Holiday Ideas
Walking Holidays
Walking
No matter where you're staying in Scotland, one thing you can be sure of is that there are fantastic walks to suit all abilities in plentiful supply. It's a chance to pack a bag full of supplies, wrap up warm and see Scotland at its most real.
For the more adventurous, bagging a Munro (or four) is the only way to go. And for those who like to take it a little easier, a shorter, less challenging route packed full of scenery will appeal.
Munros
There are no fewer than 282 Munros in Scotland- and as you'd imagine, some are more treacherous than others. By definition, a Munro is a Scottish mountain that tops 3000ft in height – which makes Ben Nevis, at 4409 ft – the ultimate. The most popular Munro to bag thanks to its gargantuan size, the route is extremely challenging and ascent to the summit is rated 'Difficult' in summer due to its stony nature.
The Cape Wrath Trail
As its name suggests, the Cape Wrath Trail isn't for the faint-hearted. A long-distance walk with no official line starting from Fort William, it ends at the most north-western point in Britain, Cape Wrath, in Sutherland. The terrain walkers will come up against is largely wild and rugged, so this is a trail for walkers who have experience going off-road. Walkers are also encouraged to pick their own route beginning from Glenfinnan (famous for its viaduct, as featured in the Harry Potter films) or the Great Glen.
John Muir Way
The newly-opened John Muir Way reverses the steps of conservationist John Muir from Helensburgh – where he boarded a ship and headed to the US to become the 'father' of the American National Parks - back to his birthplace of Dunbar. Take in the sights of Loch Lomond along the way, through the ancient town of Linlithgow, before picking up the Clyde and Forth canal routes nearer the big cities. This is a walk that masterfully blends the urban landscape with inspiring rural surroundings.
West Highland Way
Scotland's first long distance route and its most popular to date. The West Highland Way spans 151km from Milngavie, near Glasgow, to Fort William in – you guessed it – the Highlands. The route is manageable for most walkers and passes through some of the most majestic and iconic parts of the country, including Tyndrum, Rannoch Moor and Glen Nevis. There are eight stages in total, varying from 14 – 24 km in length, and each stage takes no longer than a day to walk.
Fife Coastal Path
The Fife Coastal Path runs 183 km in all, hugging the coast from Dunfermline to Newburgh. There are a number of historic and cultural hot spots along the way, including the Wemyss caves and their prehistoric carvings, golden beaches at Crail and Elie, and the cracking views of Rosyth and Kinghorn, What's more, some of the path's segments are as short at 5km – such as the walk from St Monans to Anstruther – meaning that when finished, the rest of the day can be devoted to more relaxed activities.
Find Our Castles
Take it easy on the walking and find your way around the Scottish castles Edinburgh , Stirling it might not be as long as walking Ben Nevis but they are fun and have some great tours and the larger sites are open all year , you would struggle to visit them all in one year.
City Walking Tours
For something different, no matter where you are Stirling , Glasgow , Inverness , Aberdeen or Edinburgh you will always find great city walking tours that you can use on your phone , or go with the guides that will give you that bit more of drama that you will enjoy with the added benefit of being close to all the local great shopping.