As summer season turns to autumn and accessible tracks for strolling and biking shift to shades of orange and crimson, now’s the time to staycation within the Nice Scottish Open air.
A haven of lots of of hikes, trails and rambling routes, rural Scotland’s Highlands, distant Outer Hebrides islands and nationwide parks together with the Cairngorms welcome walkers to tread paths to a few of Scotland’s most spectacular surroundings.
Conventional cities comparable to Glencoe and Fort William, wealthy in Gaelic tradition and hospitality, make for cosy bases whereas lochs, moorlands and mountain peaks carry the views and amenities for energetic adventures in nature.
From summiting Ben Nevis to strolling the West Highland Method and hopscotching hikes between the Hebrides, listed here are a number of the finest multi-day strolling holidays within the north of Scotland with routes to go well with all health ranges and distances.
Learn extra on Scotland journey:
Hike the Highlands
Northwest Scotland’s crowning jewel, the Highlands, affords the towering peak of Ben Nevis, waterfall valleys of Glencoe and legendary wonders of Loch Ness because the centre of a Scottish Highlands vacation. There are greater than sufficient adventures within the Nice Open air right here, with a wealth of walks within the Cairngorms Nationwide Park and the Munros Mountains, all on the doorstep of stays in Fort William and Crianlarich.
Tips on how to do it
HF Holidays hosts a “Scottish Highlands Guided Strolling Vacation” comprising an energetic seven-night journey round Glencoe that begins from £825pp. Highlights of the action-packed week embrace the 60m Gray Mare’s Tail waterfall, the forest trails of Gleann a Chaolais and traversing the Mamores. All meals (together with cream tea and three-course dinners), a selection of three day by day walks and lodging in Alltshellach nation home are supplied for the last word consolation whereas climbing within the rugged Highlands.
Climb within the Cairngorms Nationwide Park
The UK’s largest nationwide park, the Cairngorms within the Scottish Highlands, has every thing from mountains to climb to forest footpaths to tread and lochs shores to walk. Mountain ranges amid the 1748.271 sq. miles of pure magnificence embrace the Angus Glens and the Monadhliath with the Spey, Dee and Don rivers weaving in between. Uncommon wildlife together with goldeneye ducklings and wildcats thrives within the Cairngorms nature reserves and the rugged panorama is as versatile as it’s huge, with ski resorts, whisky distilleries and golf programs accommodating holidaymakers in each season.
Tips on how to do it
Wilderness Scotland has a six-night climbing tour of the excessive factors of the Cairngorms Nationwide Park for energetic holidaymakers to spend per week in certainly one of Scotland’s most spectacular mountain ranges. Small summits of the Northern Corries meet the summit of Cairngorm Mountain and the height of Sgor Gaoith on walks previous fairy story lochs, historic pinewoods and wildlife together with crimson squirrels and golden eagles. For £2,285pp, teams of as much as eight will keep at a personal wilderness lodge in Glen Feshie, take pleasure in totally catered meals and all transport from and to Aviemore Railway Station throughout this climbing journey.
Summit Ben Nevis
If climbing the UK’s tallest mountain is in your bucket listing, then look no additional than Scotland’s Ben Nevis. As soon as the positioning of an energetic volcano, Nevis’ legendary peak towers over the lochs and valleys of the northwest Highlands. Two trails take hikers to the summit: the zig-zag Mountain Monitor for novices to climb to the Previous Observatory, and the Carn Mor Dearg Arête for skilled scramblers to traverse throughout boulders to succeed in the rewarding panoramic views from the mountain’s North face.
Tips on how to do it
A lot Higher Adventures affords a “Summit Ben Nevis and Be taught Winter Mountain Abilities” bundle within the dramatic foothills of the UK’s highest mountain. For 2 nights between December and April from £564, teams of as much as 12 can discover ways to survive in harsh situations and summit Ben Nevis whereas staying in Fort William, a perfect base to discover the Scottish Highlands. Suppose ice axe and crampons coaching and a 1,345m ascent complemented by hearty dinners and drams of whisky. All breakfasts, gear, guesthouse lodging and mountain guides are included within the worth.
Stroll the West Highland Method
One among Europe’s hottest strolling paths, the linear West Highland Method stroll stretches for 96 miles from Milngavie to Fort William via countryside parks, loch shores and steep mountains for a multi-day exploration of the Scottish Highlands. Stops in Inverarnan, Tyndrum and Kinlochleven break up the journey via wild landscapes, together with Loch Lomond and the notorious Satan’s Staircase climb, and bunkhouses and B&Bs pepper the long-distance route for a conventional style of Scotland.
Tips on how to do it
Intrepid Journey supplies a six-day pattern of a few of Scotland’s finest walks such because the West Highland Method, the Nice Glen Method and summiting Ben Nevis from the charming base of Fort William on the shores of Loch Linnhe. Hike the well-known Satan’s Staircase in Glencoe and the steep Cow Hill for panoramic views of Glen Nevis Valley. The adventurous strolling vacation contains all breakfasts, transport, lodging and guided hikes from £1,200pp.
Hopscotch the Outer Hebrides
Scotland’s distant Atlantic islands lie off the mainland’s northwest coast, a haven for walks, wildlife and Gaelic tradition. Abandoned white sand seashores meet wild mountains and moors on archipelago hotspots from Vatersay to Barra and The Butt of Lewis. The Hebridean Method spans 156 miles throughout 10 of the islands for intrepid walkers and cyclists to soak up the rugged hills on a whole tour of the Outer Hebrides.
Tips on how to do it
Macs Journey’s “Outer Hebrides Island Hopscotch” offers walkers an opportunity to go off-grid and tread the Outer Hebridean archipelago from Barra to the Uists and Lewis. Lochs, white sand seashores and Neolithic stones populate the Scottish islands finest found on two toes. The 23-mile journey prices £960pp for seven nights climbing the Hebridean panorama between March and October. All visitor home lodging, ferry crossings and breakfasts are included within the worth.
Stroll Speyside Method
Speyside Method, a long-distance path within the Highlands, hyperlinks the Moray coast with the sting of the Grampian Mountains on a route dotted with rustic B&Bs, guesthouses and campsites splendid for a pinewood fringed strolling vacation. A variety of paths from a couple of hours’ strolls to multi-day climbing adventures span 9 sections of differing lengths and ranges, together with Buckie to Spey Bay and Craigellachie to Ballindalloch alongside the River Spey. There’s even a heritage path of seven Speyside single malt distilleries for whisky fans to savour amid days spent within the Scottish hills.
Tips on how to do it
Celtic Trails Strolling Holidays affords a six-night strolling vacation for energetic whisky lovers to stroll 65 miles on Speyside Method. Costs for the trek begin from £725pp, March to October, together with farmhouse lodging, baggage transfers, breakfast and a “Stroll Pack” of maps and detailed path guides. The strolling vacation via the Cairngorms visits a few of Scotland’s best whisky distilleries, the Ballindalloch Citadel property and the Strathspey Steam Railway on the journey via northeast Scotland’s historic Caledonian pine forests.
Learn extra of our finest Scottish Highlands resort evaluations