May is statistically the sunniest month in Scotland, often surprising visitors who expect the peak of summer to offer the most clear skies. On average, May provides around 170 to 190 hours of sunshine across the country, with some western islands like Tiree famously recording over 300 hours in exceptional years. This phenomenon occurs because May sits in a transitional period where high-pressure systems are more frequent, bringing settled, dry weather before the more humid and convective "Atlantic" moisture of June and July arrives. While the temperatures are cooler than in August—typically ranging from 10°C to 15°C (50°F to 59°F)—the clarity of the air and the long daylight hours (nearly 17 hours by the end of the month) make it the premier time for photography and hiking. The east coast, particularly cities like Dundee and Aberdeen, also sees higher-than-average sunshine throughout the year compared to the rainier west, but May remains the undisputed champion for blue skies across the entire Scottish landscape.