Best Hiking Routes in Scotland for the Trailblazer

Home to an impressive 282 Munro summits (peaks over 3,000 feet or 914.1m tall), Cairngorms National Park is the place to be for Scotland’s best hikes. Not to mention, you can find one of the country’s official long distance trails in the park: the one that involves whisky. wink wink

• Sugar Bowl. 36km | 13 hours. Four summits in one hike? You got it. The Cairn Toul to Braeriach route takes determination and fierceness, but that’s what you’re here for. Right?
• Cairngorm Ski Centre. 17.5km | 7 hours. Ben Macdui is the tallest in the Cairngorm mountains, and the arctic vibes give. Us. Everything. Hone your Munro-ing skills by tacking on the Cairn Gorm summit while you’re at it too!
• Auchallater. 26.5k | 10 hours. Through valleys, up mountains, and above lochs — you’ll see it all trekking Tolmount and Tom Buidhe.
• Speyside Way. 105km | 34.5-41.5 hours. The Cairngorms are home to one of Scotland’s official long distance hikes: Speyside Way. Following the River Sprey, you’ll see incredible sights and sip even better whisky at the distilleries lining your path.

If the Torridon Mountains aren’t on your travel itinerary, rearrange your schedule ASAP. Tucked in the Northwest Highlands, this range is a remote wilderness haven. Enjoy the tranquil region with some of the best hiking trails in the country.

Three badass peaks, Liathach, Beinn Eighe, and Beinn Alligin, are completely captivating. And clocking in at three billion (yes, billion) years old, the Torridons are a must-see formation.

• Glenn Cottage. 11.5km | 9 hours. Tie up your best hiking shoes and get to WORK, girl. The steep climb up Liathach, one of Scotland’s most stunning mountains, will test your bod, but those panoramic views will dissolve those aches away (but not really).
• Near Allt a Choire Dhuibh Mhòir bridge. 18km | 8 hours. Gentle walking routes through grassy hills soon become challenging terrain as you ascend the Beinn Eighe ridge and Munros. High above sea level, you’ll conquer this climb with your head in the clouds. It sure feels like it, at least!
• Abhainn Coire Mhic Nobuil. 10.5km | 8 hours. The trek up Beinn Allignin may not be beginner-friendly, but it’s one of the easier Torridon ridges to tackle. Hang out around sunrise or sunset to witness some serious glowiness — no highlight required #WokeUpLikeThis.
• Near Loch Bad an Sgalaig. 23km | 9 hours. Everything’s a view from Baosbheinn: gorgeous Scottish mountains, the distant sea, and Summer Isles line this spectacular landscape. Check the weather before heading out to prevent wet feet from crossing the river!

Slioch is an absolute gem of the West Highland region. While there’s only one actual trail up the mountain, it’s one of the best hikes you’ll ever do. Still, all the other walking routes in the area offer stunning views of the mountain, so don’t skimp out on them!

• Incheril. 19km | 9 hours. Traverse the only actual trail up Slioch, and you’ll boast that accomplishment to everyone forever. As you should. Push yourself to the limit and be rewarded with unmatched views of the Scottish highlands (plus maybe a goat spotting).
• Coille na Glas Letire Trails car park. 9km | 5 hours. Start your hike through an 8,000-year-old forest before catching sight of Loch Maree and Slioch. Careful: this summit’s rocky terrain is certainly not for the faint of heart.
• Tollie. 8km | 3 hours. Loch Maree islands, Torridon mountains, and Slioch are captivating from the Tollie to Slattadale trail: a relatively easy but boggy one-way path. Take a break and feast at the picnic table before beginning your trip back.
• Beinn Eighe Visitor Centre. 15.5km | 7 hours. If your goal is to head off the beaten path, you’re in luck. Part of the route up Ruadh-stac Beag is unmarked, so you can put your navigation to the test.

