£900m Bank Holiday
Stampede to beauty spots ++ Huge spending spree ++ Glorious 20C
SCOTS are set to flock to beauty spots this weekend – and embark on a spending spree – amid glorious Bank Holiday weather.
Forecasters say the miserable May weather will give way to a ‘very pleasant’ spell over the coming days.
The Met Office has warned of high UV levels while Scotland’s most popular beauty spots are braced for an influx of visitors, with car parking facilities doubled at Loch Lomond.
Hotel chain Travelodge predicts each Scot will spend an average of £313 on days out this weekend, producing a £879million boost to the economy.
It is the first Bank Holiday since the majority of the country was freed from the toughest Covid restrictions, with most people allowed to drink inside and out.
Today is also a public holiday in Edinburgh, so citizens there will enjoy a welcome four-day break.
In Glasgow, the hospitality industry will be hoping the city is finally downgraded to Level 2 in today’s Covid-19 review.
Grahame Madge of the Met Office said: ‘People have been asking us if it’s going to be a heatwave. No, it’s not, but in comparison to what we have seen so far in May, it will feel very pleasant.
‘UV levels are likely to be the highest this year, so that is a concern for anyone expecting to spend any time outdoors.’
Mr Madge added: ‘The attraction will be to head to the seaside or beauty spots. But even if it is not sunny people need to be protected to avoid being burned.’
Temperatures will rise sharply from today, producing a high of 20C (68F) on Sunday and Monday, with the added promise of long spells of sunshine.
Mr Madge said: ‘We are seeing a fairly clear picture into the middle of next week, with temperatures around where they should be for the beginning of June. Only towards the end of the week might we expect to see the effects of a plume coming out of Iberia, which could bring stormy conditions.’
Previous holiday weekends have caused bottlenecks at Loch Lomond. James Fraser, chairman of the Friends of Loch Lomond, said: ‘We are looking forward to a busy weekend, with businesses all geared up to welcome visitors.’
Keep Scotland Beautiful said 52 award-winning beaches are also ready for visitors.