St Andrews weather in October
October in St Andrews: cool, rainy, with clean air — a good time to visit.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#8 of 12 months in St Andrews · #1042 of 1413 destinations to visit in October · comfort 65/100 (tier C)
- Days
- 14°C
- Nights
- 6°C
- Wet days
- 15
- Sun
- 5.7 h
- Humidity
- 81%
- Daylight
- 10 h
Traveller notes on St Andrews in October
Other months in St Andrews
Forum posters describe February in St Andrews as likely cold but with a real chance of blue skies, genuinely variable day to day, though generally fine overall. Posters specifically note Scotland's east coast runs noticeably drier than the west, with St Andrews' own local microclimate reducing the odds of golf course closures compared to other parts of the country. Posters mention golf courses can close for a while in the morning due to frost, though last year most stayed open, sometimes just opening a bit later in the day. Posters do note that waiting until March would improve the weather odds somewhat, though Scotland's climate remains genuinely unpredictable either way. Posters generally rate February as cold but workable for a St Andrews visit, with cheaper golf rates a real upside of the off-season timing.
The forum's blunt summary: Scottish weather is unpredictable even in August, and you should be ready for anything from 50F to 90F, drought conditions, or persistent heavy rain within the same week. The standard packing list is short and long-sleeve tees, a fleece for when the sea breeze picks up, and a rain jacket - layers are repeatedly called the best strategy. Separately, posters flag August itself as the busiest month: school holidays plus a bank holiday near month's end, and the long-running Lammas Market fair takes over much of the town center and makes parking difficult.
Add your own note from St Andrews's card on the map.
St Andrews climate normals — October
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in St Andrews in October
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
Peak crowdsAlfred Dunhill Links Championship, October half-term in United Kingdom, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for St Andrews's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Fair weatherSt Andrews's weather peaks June–August, best around July.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in St Andrews in October
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Rule
Old Course closed on Sundays
1 Jan – 31 DecClosuresNo golf is played on the Old Course on Sundays; it rests, and the town walks over it instead. If you only have a weekend, that is the day to do the beach and the ruins, not the tee sheet. Source ↗
- Festival
Alfred Dunhill Links Championship
1–4 OctSporting eventCrowdedClosuresBook earlyA European Tour week at the turn of September and October played over the Old Course, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns, with celebrities in the amateur pairings. The Old Course is unplayable by visitors that week. Source ↗
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of St Andrews — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is St Andrews?
St Andrews in October — FAQ
- Is October a good time to visit St Andrews?
- October in St Andrews: cool, rainy, with clean air — a good time to visit. It ranks #8 of 12 months for St Andrews on SeasonMap's comfort score (65/100).
- What is the weather like in St Andrews in October?
- In October, St Andrews averages a daily high of 13.5°C and a low of 6.2°C, with about 100.1 mm of rain over roughly 15.3 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in St Andrews in October?
- St Andrews has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 29 in October.
Within 300 km: Aviemore's Birch and larch turning around 25 Sep – 25 Oct, and Fort William's Jacobite steam train season around 1 Jun – 23 Oct.