I’m on the hunt for a good multi day backpacking hike for next spring and struggling to settle on one. I’ve done multiple big trips this year like the west highland way & the lairig ghru, so I’m comparing every walk to those even though I shouldn’t.

could anyone share any insights, pros / cons, experience etc about the following walks or similar so I can stop comparing & get planning.

ill be doing it with my daughter so ideally some varied terrain, some nice views, the option to wild camp / campsite & close to the highlands would be great.

• rob roy way
• hebridian way
• skye trail
• east highland way

I did look into the speyside way but the fact they keep extending it somewhat puts me off. the affric kintail way is already on my list & is being planned also!

any & all help appreciated

I wanted to ask if anyone had experience hiking the full 100 KM St. Margaret's way from Edinburgh to St. Andrew's? If so what was your experience and could you offer any advice?

I am Canadian and visiting for a wedding, aftwerwards I have about 8 days to travel Scotland in mid November. I had heard about hill walking from a relative and I thought it sounded amazing. While researching I found the st Andrew's way website and I thought doing a multi day walk would be a new way to see the country. I've previously been up to the highlands with my family.

My plan: leave my luggage in Edinburgh and walk with a 22 L backpack with essentials.

Walk to st Andrew's over the course of 4ish days, staying in hotels and hostels along the way. Then take the train back to Edinburgh.

I'm a fit 31 yr old woman who has experience with long hikes and knows how to pack for multi day camping trips.

Does this sound realistic? Feel free to tell me if im being unrealistic, as someone who is unfamiliar with the area it would be good to know if im biting off more than I can chew.

Hey! Myself and my partner would love to take some time splitboarding with a guide early January somewhere in Scotland. We have all the gear except the avi kit and have done a fair few adventures on the splitboards when we did seasons in the Alps (21/22 being the last). Any recommendations on location or guides/packages would be AMAZING

I (32F) moved to Edinburgh from the US late this summer and I've been getting into walking rural Scotland. I've never hiked seriously before but am pretty fit from many years of road and trail running, for instance I did Crianlarich to Bridge of Orchy on the West Highland Way yesterday in about 6 hours moving time.

I don't want to sit in Edinburgh (or even the Pentlands etc) all winter because I get stir-crazy if I don't get out of town once a month or so. Looking for some trips for Nov/Jan/Feb/Mar that would fit these requirements:

• Doable in a weekend (including some of Friday) or as a long day trip using public transit from Edinburgh. Ideal transit time is between 1 and 3 hours.
• If overnight, have hostel accommodation (I don't want to wild camp in winter and have never done it alone before in any season)
• About 20km of walking per day, can do more if one of the walks/a part of the walk is runnable terrain
• Moderate elevation and terrain
• Bonus points for a one-way walk

I've already done:

• Ardlui to Bridge of Orchy on the WHW
• Balmaha-Rowardennan on the WHW
• Ben Lomond via Ptarmigan
• Aviemore: Loch an Eilein, Loch Morlich (pretty but kind of too easy, considered running instead), Coire an t-Sneachda from ski center (nice)

Some ideas:

• Glencoe as 2.5 day trip, access using CityLink and stay at the youth hostel
• Corrour, same idea except access by train. But for this or Glencoe I'm nervous about the possibility of snow (could lose a whole day to bad weather). Also at the outer limit of how far I want to travel for short days.
• Stages of Rob Roy Way or other long-distance walks toward the south
• A couple Trossachs hills stuck together

Other ideas?

How quiet will it be, on the sections by Loch Lomond? Might do some with my dog and ideally we'll not meet many people.

Where’s good to surf on the north coast when the swells straight west? Does is still wrap in to the likes of Thurso East?

Hi there, I have a hiking and camping trip planned next week from Blair Atholl to Aviemore, 37 miles passing the Red House Bothy, Corrour Bothy and then through the Lairig Ghru. I'm a fairly experienced camper/hiker in chilly weather, but it's the first time I go hiking outside of summer. I think the route is generally pretty safe since it passes through the lower valleys and I pass the bothies, but it seems to have been raining quite a lot and there's the Geldie Burn ford that could potentially be a hazard (I do have water shoes for fording). So I'm looking for any general advice or things I might have overlooked. I also assume midge season is over? Much thanks!

Next summer we are looking to hike some of the kintyre way as will be only there for 2/3 days.

Question is of the seven sections is there any would highly recommend. Thought about doing carradale to Campbell town then to Southend?

I have winter walking in crampons experience in Scotland and want to move towards slightly steeper and more committed terrain. I'm still a bit of a baby about exposure so am not keen on ridges for now but would like to get some suggestions for easier or even 'easiest' gullies in winter conditions. Grade 1 no more.
At least once this winter I will be going with a friend and his dad who has a decent level of mountaineering experience so not going to blast into an avalanche prone gully on my own. Thanks!

