Погода: Портри, июль

July is peak midge season on Skye and the regulars' answer turns our own row into good news: it is the weather rather than the month that decides them, any breeze or sunlight keeps them down, and the trouble comes on warm still days in damp sheltered spots. Our 20.2 kph wind and 20.5 precipitation days under 15.9C are, by that logic, the defence rather than the problem. Uig is about the least bitten village on the island. July also has more rain than May while being warmer, and it shares with August the school holidays, so expect it busy every day - though Skye is big and it is a handful of hotspots that fill rather than the whole island. Book beds as early as you can; much goes a year ahead. The record: 12.2C nights, 8.3 hours of sun, 17.2 hours of daylight and a 15C sea.

Skye's own forum doesn't dress up December: dark days (barely six to seven hours of daylight by mid-month), heavy rain, and cold winds are the norm, with several posters flagging it as one of the windiest months of the year. Snow at sea level in Portree itself is unlikely - it's more a mountain phenomenon - so expect rain and low cloud rather than a white winter scene in town. The advice that comes up again and again is to stay flexible: a clear, crisp day is possible, but the safer bet is dressing for wind and rain and treating any sunshine as a bonus.

Forum posters describe June as capable of delivering '4 seasons in one day,' with wet and cold weather always a real possibility regardless of the season - but also note June has actually run drier than other months in recent years, making it a relatively favorable pick weather-wise. The standout upside is daylight: it barely gets dark, letting visitors sightsee or walk until 11:30pm and still catch a proper sunset before bed. Skye's size and mountainous terrain mean it generates its own microweather, so conditions can vary meaningfully across the island even on the same day. One seasonal heads-up: midges start becoming a real nuisance from mid-to-late June onward, particularly on the west coast, and Portree itself gets genuinely busy by late June, so booking accommodation early is standard advice.