Hiking Scotland

Whithorn Priory is the end point of this thousand year old pilgrimage route, which has recently been revived with the creation of a guidebook (available for £12). It is divided into 13 segments, which will be as many ideas for a walk if you are in the area. Each one is marked by remarkable buildings, both architecturally and historically. The itinerary follows existing walking and cycling paths, coastal trails or passes through little-used secondary roads.

Skye Guides programs climbing or hiking trips of all levels with professional guides to survey the island safely. This is the ideal solution for all those who do not wish to venture alone on the summits. With them, you will be able to survey the Black Cuillin range in complete safety. Created in 1995, the company knows the island's trails and cliffs by heart. It favours personalized, attentive and small group guides, to respect the level and desires of each person. To each his own excursion!

Safari means observation, not slaughter of magnificent wild animals, of course! Loch Coruisk, the Cuillin, Trotternish and the Quiraing: all of them are to be discovered during guided hiking days, to discover the most beautiful landscapes of the island. Departures are from Portree and the small size of the groups (4-6) is a plus. The objective of your guides is simple: to take you off the beaten track and make you discover a secret and confidential Island of Skye. It is possible to make photo excursions with specialized photographers.

Whatever your age, your level or your desire for activities, Skye Adventure offers a wide range of possibilities: treks on the coast, in the gorges, in the mountains, on the Cuillin, climbing, canyoning, coastering, skills and orientation courses, as well as sessions adapted to families. Visit their website to choose and book. The activities are obviously done in complete safety and according to the level of the group, with qualified instructors and equipment (helmets, combishort, life jackets, etc.) provided to the participants.

If you would like to discover all the facets of the region with an expert, you will no doubt find what you are looking for here. Ben Nevis, Glencoe, Lochaber, Isle of Skye: guided hikes are accessible to all. Rates are per day and excursions can be extended over 3 days. Outings can range from individual accompaniment to small groups. Hiking with a guide remains the best way for amateurs to discover the breathtaking landscapes.

Abacus Mountain Guides organize guided hikes in the area all year round. Ben Nevis is a great classic, in summer as well as in winter, but there are also other possibilities for all levels: hikes in Glen Coe, ascent of Buachaille Etive Mor, crossing of Aonach Eagach ... In winter, in addition to cross-country skiing, you can also go ice climbing. Whatever your desires and your level, the guides will concoct a tailor-made excursion, in complete safety, for extraordinary memories.

Lochaber Guides offer their services, mainly around Glencoe and Ben Nevis, on the Pony Track and the North Face, for walks with a guide whatever the season. They will guide you for hikes to the munros (including the highest, the Ben Nevis) in complete safety, with a wide variety of itineraries (around Lochaber, Glencoe...), to get off the beaten track. Winter is also a good time for walking, but you can also try your hand at mountaineering and climbing in the snow and on ice.

Mountain. Munro bagging is a Scottish variation in mountain hiking. His name comes from that of Hugh Munro, who was projecting an exhaustive list of peaks over 910 m, and there are almost 300. Avoid the crowds of Ben Nevis. The Shiehallion was recommended near Pitlochry (A 9). Ben Beinn, in the Torridon Mountains, is more recommended for beginners.

Walking festivals are held in the Highlands, Royal Deeside, or Scottish Borders, Doune or Pitlochry. You can participate in various sports activities, be guided by specialists in the places, attend night shows.

Southern Upland Way de Portpatrick. Between Dumfries and Galloway, in Cockburnspath on the coast, south of Dunbar. This famous hiking trail extends over a distance of 340 km. It is relatively easy to navigate from end to end, if you take the time! For any information, consult:

Old Man of Storr is an iconic walk on the Isle of Skye. The trail, starting from the parking lot, takes you to the top of these strange geological shapes. Beware, it is not a loop and you will have to retrace your steps. It is necessary to count approximately 2h30 for this hike. The panorama that the monolith of the Old Man Storr offers you is breathtaking. It is recommended to do it in the morning to avoid the crowd that attracts this little gem. According to the legend, this 54 m high menhir would be the thumb of the giant that would protrude from the earth.

It is the second highest mountain in Mull, with a peak at 766 m. Any walker can conquer the first 550 m of altitude. Indeed, two communication antennas are served by an excellent trail that is easy to follow, even for those who would be put off by maps. Beware, there are no real parking spaces. The ascent to the second antenna requires good legs. The view over the whole east of Mull and the nearby coast is amazing. Beyond that and to reach Dun Da Ghaoithe, you'll need to be an experienced hiker.

The roof of Mull is the only Munro present on a Scottish island outside Skye. With a peak at 966 m altitude, it offers one of the most beautiful walks on the island and a breathtaking panorama. The simplest and most direct trail starts in Dhiseig, on the B8073, at a small car park. It climbs quite steeply, sometimes indistinctly through the rocky chaos, and the round trip is 10 km long (approx. 6 hours). Once up there, the whole island, the rest of the Hebrides and the west coast are open to you.

This other coastal wonder is a fossilized tree in the rock on the Ardmeanach Peninsula. It would have appeared 50 million years ago following an eruption of Ben More, which was then a volcano. The trail starts at Tiroran, a tiny place accessible from the B8035 at Killiemore. It then follows the coast westwards. Some parts are less passable than others, but the view of the cliffs is breathtaking and your final destination is well worth the detour. The area is protected by the National Trust of Scotland.