The Scottish highlands have a certain magic that attracts me in each time I visit them. One of the foremost reasons I keep coming back to this distant wilderness is since it permits you to escape the hustle and bustle of our modern world and find inner peace and quiet.
One of the perfect ways to explore the Scottish highlands is to walk along the numerous mountain climbing trails that run through the desert.
I even have listed my absolute favorite hikes and walks within the Scottish Highlands below. On the list, you will find some famous hikes in addition to some hidden gems that I do know you will enjoy too!
1. Hiking within the Scottish Highlands – Ben Nevis
Ben Nevis, just outside the town of Fort William, is the very best mountain within the British Isles and probably the most popular tourist destinations within the Scottish Highlands, with around 125,000 visitors a 12 months.
The hike is best suited to more advanced walkers because the trail to the highest is long, requires some rough terrain and will be quite steep in places.
The walk is about 13 km including the return downhill. It takes about 8 hours to finish.
Ben Nevis was once an lively volcano that exploded and collapsed tens of millions of years ago to form the current mountain, which is an element of the Grampian Mountain Range.
2. Birches from Aberfeldy
Brisk of Aberfeldy, near the beautiful town of Aberfeldy in Perthshire, was one in all Robert Burns’ (famous Scottish poet) favorite places in Scotland and the topic of his folk song of the identical name. The Birks of Aberfeldy refers to a circular walk across the scenic burn.
The Birks walk from Aberfeldy it leads through a dense forest of old birch trees, past the cascading waterfalls generally known as the Falls of Moness. It’s a brief but spectacular walk. Just be prepared because it involves a number of steps!
3. Glencoe Valley – The fantastic thing about the Scottish Highlands
Glencoe is a surprising and magical valley filled with lakes, mountains and waterfalls, offering mountain climbing trails for all abilities.
In addition to being a famous mountain climbing destination, Glencoe can also be famous for its dark history. In 1692, government soldiers killed 38 members of the MacDonald clan. This tragic event went down in history because the Glencoe Massacre.
Countless mountain climbing trails within the valley beg to be discovered. One of them is a hike through the Lost Valley, which is alleged to be where the MacDonald clan hid their stolen cattle. This 4 km walk takes several hours. Be aware that there are sections of steep climbing, nevertheless it gives spectacular views.
4. Clachan Trail – trails of the Scottish Highlands
There are many great walks inside Tay Forest Park in Perthshire, but one in all my favorites is the Clachan Trail.
This walk will take you deep right into a forest of tall conifers. One of the highlights of this hike is passing the abandoned farming village of Clachan, which has been untouched for 2 centuries!
The walk is fairly easy, with a number of gradual climbs and uneven terrain with mud after rainy weather.
The Clachan Trail is 3 km long and takes about 1 hour to finish.
5. West Highland Road
This gigantic mountain climbing trail stretches 154 km from Milngavie near Glasgow to Fort William. It runs through a few of Scotland’s most picturesque areas, including Loch Lomond and Glencoe.
The West Highland Way will be walked in either direction, but most individuals go south to north. The walk normally takes 7 to 9 days.
6. Bruar Falls
Bruar Falls is a hidden gem in Perthshire and is included in a stunning circular walk. During the 1.5-hour walk, you will see quite a few mesmerizing cascades of water that run along the scenic burn.
The shortest circular walk to the lower falls is simply 22 minutes. However, I’d definitely recommend an extended walk that features the upper drops as they’re much more spectacular than the lower ones.
The falls are described in a poem by the famous Scottish poet Robert Burns entitled The Humble Petition Of Bruar Water.
7. Great Glen Way
The Great Glen Way is one other epic walk, but not so long as The West Highland Way. The trail follows the Caledonian Canal and stretches 117 kilometers from Fort William to Inverness. You’ll be rewarded with stunning views of Loch Ness, although you will not be guaranteed to see a monster!
The walk normally takes 5-7 days, although some experienced hikers have done it in 3-4 days, and slow walkers can take 10 days or more.
9. The Old Man of Storr
Located on the Isle of Skye, the Old Man of Storr is an enormous rock formation with amazing views across Skye.
The hill has a steep, rocky eastern face overlooking the Sound of Raasay. Meanwhile, on the west side is a gentler grassy slope. The climb to this extraordinary viewpoint is steep but well worth the effort.
The route is roughly 3.8 km long and takes several hours to finish.
This is one in all my favorite hikes within the Scottish highlands. What’s your favorite Scottish walk?
Ella McKendrick is a travel content creator and author who likes to travel off the beaten track and encourages you to do the identical.
