If you like hiking, Scotland is a paradise. The rapid and diverse contrasts in Scottish scenery mean there is no country quite rivalling it for hiking anywhere in the world. Whilst its mountains may be out-trumped in size by ranges in many different countries and its rivers cannot compete with others in the world for stature, there are few places on the planet where the juxtaposition of topographical features are so hypnotisingly beautiful.
These days, with long distance paths traversing the country on well-signed trails, Scotland is even more enticing to the hiker wanting something different. There are trails following literary figures, trails following famous outlaws and then of course good old-fashioned Scotland hill walking: mile on mile of remote ridge top walks encompassing the country in all its misty, mystical splendour.
Southern Scotland Routes
- Southern Upland Way:This 212 mile path spans all Southern Scotland, crossing a varied terrain of moor and lowland forests. Start: Portpatrick. Finish: Cockburnspath. To plan a detailed route click here.
- St Cuthbert's Way: A 60 mile path following in the footsteps of the saint. Start: Melrose. Finish: Lindisfarne, England
- Borders Abbeys Way: A 65 mile hike linking the mesmerising borders abbeys ransacked by the English in Medieval times. Start: Melrose
- John Buchan Way: Not many people know about this beautiful 22 mile trail in the Scottish borders, following the footsteps of the writer of The 39 Steps who took inspiration from the hilly, forested landscape. Start: Peebles. Finish: Broughton
East Scotland Walks
- Speyside Way: This is a walk with a difference: it follows the corse of the River Spey through prime whisky producing country (Aberdeenshire). There are countless distilleries en route such as Tomintoul where you can stop for a dram. It's a mixture of hills and gentler river valley walking. Start: Buckie, Moray. Finish: Aviemore, Cairngorm Moutains. For more information on great distilleries click here.
Island and Highland Walks
- Arran Coastal Way: A 65 mile/100km walk right around the wild coast of Arran, one of the must-see Scottish islands.
- The Walk from Kinloch Hourn to Knoydart: This hike is magical for many hikers because it takes you on a two-day leg stretch through remote West Highland scenery to Inverie, about the only British mainland village not to be reached by road. It's 17 miles but allow two days.
- Great Glen Way: This 73 mile route traverses the Great Glen which almost splits Scotland in two, from Fort William up to Inverness. It encompasses the world's most famous lake, Loch Ness.
- West Highland Way: This 95 mile/ 152 km path is Scotland's, anpossibly Britain's, most famous long-distance path with good reason. It takes you from the biggest city in Scotland out into the wildest highlands, and the sense of progression as you climb into the mountains is incredibe. Start: Milngavie. Finish: Fort William. To plan a detailed route, click here.
- Rob Roy Way: A 92 mile/ 148km route taking in the best of the glorous Perthshire countryside including such popular travel destinations as Pitlochry and Callendar. The route is supposed to trace the haunts of Rob Roy, the popular 18th century Scottish outlaw, remembered in the 1995 film starring Liam Neeson.
Luke Waterson - Author Luke Waterson writes, or has written, for various publications including Lonely Planet, Rough Guides, Moon Guidebooks and The ...
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