Travelling through Scotland doesn’t just have to be done in the warm, cosy seat of your motorhome – although we wouldn’t blame you! One of the best things about this beautiful country is the abundance of hiking routes, right the way from easy to challenging, which can get you out and experiencing the nature around you.
But which routes do you take? You can’t take them all, unless you’re some kind of superhuman with unlimited time on your hands. As with every other factor of hiring a motorhome in Scotland, you will have to sit down before the holiday starts and map out exactly where you want to go.
We can help with that. Being based in Scotland, we know a thing or two about the glorious green land that surrounds us. We know which walks are worth it. We know walks that are not so worth it.
After all, you don’t want to be taking a long trek up the hills only to find a pretty average view that is blocked by a frustratingly placed willow tree. We know how to avoid that willow tree.
But then again, it’s not all about the view. In fact, we’ve already told you where to find the best views in Scotland, so this is about something different. This is about the walk to get there. Here are five brilliant hikes that will get you panting but wonderstruck by the beauty of our beautiful land:
The Water Of Leith
Let’s start with Edinburgh, seeing as you’ll be starting there too. Before you hop on board the motorhome, it’s a great idea to get some exercise in and see some of the sights through the Water of Leith walk. Just beside Prince’s Street, there’s a gorgeous little suburb with a Victorian style bridge and river.
Follow this river and you’ll find yourself transported into an old, fairy-tale part of the city. On this walk you can see anything from ducks, geese and even otters. It goes all the way to Leith, but we suggest you stop at Murrayfield Stadium, take in the stunning piece of architecture, then hop on a tram back to us!
The West Highland Way
If you want to trek the most famous walk in Scotland, then the West Highland Way is the place for you. This is a famous walk that goes all the way from Milngavie, 96 miles to Fort William. Don’t panic, you don’t have to walk that far!
Instead, you can pick out a part of the walk that interests you – the route passes the quaint shores of Loch Lomond, as well as Rannoch Moor and Glencoe – and simply walk what you are comfortable with. At the very end of the hike, you’ll also find the tallest mountain in the UK, Ben Nevis. If you’re feeling extra fit, you can climb this too, but we feel that may be a stretch too far. After all, there’s more motorhome travelling to do!
The Cobbler
It’s a good thing you avoided Ben Nevis, because The Cobbler is a far easier climb, and the views at the top are just as good. The Cobbler is a triple-headed mountain that is entirely unique in Scotland. Sitting at 920 metres tall, the path to the top is easy to follow and pretty comfortable to complete if you have hiked up mountains like this before.
If you haven’t, you need to know what to consider before climbing a mountain like this for the first time! It’s not for everyone. However, from the car park in Arrochar, the zig-zag path to the mountain base is still around three miles long and it has some beautiful views of Loch Long. So it’s still a great spot to visit and hike.
The Crieff Hydro Walk
Crieff Hydro, in the highlands, is a stunning piece of land which has its own hotel and activity facilities for the kids. It also has a gorgeous woodland walk that takes you to one of the best spots on this list. At the very top, you have a view of the highlands, including the very last site of the infamous witch burnings.
But that’s not all. Walk about five minutes around the corner and you will reach the other side of the hill, where you have a view of the lowlands. This is the best place to see the unique difference between these two sections of Scotland. Not to mention the walk to get there is brilliant if you are a lover of woodland wildlife.
The Loch Ness Trail
How can we end a list like this without mentioning Loch Ness? This is one of the most famous lochs in Scotland and for good reason. It is a massive body of water, surrounded by glorious hills and stunning countryside. There are plenty of hikes to be had here, with the best being the Loch Ness 360 trail.
This can be stepped onto at any point around Loch Ness but, like the West Highland Way, it is a long hike of around 80 miles, so don’t feel you have to do it all! If you would like a more precise hike from beginning to end, the Falls of Foyers also has a great reputation, with scenic waterfalls and unique views of the loch. Just remember to keep your eye out for you-know-what!
