Are you an outdoorsy person? Do you love hiking? If so, we have compiled a list of the best hiking spots in Scotland just for you. There are many hiking places offering different kinds of experiences in Scotland. So, suit yourselves up with these choices and go making the most unforgettable hiking experience you will never forget before you die! Read more and choose your favorite!
What are the best hiking spots in Scotland?
- The West Highland Way
- Old Man of Hoy, Orkney
- Ben Nevis
- Stac Pollaidh, Assynt
- The Cobbler
- Muckle Flugga, Shetland
- The Southern Upland Way
- Loch an Eilein, Cairngorm National Park
- The Cuillins, Isle of Skye
- The Old Mill and Achmelvich Beach
The West Highland Way
One of the best hiking spots in Scotland that you must explore is the West Highland Way. This hiking spot begins from Kingshouse on the West Highland Way into Fort William. This hiking trail stretches around 155 km, so make sure you bring enough water to drink and take a break while hiking. Most people spend around five to seven days hiking in the West Highland Way.
Once you are exploring this hiking spot, you will never get enough of the magnificent sceneries you will get to witness in the West Highland Way. You will have the chance to see the shores of Loch Lomond. You can also explore the beautiful wilderness of Rannoch Moor during your journey. More importantly, you can also see Glencoe which is one of the most iconic sceneries in Scotland.
Old Man of Hoy, Orkney
If you are not into hiking for several days, Old Man of Hoy, Orkney is one of the best hiking spots in Scotland for beginners. If you are interested in hiking in this place, you will need to catch a ferry to go to the Orkney archipelago and disembark on the island of Hoy. Once you got there, you will be welcomed by Britain’s highest sea cliffs, which will blow your mind with their beauty.
Another iconic place you will find from hiking in the Old Man of Hoy is the red sandstone sea stack, which makes the island so popular among hikers. The hiking trails of the coastal path in this place are very easy to follow. If you stand on the cliffs on a clear day, you can see the Cape Wrath of Scotland. What an interesting hiking spot to experience, is not it?
Ben Nevis
Ben Nevis is probably one of the most popular hiking spots in Scotland, which offers hikers an unforgettable hiking experience. And why is that? Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in Scotland and even in the whole United Kingdom. So, do you dare to take up the challenge to hike in the highest peak in the United Kingdom?
Additionally, there are also a lot of routes you can take for your hiking itineraries. So, you can suit it up based on your preferences and your endurance ability. During the winter, the highland is covered with snow, making it even more stunning and enchanting for more and more people to explore.
Stac Pollaidh, Assynt
Another best beginner-friendly hiking spot in Scotland you can take is Stac Pollaidh in Assynt. The mountain is not that high so you can enjoy your adventure without significant hustle. You only need to spend around three hours climbing up to the peaks of the 613-meter mountain. It is still bearable, right?
Moreover, there are many steep gullies and pinnacles along the trails, offering a stunning view yet a little challenge for you to hike. Once you arrive at its peak, you can see the rocky crest of Torridonian sandstone. After that, you will get a refreshing view of the landscape you see from above. It is really interesting, right?
The Cobbler
The Cobbler is one of the best hiking spots in Scotland, which has a very distinctive summit. The outline of this mountain is quite different to any other mountain in the Southern Highlands. More importantly, this characteristic makes the mountain very photographable. So, do not forget to charge your camera battery to capture some spectacular pictures of The Cobbler.
Alternatively known as Ben Arthur, The Cobbler also provides hikers with accessible routes for hiking. The main path of this mountain takes around four to six hours to hike. You also need to be careful with some rocky sections there. So, always check the weather forecast before you start exploring this hiking spot.
Muckle Flugga, Shetland
Another coastline hiking spot in Scotland that you may want to discover is Muckle Flugga in Shetland. Many people come to this place to escape from their work, making it a great place for a short weekend trip. Considering the easy access to go to this place, it will be a perfect getaway for you.
When you are visiting this hiking spot, you will get the chance to explore the Hemaness National Nature Reserve. This natural park offers a dramatic clifftop view, which is one of the best cliffs-by-the-sea scenery you cannot forget. Moreover, you can also get around closely with the natural wilderness there, as this place is home to a variety of seabirds and marine life.
The Southern Upland Way
The next hiking place for your list of best hiking spots in Scotland is the Southern Upland Way, which is the first official coast-to-coast walk in the UK. If you are looking for a challenging hiking activity in Scotland, this is the perfect place for you. Why? Because you will need to spare several days to go on a hiking journey in this hiking spot.
Many professional hikers spend around 12 to 16 days exploring a 344 km journey from Portpatrick to Cockburnspath. Along the way, you will have to take on more than 80 peaks, where you can see the beauty of Scotland’s nature. Well, are you ready to take up this new challenge? The Southern Upland Way of Scotland is waiting for you.
Loch an Eilein, Cairngorm National Park
Do you want to spend time with your family enjoying nature? Well, you should put Loch an Eilein in Cairngorm National park into your list of best hiking spots in Scotland. This hiking ground is one of the best places for families with little kids to go for a hike and picnic. So, if you want to bring your children and want them to be close to nature, this is the place to take them out.
Along the journey to Loch an Eilein, you have to get deep into the forest of Rothiemurchus where there are a lot of ancient Caledonian pines and a 13th-century island castle. With this magical view, the spot won the UK’s best picnic spot in 2010. It sounds so interesting, right? Go spend family time with your loved ones and get the best out of Loch an Eilein.
The Cuillins, Isle of Skye
Another remarkable hiking spot in Scotland that you must never miss is The Cuillins, which is located on the Isle of Skye. The place is very beautiful, and even the landscape is decorated with the Cuillin mountains. Generally, the mountains are divided into the Red Cuillin and the Black Cuillin which are separated by Glen Sligachan.
It is going to be an unforgettable experience to hike in these two mountains. Many people say that the Black Cuillin is the most challenging mountain range to hike in the United Kingdom, where the highest point is 3,254 feet above sea level. Meanwhile, the Red Cuillin is around 2,543 feet above sea level yet offers a great view of the Isle of Skye.
The Old Mill and Achmelvich Beach
The Old Mill and Achmelvich Beach are probably the best coastal hike in Scotland or even in the United Kingdom. If you want to enjoy nature in one of the best hiking spots in Scotland that offer a coastal landscape, this is the right place to go. The Achmelvich beach features soothing white sands where there is Europe’s smallest castle called Hermit’s Castle that you can stop by.
Besides, the Old Mill and Achmelvich Beach also have diverse wildlife, such as seals, basking sharks, cetaceans, otters, white-tailed eagles, and ospreys. So, if you really want to get so close to nature and explore the wildlife of the coastal regions, Old Mill and Achmelvich Beach are worth visiting.
So, how do you find this list of the best hiking spots in Scotland? Do you find some that may interest you? Or, do you want to explore other options? Fret not! JoinMyTrip has a lot of the best hiking spots you can enjoy around the world. With our dedicated TripLeaders, you can explore and discover the best hiking experiences you will never forget! Book a trip with JoinMyTrip now!