Looking for suggestions of forests that ate currently turning and changing colours now autumn is well and truly here.

Thanks

Arite troops. Finding myself lucky to have a Monday off at the start of November so thinking to spend the weekend somewhere with access to some good hikes. Would be leaving Glasgow Sat AM, and heading up to Aberdeen on Monday. Was thinking of staying in Crianlarich sat&sun and attempting Ben more on the Sunday, probably something lighter on Saturday afternoon? Been to arrochar plenty times so fancying something different. Wondering if anyone has any other ideas of where could be decent or advice about Ben more early November? Cheers!

Ps have a good level of experience and fitness but will probably be on my own, so nothing daft will be attempted. Might take some gps communication with me as never know what might happen?

Edit- travelling by bus or train and planning to hotel it for accommodation. Have winter gear if really necessary but that’ll be based on the forecast closer to the time

Hi Reddit,

Was trying to figure out where to post, so thought this could be a good group to ask.

I'm a pro photographer specialising in outdoor and adventure imagery, and currently on the lookout for new personal projects. I'm currently in the NW around Ullapool and looking to see if I can find some interesting people who would be happy to let me shoot them - fishermen, crofters, foresters... Anyone who grafts hard in the rugged terrain that is Scotland.

Would be interested to hear if anyone would be happy to recommend anyone.

Thanks!

I'm planning a spring trip to Scotland and want to hike the Isle of Skye...what are the best travel guides and tour companies for this?

I am planning bike packing trip in skye in couple of weeks and was looking for possibly of hiking. Since I will be with my bike and i am not wild camping this time, I need to get back my accommodation before it gets dark. Can anybody recommend scenic routes for biking? With the bike one option would be to stay near the places I want to go but I still need to figure out how and where to keep my bike when hiking.

The rough plan i have in mind is - Arrive at Armadale via ferry and head towards north. Then checkout

• Storr
• Bearreaig Bay
• Culnacnoc
• Quiraing

Then head west to Dunvegan

• Neist point
• Waterstein cliffs

Start heading to south again to Armadale to take the ferry.

I would appreciate if you have any suggestions!

Hi everyone,

I was thinking of going camping in the Highlands around New Year’s Eve but not sure if my equipment is adequate. I would likely avoid peaks and steep climbs due to snow/ice buildup and I was thinking of either doing smith around Glen Coe or the Affric Kintail Way.

My only sleeping bag is a Rab Alpine 600 rated to -9 by Rab, although the certified rating has it at -7 limit. I have a nice Nemo pad with an R value of 5 smth and then as for downinsulation around camp I just own a Patagonia down sweater.

This has been plenty as I often camp between May and October but not so sure what kind of conditions I might find in late December/ early January.

Would small increments such as a good sleeping bag liner, good insulated gloves, and simply more clothes for when at camp be enough or do I need a new tent, sleeping bag, and mat altogether?

Thanks

Hi Folks,

I would like some advice on solo hiking in Cairngorm National Park in the last third of November. The plan is currently either one large multiday loop or a few smaller loops based on Aviemore. I have between six and eight useable days. I do have backup plans if the weather is outside what I am comfortable handling (obviously, if anyone has suggestions, I'd gladly take them. But my lil heart is definitely set on seeing the wilds of the CNP). I would prefer you to assume I have less experience than I do; more knowledge never hurts.

Experience: I would consider myself competent as a hiker, and to have good fitness. I did a mountaineering course in the past (but it’s been a while, so all it means is that I am more aware of mountain weather and potential risks, I would not call myself a mountaineer). Love a topographic map, but have not navigated in a complete snowfield, nor do I intend to (at least not on this trip). My hiking has been mainly in New South Wales and Tasmania, with a few canyons as well, a mountaineering course in New Zealand, and a lot of camping.

Gear: I have gear that is suited to bad weather, and cold. I would be fine if it snowed (I would be delighted if it snowed) on flat ground. I will have paper and digital maps with gps and compass. I have a 1p Vango tent which has been pretty good so far. I will have a set of hiking poles, but at the moment, no mountain gear like crampons as I'm not planning on doing any mountain activities solo on account of not having a death wish.

Other: I’m from Australia (sorry about that), which means I’m not familiar with the ‘feel’ of the weather in Scotland. At your latitude, the rain is different but still soaking. I imagine it might be more similar to hiking in Tasmania. This information is only to give you an indicator of familiarity with conditions, and what the CNP might feel like as the weather changes.

