The Scottish Highlands: a journey through wild landscapes
The Scottish Highlands, a vast and untamed wilderness, is a walker’s paradise. The walks in our guidebook to walking in the Scottish Highlands offer something to suit all abilities and inclinations, from sedate lochside strolls to energetic mountain climbs.
There are walks for those seeking grand views, or routes for those more interested in history, wildlife or geology. We also include several routes on the Isle of Skye.
Below we have listed some of our favourite walks in the region.
Ben Ledi (Walk 2)
Ben Ledi is the mountain by which Callander identifies itself as ‘The Gateway to the Highlands’. Certainly coming from the south or east of Scotland, the ben is very much the beginning of the mountains.
The climb to its summit is a wonderful ‘first’ for those unfamiliar with the Highlands, with strikingly contrasting views as a reward.
The Cobbler (Walk 5)
Ben Arthur, or The Cobbler as it is more commonly known, is one of the most striking mountains in the Southern Highlands.
It is very popular with Glasgow hillwalkers and climbers. Though as it fails by 30m/100ft to reach qualifying height, Munroists often ignore it in favour of other less exciting mountains of the Arrochar Alps.
It is the unusual profile of the schist outcrops on its summit ridge that have given the mountain its name. The rock strata, folded by geological forces and sculptured by millions of years of erosion, are said to resemble a cobbler bent over his last.
Glen Lyon (Walk 9)
Postcards of Glen Lyon confidently echo the assertions of locals, that theirs is ‘Scotland’s most beautiful glen’.
It is indeed a peaceful, lush and fertile haven, beautiful albeit in a tame and rustic sort of way. Very different, for instance, from the dramatic and solemn beauty of the much more popular Glen Coe.
At 48km (30 miles) from end to end, Glen Lyon is considered Scotland’s longest. This walk covers only a small part of it – to my mind the most scenically varied and picturesque section.
Ben Nevis (Walk 11)
By European standards, Ben Nevis is not a big mountain but, by virtue of being Britain’s highest, it is a huge magnet for walkers.
The main ‘tourist’ path, or ‘pony track’, up the west side of the mountain is easy to follow. This ascent involves no technical difficulty. Whilst children frequently make it to the top in trainers, such indifference is not to be recommended.
There are more fatalities on Ben Nevis than on any other mountain in Britain. Although it is true that most accidents befall overambitious rock climbers scaling cliffs on the mountain’s northeast face.
However, the potential for serious hazards, on a summit obscured by cloud nine days in every ten and which records an average mean temperature of just below freezing, is very real indeed.
Do not be deceived by a clear sunny day in Fort William. Always carry plenty of warm clothing and be prepared to make a hasty retreat if conditions on the mountain deteriorate. Never underestimate Ben Nevis.
Cairn Gorm & Ben Macdui (Walk 20)
The romance of the Cairngorms, when expressed in verse, often disguises a potentially-hostile environment. Here lies the highest land mass in Scotland, and nowhere else in Britain is there such a large tract of arctic terrain.
In recognition of the importance of the rare flora and fauna of the Cairngorms, the plateau is within the boundaries of Britain’s largest nature reserve and at the heart of this National Park.
Snow flurries can occur in July, but in good weather it is very rewarding to venture beyond Cairn Gorm itself, to the other peaks of the range.
Proceeding to the summit of Ben Macdui requires an awareness of the potential hazards. You’ll also need an investment of energy, but otherwise the walk is not difficult.
Loch Coruisk and Glen Sligachan (Walk 25)
The Cuillin of Skye is, by common consent, the grandest mountain range in the British Isles. Attaining any one of its jagged peaks involves tough challenges. Together with navigational problems and unreliable compass readings (due to iron in the rock), just about all routes on them are beyond the parameters of this book.
Arduous scrambling and climbing over hard, bare rock is the order of the day on the Black Cuillin. It takes its name from the black gabbro from which this range is formed.
Mountain summits aside, our route includes probably the finest coastal walk in Britain. It also visits a remote loch in the most spectacular setting imaginable and provides an ever-changing perspective on the awe-inspiring Cuillin.
The best time of year for walking in the Scottish Highlands
It is often said that whereas other countries have climate, Scotland has weather. The main feature of Highland weather is changeability.
Highlanders will say to you that ‘if you do not like a particular season, wait an hour and another will come along’. Indeed, when climbing in the hills, it is not unusual to feel that you have experienced all four seasons in a single day!
Scottish weather is notoriously unpredictable but, on balance, the longest spells of dry and settled weather usually occur in the months of May and September.
Getting around the Scottish Highlands
Using public transport in the Scottish Highlands can be an extremely frustrating and very time-consuming way of getting about.
It is also an expensive way to travel compared to many other parts of Europe. That said, the pace of bus travel in the Highlands can have its own joys.
But if you would rather spend the bulk of your limited time exploring the Highlands on foot, and at your own pace, then the use of a car is essential.
The Scottish Highlands have dramatic mountains a rugged coastline, and endless lochs. These all create a unique and unforgettable walking experience.
Whether you are a seasoned hiker or a beginner, there will be a trail to suit your ability and interests. Buy our guidebook to walking in the Scottish Highlands.