Every time I visit the Scottish highlands, they have a special magic. This remote wilderness allows me to find peace and tranquility and escape the busyness of modern life.

The best way to discover the Scottish Highlands on foot is by hiking the trails that span the wilderness.

Below I have listed my favorite walks and hikes in the Scottish Highlands. There are some well-known hikes on the list, but there are also some hidden gems that I’m sure you will love!

Table of Contents

1. Scottish Highlands Hikes – Ben Nevis2. The Birks of Aberfeldy3. Glencoe Valley: The Beauty of the Scottish Highlands4. Clachan Trail – Scottish Highlands Trails5. The West Highland Way6. The Falls of Bruar7. The Great Glen Way8. The Five Sisters of Kintail9. The Old Man of Storr

1. Scottish Highlands Hikes – Ben Nevis

Ben Nevis is located just outside of Fort William and is the highest mountain on the British Isles. It’s also one of the top hiking destinations in Scotland with 125k annual visitors.

This hike is for experienced walkers only, as it is long and involves challenging terrain. It can also be quite steep at times.

It is approximately 13 km long, including the return journey. The walk takes around 8 hours.

Ben Nevis, a former active volcano, exploded millions of years ago and collapsed to create the mountain that is now part of the Grampian Mountain Range.

Local tip: Plan your route based on the level of your experience and be ready for changing weather conditions. It is best to start early in the morning as the weather becomes more unpredictable throughout the day.

2. The Birks of Aberfeldy

Robert Burns, the famous Scottish poet, loved the Brisk of Aberfeldy. It is located just outside of Aberfeldy’s charming town in Perthshire. His folk song by the same title was inspired by this place. The Birks of Aberfeldy is a walk that circles a beautiful burn.

The Birks of Aberfeldy Walk takes you past the Falls of Moness, a cascading waterfall. This is a short, but stunning walk. Be prepared as there are many steps!

Local tip: This circular walk is about 3.5 km long and will take you a few hours to complete. It is best to walk in a clockwise direction, as it gives you the best view of the falls.

3. Glencoe Valley: The Beauty of Scottish Highlands

Glencoe offers hiking trails to suit all levels of ability. It is a beautiful and magical valley with mountains, lochs and waterfalls.

Glencoe, a popular hiking destination, is also known for its dark past. In 1692, government soldiers killed 38 members of MacDonald’s clan. The Glencoe Massacre is the name given to this tragic event.

Numerous hiking trails are waiting to be discovered in this valley. The Lost Valley is one of the many hiking trails in the valley. It is believed that the MacDonald clan hidden their cattle there. This 4km hike takes about two hours. It involves steep sections but offers some stunning views.

Local tip: Midges are a common problem in the summer. Wear long sleeves and insect repellent to prevent being bitten.

4. Clachan Trail – Scottish Highlands Trails

Clachan Trail is one of the many great trails in Tay Forest Park, Perthshire.

This hike takes you into the heart of a conifer forest. This hike includes a walk through the abandoned farming settlement, Clachan. It has been uninhabited for over two centuries.

The hike is relatively easy with some uphill slopes, uneven terrain and mud following rain.

Clachan Trail is a 3 km trail that takes about 1 hour to complete.

Local tip Bring a flashlight to see inside the ruins of ancient dwellings.

5. The West Highland Way

The 154-km long trail runs from Milngavie, near Glasgow, to Fort William. The trail passes through some the most beautiful areas in Scotland, such as Loch Lomond and Glencoe.

You can walk the West Highland Way in either direction. However, most people prefer to go from south towards north. The average walk takes 7 to 9 days.

Local tip Book your accommodation well in advance, especially for peak times.

6. The Falls of Bruar

Perthshire’s Falls of Bruar is a hidden treasure and is incorporated into a beautiful circular walk. You will see many cascades along the 1.5-hour hike, which follows a picturesque burn.

The shortest walk around the lower falls takes just 22 minutes. The longer walk that includes the upper falls is more impressive than the shorter one.

Robert Burns, the famous Scottish poet, wrote a poem called The Humble Petitition Of Bruar Water that featured these falls.

Local tip: At the beginning of the walk there is a House of Bruar shopping center that offers free parking. The shopping centre was created to display the best in Scottish fashion, clothing, art and produce. There are also a variety of places to eat before or after your stroll.

7. The Great Glen Way

The Great Glen Way, while still a long walk, is not as long as The West Highland Way. The Caledonian Canal Trail stretches 117 km from Fort William to Inverness. The views of Loch Ness are spectacular, but sightings are not guaranteed.

Slow walkers may take up to 10 days. However, some hikers can complete the walk in as little as 3-4 days.

Local tip Book your accommodation well in advance, especially for peak periods.

8. Five Sisters of Kintail

This trail, located near Shiel Bridge at the southern end Loch Duich is one of the most challenging. Five Sisters of Kintail, one of Scotland’s most famous mountain ranges, offers panoramic views of both the mountains and the surrounding scenery.

This trail is not for the faint-hearted. The trail includes steep ascents, descents and some scrambling on rocky terrain.

It takes approximately 6-8 hours to walk 12.5 km.

Local tip Check the weather before you go hiking, as it can be dangerous if the conditions are wet and windy.

9. The Old Man of Storr

The Old Man of Storr, located on Skye Island, is a massive rock formation that offers incredible views of the island.

The eastern side of the hill is steep and rocky, overlooking Sound of Raasay. On the west, there’s a gentler slope. This steep climb is well worth it.

It takes about two hours to walk the 3.8 km.

Local tip: Check the weather forecast prior to hiking. The trail becomes slippery when it’s windy and wet.

These are my favourite hikes in the Scottish Highlands. What is your favourite Scottish walk?

Author bio:

Ella McKendrick, a travel writer and content creator, loves to explore off the beaten track and encourages you to do so.

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