Questions:

1. Does anyone have experience or advice on weather, or unforeseen issues that they had when hiking in November?
2. I understand that some peaks might be unsafe to access in snow or rain. Are there specific peaks or high points that you have experienced being more dangerous than expected? I will map a track using the Where The Path site linked in the sidebar.
3. Is there any specific equipment you found useful that is uncommon or not normally listed (for instance, the gear in the sidebar)? Eg, should I consider bringing crampons - do the conditions that require them occur in November? (I'm also capable of looking at a path and deciding that it's not safe, and not doing it.)
4. I don’t know if perhaps I’m an idiot (possible), but I am struggling to find out if there are specified areas to camp in around the inner part of the CNP. Can you camp anywhere (leave no trace, of course)? Or are there preferred sites?
5. Are there many people about in November? I understand it is technically ‘low season’, but I am interested in what that looks like from the ground.

Otherwise, general knowledge, thoughts, and experiences of hiking in this odd sort-of-Winter season would be much appreciated.

Again, I am planning a solo hike. I’ll leave my trail plans with my friend in Edinburgh and check in with them if I get a signal. I am really looking forward to touching the local moss :)

I'll hopefully have a hike plotted out in the next few days, and can pop it up in the comments.

i have everything that i need for backpacking in scotland but the last problem i have is actually doing the wild camping. i have no idea where to camp. i know about the right to roam so i can camp anywhere but i still have problems find areas to camp in the first place. for example, i have no idea if wild camping on the nearest mountain i see from my home is a good idea, or the nearest loch, or the nearest forest. ive already camped outside my home for countless nights just to get a feel for scottish weather as well and to test myself to see if i am fit enough for solo camping in the scottish wildnerness. if anyone can guide me to where i should camp and give me some insight on scottish wild camping in general. it would be much appreicciated.

also,a small part of the reason i only wanna do wild camping is because of campsite prices (mums already annoyed enough about me being all crazy about outdoor life)

https://preview.redd.it/7dx7qiq9nqrd1.png?width=1161&format=png&auto=webp&s=61aa76bdd6b9bcddd8e7232cb5cef5ec9d732f28

Ive been completely captivated by this painting since I first saw it over 10 years ago. I keep welling up inside as I study the fine details that Peter Graham have put into this artwork. I really would like to know where in Scotland he painted it. Does the landscape somehow look familiar to any of you?

Hello, I’m planning to hike the cape wrath trail during the last two weeks of April next year. I’m looking for some advice regarding the likely weather conditions during that time of year. I’ve had a look at the weather history in certain places but obviously the trail covers a large area. Anyone who has hiked the trail during April, what kit did you take (I.e full winter set up?) and was there any snow, are rivers very likely to be in spate etc? Thanks in advance! 😁

So me and my friend, we are both 20 year old males, are going in october to hike for 4/5 days in Scotland, while searching for a suitanle trail we noticed this comment explaining this Trail from Grantown on Spey to Blair Atholl under another trail. We are not from the UK so we Will be coming by plane Just tò do this trail, we followed the directions of this comment and tried figuring out a possible trail, I will post both the comment and the trail I tried mapping, not being a local I wanted to ask if anyone did it before, if there are water points, and where we could get some screw in gas tanks for our camping stove nearby grantown on spey. thanks https://www.komoot.it/tour/1799732541?ref=aso&share_token=aC0ZfmcROJ3S94NS2kuXIJFQ8JWjvOTnkejzhHUtHHIRUSA49b (the link is the map)

I know it's a weird question, but it works like a charm for the black flies in my area. A friend and I are going to Scotland in late spring and we are hoping to do a bunch of hiking. Has anyone tried vanilla extract?

Black flies or buffalo gnats are tiny little gnats that like to go for your face, especially the eyes, nose and mouth. They can be so bad that they have killed my chickens. I have a lot of luck with vanilla and I am hoping it translates to luck with midges.

I came across these bundles of sticks with black squares and chicken wire on attached to them in the forests close to Aviemore (Cairngorms). Anyone who can enlighten me what these are used for?

The sticks

I will be traveling to Scotland in January. I already live in bad cold weather and I am used to short days in winter. I will take the night train from London to Fort William, stay in the area for 4 days and then go visit Edinburgh. Do you have any recommendations around Fort William? Is it possible at all to do small hikes in that area in January? If we rent a car for those 4 days is it ok to drive in that area?

Hiya, I live in edi and have been meaning to do a hike for some time now. Only problem is is that I don’t have access to a car and would only be able to travel using public transport. Are there any easily accessible places to go that wouldn’t have too many people? I am willing to spend the night if needed and not too expensive. Any recommendations would be appreciated :))))

Also please PM me all your secret spots. Just kidding, I have a spot near Pitlochry I shall never share, Which general part of the country you have info about would be good though.