Scotland is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places in the entire world. This place offers numerous activities to do and hiking is one of them. Scotland is home to many beautiful trails that offer views which you might not have seen on your regular journey. To view the hidden beauty of Scotland, you will have to put some extra effort and hike through the Scotland trails. If you are planning a vacation to this beautiful country then make sure that you opt for hiking and explore the lesser walked paths. Below are handpicked trails for hiking in Scotland where you can head to for an adventurous activity.
Best Time To Visit Scotland For Hiking
This is a topic that every traveler is curious about and it’s fair to feel the same. Now, if you talk about the best time for hiking in Scotland, then there is no one best time for it. All the seasons that we see have some or other reason for visiting the place. Different seasons will give you different kinds of experience. One thing that you should make note of is that you should not go for it in the weather, which is not comfortable for you and this is a personal thing to decide. One should, however, take care of the clothes that they are taking with them according to the season. Also, before starting your journey, you should check the weather forecast of your destination.
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8 Best Hiking Trails In Scotland
The best thing about the hikes here is that you get to see such beautiful scenery that could not be described in words. Check out some of the top hiking trails in Scotland here and choose yours.
1. Quiraing
This particular hike is located on the Trotternish Peninsula, on the Isle of Skye. You will be surprised to know that this entire circuit or the trekking path is the result of multiple landslides that happens in this area. The entire path is 7 km long. You can see spectacular scenery while passing through the hiking path. It will take you hours to complete it. If you ask about the level of difficulty that this particular trek has, then it depends on the path that you take to start your journey. There are multiple paths to reach your destination. It also depends on the capacity of your body and that will decide how you complete this trek. It is one of the best places for hiking in Scotland.
Location: Isle of Skye
Time needed: 2 hours
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2. The Fairy Pool
The entire hiking spot is as beautiful as its name. This is a kind of island situated at the Isle of Skye. Now, you don’t need to choose a hiking path to reach this place, but if you want to enjoy the views that you get to see in the path, then you can go for it. Well, people take the easiest path and go to this place through their private vehicles. However, if you want to trek through the path, you should take the route that starts just after the main road of Sligachan. Sligachan is one of those places in this area, where you can see the shortage of things, but if you want to stay here, there are a couple of good hotels. The journey of this beautiful hike starts from this main road and the hikers need to go along the Cuillin mountains. In the path, you will see a lot of waterfalls that has clear turquoise waters. You can even find people swimming in the natural pools if you go on a sunny day. The walk to this island is quite smooth and it will take you 2.5 to 4 hours to complete it. It is the best place for hiking in Scotland in July.
Location: Isle of Skye
Time needed: 40 minutes
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3. West Highland Way
The West Highland Way is one of those amazing hiking spots of Scotland, which can attract the experienced trekkers and hikers. This is 96 miles long hike and it could be completed in 4 to 8 days depending upon the capability of a person. There is a lake called Loch Lomond over there which is the center of attraction. There is a very special beauty attached to the lakes that are situated at a height and this lake is no exception. One should have the insect repellent creams and other sorts of safety things with them, as the hiking could give you challenges, like dealing with some of the very dangerous and unknown insects. Apart from that, if you are going for a hike for the first time, then it is advisory to plan the entire journey properly. You should decide when to stop and where to stay, as the difficulty level of this hiking is a bit high.
Location: It starts from Milngavie north of Glasgow and ends at Fort William in the Scottish Highlands.
Time needed: 6 to 8 days
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4. Ben Lomond
Ben Lomond happens to be one of the best and the hiker’s favorite spots. This is located near to the lake Loch Lomond. There are two ways to reach the final destination of this trek. The first one is the tourist path starts from Rowardennan car park and the other is one is the alternate path, which starts from the national trust lodge. You won’t find many people taking the alternate path, but that too is well made and you can go for it without thinking twice. While you are on this trek, you should not forget to keep your warm clothes with you. The reason behind it is that the weather over here could change any time. If you talk about the level of difficulty of this hike, then it is a moderate hike. However, you will have to walk a lot as the path is too long. It is smooth although if we talk about its difficulty level. It is one of the best hiking in Scotland.
Location: Eastern shore of lake Loch Lomond
Time needed: 6 to 8 hours
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5. Lairig Gartain
This particular hike spot is located in the area called Glencoe. The best part about this place is that it gives you lots of options for hiking in Scotland. One of the best places of all is the Lairig Gartain. This place is no exception and allows you to have an eye on some of the best scenery of Scotland. It will take you 1.5 hours to complete your hike. If you want your hike to be a little less adventurous and want to have just a normal hiking experience, then you can go for Coire Gabhail, which is another hiking spot in the same area. The part that you need to follow in this hike is very short in comparison to the other one.