Cùl Mòr (pronounced “kool”) will leave you feeling like the cùl-est gal around when you stand on the summit taking in the mindblowing landscape surrounding you. With lochs all around, hills underneath, and unusual rock formations, Cùl Mòr is one of Scotland’s hidden gems that’s not so hidden at all!

• Near Knockan Crag visitor centre. 13.5km | 5 hours. Cùl Mòr proves that size isn’t everything — it’s far from the highest point in the Scottish Highlands. Still, there’s nothing small about these outstanding views from this summit.
• South of Knockan Crag. 10.5km | 5 hours. Take a quieter hike through northwest Scotland and opt for a trip up the pure wilderness of Cùl Beag. Catch some lovely glimpses of Cùl Mòr while you’re at it, too!
• Near Glencanisp Lodge. 20km | 8 hours. Sure, there are some in-cred-i-ble views of Cùl Mòr from Suliven, but that’s just one reason it’s among the best hikes in Scotland. Postcard-worthy landscapes are jaw-dropping for even the most experienced hiker.
• Car park at NC232273. 14km | 8 hours. Tackle the triple Corbetts of Quinag: it’s like a three-in-one deal! Protected by the John Muir Trust, the mountain’s fragmented woodlands, steep gullies, and wet bogs are vital and delicate ecosystems.

Looking to conquer some truly badass hiking trails? Of course, you are! Well, Sutherland and Caithness is the place to be. Starting (or ending) in the region, you can access a network of Scotland’s best hikes featuring sections of Rob Roy Way, Cape Wrath Trail, John o’Groats Trail, and more. Really, is there any more inspiration needed?

• Fountain Road. 9.5km | 4 hours. Not every great hike has to include a summit up Britain’s highest mountain. Change it up with coastal walks, like Ben Bhraggie, and keep an eye out for Dunrobin Castle or the controversial monument, “The Mannie.”
• Inverness (John o’Groats Trail.) 226 km | 65-75 hours. With spectacular landscapes along the Moray Coast, John o’Groats Trail is one of the iconic multi day hikes in Scotland. Smaller sections make for great walks, or grab your tent and tackle the entire long distance hike.
• Scottish National Trail. 864 km | 210-257 hours. Starting at the Scottish Borders in the Southern Highlands, you’ll hike parts of Southern Upland Way, West Highland Way, Rob Roy Way, Great Glen Way, and the Cape Wrath Trail. Split this incredibly long distance trail into several hikes, and experience the British mainland in a life-changing way.
• Cairn O’Get. 3km | 1.5 hours. The gentle walk to the Whaligoe Steps may be a treat for tired legs, but the coastal viewpoints? Easy 10 out of 10. You’ll get some big Cliffs of Insanity (à la Princess Bride) vibes here.

Trossachs National Park will have your heart on loch in no time. With some of the best hikes in Scotland, you’ll be thankful for those hard days at the gym. Being physically fit is a requirement when taking in Scotland by foot, exploring legendary destinations like Fort William, Glen Coe, and lochs galore throughout the park.

• Milngavie. 154km | 40-48 hours. West Highland Way is worth visiting Scotland for. You’ll pass the shorelines and nature reserves of Loch Lomond, witness Conic Hill, cross Rannoch Moor, absorb the beauty of Glen Coe, and in Fort William. Dreamy, right?
• Balloch. 50km | 14–17.5 hours. Extend your West Highland Way hike or start from scratch on Three Lochs Way. You’ll spot Loch Lomond, Loch Long, and Loch Lomondside as you stroll this low incline trail.
• Succoth car park. 13.5km | 6.5 hours. Views from Beinn Narnain and Beinn Ìme peaks in the Arrochar Alps are gorgeously rocky, but the lochs and waterfalls you’ll see from above? That’s chef’s kiss.
• Rowardennan car park. 12km | 5 hours. Ben Lomond is famous AF for a reason. Stunning Loch Lomond views go on forever: the kind that makes you feel like you’re in a movie.