It now appears our spring trip to the UK may be postponed until fall.   Please let me know which months may be best with this in mind:

The time of fewer folks visiting, meaning when families with school kids are not likely to be visiting. We like kids and families but do not like terribly crowded waits for things to see.

Weather, would September be better than August?  Someone in an earlier thread advised about hot summers and crowds.  We would like to avoid both and have the,  ha ha, ideal conditions.

How bad are the bugs in Scotland in the early fall?  Never hurts to be prepared.

Any advice will be much appreciated.      TomDart

I've never been the UK in the fall, always spring/summer, and something to keep in mind is that air conditioning is fairly rare.  As is ice (I think they lost the recipe!)   I never saw many bugs in Scotland the times I've been there earlier in the year, can't speak to the fall though.  I would think that September would be better than August heat-wise and crowd-wise.   And I think I could be available to come and carry your cameras, tripods & cases for you!   ;) 

Denise

August is the main school holidays,VERY bad time to come!  They go back early Sept. Don't hold your breath for a hot summer, by the way!  It can range from unbearable heat to very chilly, that's why we have the 'cardigan'!!!! (If you don't like our weather, wait a minute.)
As for mozzies, I live on the South Coast of England, someone else can tell you about Scotland.
Andrea

August and September are pretty busy with kids on holiday...aaaaarrrggghhhhh.

On the up side it really depends on where you are going,families tend to go for the most popular places but people like myself and the wife go to the places that don't interest kids and families.It really depends on your intentions and what you plan to do during the holiday.

It also depends on where you are going to go in Scotland and again what your intentions are,is it a "visit all the big towns" or is it more a peace and quiet trip.

Now this comment will probably start another England/Scotland conflict but not all of Scotland is picturesque like any other place so again it depends on what locations you have in mind.

We went to Scotland last year and one place we visited was the Cairngorms mountains,never seen anything as bleak and miserable...but also went to Glencoe..absolutely beautiful..so like any place it depends on where you are going and what you plan to do.

We are going back again this year...sort of used last year as a recce

Eddie

as the two above said NOT august september......
i live same town as Andrea....

i went on a bit of a highlands jaunt with an ex early september a few years back - yes it rained a bit, but then there were some good days (it is really the luck of the draw).  I really liked it (the weather added to the place i thought - and it was romantic) and didnt find there were too much in the way of midges where we went... and this was pretty much all over the highlands focusing on the route from ben nevis through loch ness to inverness.  Only time i encountered midges was when i went to see the famous rail bridge the hogwarts express goes over :)

If you dont mind the rain from time to time i would recommend september - after all what is scotland without the rain? :)  Also in terms of scenery i would do west instead of east coast - a lot more dramatic with all the lochs and "fjords"... one or two cool castles around as well :)

If you make it to stratford-upon-avon let me know :)

Go in Dec. spend the 25th in a hotel with a bottle of wine & a proper Christmas Meal & I'm sure you'll enjoy your trip , Word of warning , Yes it has a tendency for the temperature to drop rapidly.
 Any more specific question's ?
Obviously the main town's are very busy apart from early morning & late night but the majority of local's I have spoke to are very nice :)
Have fun either way!

if you get down soth let me know

We should know this coming week of times we can make the trip.   Thanks for the info...we are a bit anxious and want to have a good trip, which we shall.    James, I will let you know some places we will be near when plans are made.      Tom.

Yes, let me know too, Tom, as I'm within a mile or two of James.

West coast of Scotland is beautiful and the midges keep away with insect repellant. The weather could be nice in September but cold too. It  looks wonderful in a light mist or drizzle. Have a good trip.

I agree about the west coast of Scotland -- very gorgeous scenery all over the place!  Lots of lovely little villages, castles, friendly highland cows and sheep, pheasants and learning to drive there on the one-lane roads is an interesting challenge (love the little pullouts every 100 yards or so to deal with oncoming traffic).  If you're renting a car, remember that when the steering wheel is on the right the wipers and signals are also reversed -- I kept going to signal and accidentally turning on the wipers!

*"Weather, would September be better than August?"

Statistically August is one of the wettest months of the year, September one of the sunniest. Others have mentioned the school summer break ends the beginning of September. If visiting Scotland the midge problem is declining sharply by September too .  So my choice would be September.
It also has one other advantage: it is later in the year and the further away from the summer the longer the nights. In northern Scotland this means you get one, in summer it stays light all night and can be hard to sleep. 
I am sure you will enjoy your trip whenever you make it . 

Our trip is in the later planning stages and it looks like middle September or thereabout. Since we have not done this before, we will be on a guided tour with hopes of returning the next year or the next to spend more time on our own.  We should have some time on our own at the cities in which we will be sleeping.    We plan on adding two days at the end in London, beyond the tour to see the British Museum and visit Abbey Road area, a must for the wife who is almost a locally renowned Beatles fan and knowledge source.   (Must I say she awaited news of the outcome of the McCartney/Mills settlement?)

The visits will include London, Bath, Chester, Edinburgh, York and the return to London with stops along the way.    This all can change as we more closely study possibilities but the idea of a return visit with a touch of experience under the belt is exciting.  The cities mentioned will be overnights.

Well, I understand the buses might be a good way to move about London, at least seeing what is around instead of popping up from the underground in a new part of the city.  We will find out.  I really want to hire a car and go for it but am not quite ready for that in a new place..comfortable to you and quite new to me.

I would also like to add, Brit Rail is a great way to get around, especially for longer trips, and if you buy a pass in the states before you go it's cheaper than the Brits can get there.  Don't know why it is, but it is.  I've always used the trains, and they're very nice.  You can find out about it by Googling Brit Rail, or you can reach them by searching at Travelocity.com.  Tour buses are great for seeing the usual tourist stuff in London, and they give you the history of things.  You can jump on and off most of them, too.  They have one in Bath, too.  Bath is lovely for walking, and there are some great views from the hills around there (Solsbury Hill is just outside Bath, for instance :)

Thanks, the agent at the agency called these pop on and off buses.  Sounds like a good idea..as do the trains.

It sounds lovely.
Very historic cities with lots to see,  I hope you have a great time. I think a guided tour is a wise choice, I certainly would not hire a car unless you intend to visit more remote areas.  Driving here is very different from the US.

Excellent choice Tom, second week of September should see all the kids back at school so mid week less queues at attractions.  I've lived in England for sixty years and still not been sight seing in London, Edinburgh castle is a must if you haven't been before but the tattoo will be well over by Sept.  Still a lot to see there.

I hope your plans mature and you have an exciting time over here.

Jeff, I know we will miss the tattoo but we will take what we can get and I believe for a first visit we will take in plenty. Thanks.       TomDart.