Location: Glencoe
Time needed: 5 hours
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6. Fife Coastal Path
Fife is the name of a place in Scotland and the coastal path of it is perfect for hiking in Scotland. The entire distance is 117 miles and it is spread in between the Kincardine Bridge in the south and the Tay Bridge in the north. While you are on the journey, you can see a lot of fishing villages and beautiful towns. Apart from that, this journey will let you visit St Andrews, which is world-famous and is known as the home of golf. There are a lot of activities that you can do while you are in the path and this is probably the reason that it normally takes more than a week to reach the final destination. You can spend some quality time at places like East Neuk villages of Anstruther, Pittenweem or Crail. At these places, you can find some cool houses which are colored with pastel colours. Apart from that, one full night stays at St. Andrews is a must thing to do whenever you are visiting this place. So, try not to miss that. The hike here is not that easy, as there could be some slippery and stiff sections too.
Location: Fife
Time needed: 6 to 7 days
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7. Suilven
You must have heard about Assynt’s mountains. They are one of the most beautiful mountains in the entire world. The natural rock formations that these mountains have been out of the world. It is due to these mountains that the areas that are nearby are considered as the most beautiful ones in entire Britain. If we talk particularly about Suilven, then it takes 2 hours to complete the hike here. This hike looks very high, as it stands straight from the sea level. The actual height of this trek is 731 meters. As we already said, the mountains are really beautiful, so you get to see a lot of scenic beauty in the way. The hike is a difficult one, but more than facing the difficulty, a person needs to walk a lot.
Location: Assynt’s mountains
Time needed: 8 hours
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8. Duncryne Hill
This too is one of the hikes, near to the Loch Lomond lake and with this mention, it would be clear to all that there are a lot of hiking spots near this lake. Well, there are a lot of hiking spots near this lake, but the beauty that this place has, can’t be seen at any other hiking spot. The local people also call it Dumpling. This is one of the easiest hikes in this entire list. You can even reach your destination with the help of your private vehicle. Now, the scenes that you see from the hilltop is just breathtakingly beautiful. The best thing about this place is that not many people know about it. So, if you went there, you can enjoy the peace and the calmness that is there in the surrounding.
Location: Near lake Loch Lomond
Time needed: 40 minutes
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So, now you have a perfect list of the best trails for hiking in Scotland from which you can choose the best one for yourself. Get ready with your backpack and a camera to capture some of the most mesmerizing sceneries of Scotland. If you still haven’t explored this beautiful place then this is an ideal time to tick off Scotland from your bucket list. If you are looking for a trouble-free trip then plan your Scotland excursion with TravelTriangle. Convince your friends or plan a solo trip to this place and come back with memories galore.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Hiking In Scotland
Which is the best hiking trail in Scotland?
One really can’t name just one hiking trail that is good in Scotland as there are numerous. For example, there are The Fairy Pool and Fife Coastal Path. These hikes that are located near Loch Lomond are beautiful and one could not afford to miss visiting them.
Is hiking in Scotland challenging?
Challenges that one can face here are nothing in comparison to the other hikes. However, if you have just started hiking or this is your first attempt in this, then there are chances that you can face challenges.
What are the challenges that one can face while hiking in Scotland?
You will have to walk a lot as the hikes are long. Apart from that, the path could be slippery. Another challenge could be the sudden weather changes at the higher altitudes.
Which is the highest hiking spot in Scotland?
The hiking spots that are located in the Assynt’s mountains are probably the highest of all. However, there are lower hikes too and you can choose one according to your convenience.
Is it safe for women to go alone for hiking in Scotland?
We won’t talk about safety in terms of problems that are created by humans or a problem that is there especially for a woman. If you look at the path and the kind of journey one has to go through on these hikes, it will be difficult for anyone to complete these alone. So, it is advisory not to go for it alone, no matter which gender group you belong to.
What can I do to join a group for hiking in Scotland?
You will have to find out about the agencies that provide hiking facilities. After that, you can register on their website for it. There are readymade packages, so you can choose from them. You can go for a customized one also.
What are the different experiences one can have while hiking in Scotland?
The experience that you get while hiking in Scotland is just like any other hike around the world. It’s just that there are some places that you explore while you hike, which you are not going to find anywhere else in the world.
What are the things to carry while hiking in Scotland?
You will have to carry things that you carry for hiking at any other place also. Some of them are snacks, water bottle, camera, etc. You should keep a check on the clothes according to the season you are traveling in.
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