The Highlands have basked in one of the warmest Julys on record, with long sunny spells and mild nights making it feel more Mediterranean than Highland at times.
Provisional figures from the Met Office show July was Scotland’s sixth warmest since records began in 1884, with Shetland and Orkney seeing their hottest July ever recorded.
Here in the Highlands, sunshine hours were well above normal, with parts of northern Scotland enjoying 18 per cent more sunshine than average and even when the rain came, temperatures remained unseasonably high.
The month began with the UK’s hottest day of the year so far, but unlike many parts of the country that dried out completely, the Highlands saw heavy downpours between spells of sunshine, leaving lochs full but fields and hillsides noticeably greener than in previous dry summers.
Average July temperatures across Scotland reached 14.9°C, well above the seasonal norm.
Across the UK as a whole, the mean temperature of 16.8°C made it the fifth warmest July on record.
The Highlands have now seen six consecutive months of above‑average temperatures, part of a trend forecasters link to the long‑term impacts of climate change.
Marine heatwave conditions are also being reported in surrounding seas, with waters up to 2°C warmer than usual.
While the North Sea has cooled slightly, the Atlantic remains well above normal, affecting fishing grounds and marine life around the west coast.
Forecasters say the pattern of warmer, sunnier summers, broken up by bursts of intense rain is likely to continue in the years ahead.
For farmers, crofters and tourism operators across the Highlands, the shift is already being felt.
Warmth has brought better grazing and a boost for visitors, but it also raises challenges for water supplies and the health of fragile ecosystems.
