kingdom in October?

Inverness averages a daytime maximum of 13°C (55°F) in October, with overnight lows close to 6°C (43°F).

Does the Highlands, the United Kingdom get a lot of rain in October?

October is on the drier side in the Highlands, the United Kingdom. Inverness averages only about 96 mm (3.8 in), with most days staying dry.

Is October a Good Time to Visit the Highlands, the United Kingdom?

Given the typically unpleasant weather conditions in Inverness, October may not be the ideal time to visit the Highlands, the United Kingdom.

On average, the best time to visit the Highlands, the United Kingdom is in July and August with generally pleasant weather in Inverness. On the other hand, the weather in January, February, March, November and December tend to be poor.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in the Highlands.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to the United Kingdom? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in the United Kingdom.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

Bucket list

Need travel inspiration? Check out our bucket list articles and be inspired.