Well Well Well

Aviemore warmest place in UK as temperatures soar across Scotland.

Aviemore was the warmest place in the UK, with a reading of 26.4C, as temperatures soared across the country.

The mercury reached 26C in Altnahara, 25.4C in Aboyne, 24.8C in Eskdalemuir, 23.1C in Glasgow, 19.5C in Edinburgh and 19.1C in Aberdeen by 13:00.

But there was still enough snow in the Cairngorms for the CairnGorm Mountain resort to offer skiing and snowboarding at the Ciste and Ptarmigan slopes.

The average for late May is between 14C and 16C, according to the Met Office.

The record temperature for the month in Scotland was 29C, which was set in Edinburgh in 1992.

The highest May temperature for Aviemore, just a few miles from the CairnGorm Mountain resort, was 28C.

The scene just last Friday on the summit of Cairn Gorm
BBC Scotland weather presenter Christopher Blanchett said: "High pressure is bringing us the dry, settled and sunny conditions we're experiencing this week.

"With light winds and the strength of the May sun, we're seeing temperatures climb well above average for the time of year, with many places breaking through the 20C mark.

"By 1pm this afternoon, we'd already recorded 26.4C at Aviemore, which is almost 80F."

CairnGorm Mountain has seen snowfalls during the colder weather of the past few weeks in the Highlands.

Last Friday, a member of the Sportscotland Avalanche Information Service's Northern Cairngorms team photographed a thick covering of snow on the weather station at the summit of Cairn Gorm.

The warm, dry weather since the start of the week has seen Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service crews busy tackling heath and gorse fires.

'Can bite'

Meanwhile, walkers and ramblers have been urged to keep their distance from Scotland's only poisonous snake as warmer weather raises the likelihood of finding adders.

A bite from the snake usually has relatively mild effects, but can cause kidney failure in children, serious heart effects, coma and even death.

The National Poisons Information Service (NPIS) was contacted 196 times between 2009 and 2011 about bites.

It said anyone bitten by an adder should seek urgent medical attention.

Walkers have been warned to look out for adders in the warm weather
Prof Simon Thomas, director of NPIS Newcastle, said: "Adder numbers have decreased in recent years so they are rare but still present in certain areas.

"They usually keep well out of sight, but in the summer months are active because the weather is warmer.

"Because they are well camouflaged, people can accidentally tread on them, which is when they can bite. They can also bite if picked up."

He added: "The bite can have very nasty effects, especially in smaller children - so it's best to take care when out walking, wear appropriate footwear for the terrain and do not handle any snakes."

Scottish Natural Heritage describes adders as timid and said most bites happened when the snakes were defending themselves.

It said the snakes' first defence was to try and hide in undergrowth.

During the breeding season, male snakes competing for a mate engage in a "wrestling match" dubbed the Dance of the Adders.

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I like snakes. I found, what I now believe to be an adder, in the middle of our lane a few years ago. Fearing for its safety I picked it up and deposited where it wouldn't get run over. Was it grateful, not on your nellie, it started attacking my wellies!

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Well done Scotland excelling yet again

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Just one problem with the hot weather in a lot of places in Scotland is the mozzies, they don't half bite.
But having said that for the last 2 years we have spent our holidays on the West coast of Scotland, a lovely place.

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Sure is crazy weather this year, but go ahead and enjoy it Scotland, I don't begrudge you a single degree Celsius...

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Wrinkly I love the West Coast, I come form Mull orignally and we only moved to the Mainland as my Mum was Townie and had a lot of trouble adapting to Island Life, but Dad and I thought there was nothing like it.
Have you ever travelled across the very Top of Scotland from Thurso to Durness then down the West Coast? The Scenery is breathtaking. I'm lucky that I spend most of my time on a Farm up on the Top Coast between Thurso and Dunnet Head, it's another Culture up here away from the Rush and the Hassle in the Towns and Citys. This is my Daughter Regan and my Pashka coming up from one of the Wee Coves near Durness.



And this is a good bit of the Single Track Road (A836) that runs across the top of Scotland.

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Stunning scenery, Roxy!

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Great photos of lovely scenery Roxy

The second one looks as if the cloud is pressing down on you

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Roxy I have never been across the top of Scotland,
I have been to Mull, and across to Iona.
This is a picture of the ferry across to Iona.



This is a picture of dolphins on the way over.

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Hahaha I thought that too when I first saw the photo, but then I thought .... there was no clouds like that. so I looked again and that grey at the top is actually the part of my Windscreen that's darker to keep the Sun out of my eyes while I'm driving. I was parked up in a Passing Place while I had a Coffee. Look Closer and you'll see too.