Top 5 walking vacations in Scotland
The best walks in Scotland don’t zip around the whole country, but zoom in on one region. You might concentrate on an island archipelago – such as wild Orkney or the Inner Hebrides – or explore a long-distance path like the West Highland Way. Choose to march with fellow hikers on a guided small group vacation or go solo and steep yourself in peace and the friendliness of your welcoming guest house owners. Along the way, you’ll walk through ambitious biodiversity projects such as Cairngorms Connect, which is working hard to rebuild depleted moorland, forest and rivers.
Keep reading to discover our top five walking vacations in Scotland.
Keep reading to discover our top five walking vacations in Scotland.
1. See Neolithic sites & birdlife in Orkney
Orkney’s 70 islands are sublime for exploring on foot. Their isolation and extremity have led to a fascinating tapestry of culture and history that guided small groups explore while wandering wild coastal landscapes, and sites such as the Ring of Brodgar, the Italian Chapel and Skara Brae. The birdlife is some of Scotland’s most characterful, so watch the skies and sheer cliffs for skuas, puffins and white-tailed eagles.
Our top trip: Orkney Isles small group walking vacation
See all our trips: Orkney vacations
Read more: Orkney travel guide
Our top trip: Orkney Isles small group walking vacation
See all our trips: Orkney vacations
Read more: Orkney travel guide
2. Take on the West Highland Way
The West Highland Way wends from Milngavie, just north of Glasgow, to Fort William, on the shores of Loch Linnhe. At over 150km long, it’s a challenge but a scenic challenge. You’ll visit Loch Lomond, Glencoe and Rannoch Moor, however many hikers find that the highlights end up being on the less obviously spectacular end of the scale: the friendly B&Bs or an unexpected glimpse of a ptarmigan.Our top trip: West Highland Way walking vacation
See all our trips: Scottish Highlands vacations
Read more: Scottish Highlands travel guide
3. Trek Scotland in winter
The Cairngorms is home to the biggest ski resort in Britain – and the best winter walking vacations skip that completely. Instead, follow a trained winter mountain guide into the snowy Scottish hills. They’ll handle all the map reading, weather assessments and safety briefings, so you can get on with admiring the mountains and valleys around you. A good level of fitness is recommended.Our top trip: Scotland winter walking vacation
See all our trips: Scotland walking vacations
Read more: Scotland travel guide
4. Explore the Cairngorms
Explore the lesser-known trails of the biggest national park in the UK: the Cairngorms. Many come here to bag some Munros (the 3,000m-plus mountains) or take on a whisky trail, but there’s also mossy Caledonian pine forest, heather moors, staggered waterfalls and welcoming Highlands villages. Come in autumn for coppery forests and the spectacle of rutting stags bellowing across the valleys.
Our top trip: Walking vacation in the Cairngorms
See all our trips: Scottish Highlands vacations
Read more: Scottish Highlands travel guide
Our top trip: Walking vacation in the Cairngorms
See all our trips: Scottish Highlands vacations
Read more: Scottish Highlands travel guide
5. Get on the Great Glen Way
Spend a week hiking the Great Glen Way, a 118km trail leading from Fort William in the west to Inverness in the east. Highlights include the towpath along the Caledonian Canal, where Neptune’s Staircase, a staircase of eight locks, draws canalboats uphill. Then there are the other type of lochs – Loch Lochy, Loch Oich and Loch Ness.Our top trip: Great Glen Way walking vacation
See all our trips: Scotland walking vacations
Read more: Scotland travel guide
More about Scotland walking
Our walking vacations in Scotland explore legends like the West Highland Way, plus rare Caledonian forest and Highlands and islands off the well-trod trail.
Tackle the West Highland Way, island-hop in the Hebrides, bird watch on Orkney, or hike the Cairngorms in winter. Discover some great Scottish walking routes.
Walking vacations in the Cairngorms range from self guided hikes to glamping with ponies. Find out how to explore this corner of the Highlands.
Learn about Scotland’s right to roam, how to dig a snow hole, and why summer isn't always best in our guide to walking vacations in the Highlands.
Self guided walking vacations in Scotland are treasure hunts. There are indeed crystals in them hills – but read on to discover more valuable gems.
