A Guide to the Best Day Hikes In Scotland
Scotland is well known for the Scottish Highlands, the Isle of Skye and it’s beautiful landscapes, hills, mountains, amazing views and some of the best hiking trails. Most of the population of 5.5m live in the cities, with Edinburgh and Glasgow having the highest population, meaning that the rest of Scotland is very unspoilt and a great place to explore.
Hiking in Scotland is very popular and has some of the best hikes in the world. A famous multi day one is the West Highland Way hike, where you walk the highlands and you get to see plenty of Scotland mountains and there are so many places you can visit off the beaten track in Scotland.
The weather in Scotland can vary all year round, one minute it’s sunny the next minute it’s cloudy and raining, so make sure you come prepared and know what to wear in Scotland.
I decided to ask my fellow travel bloggers which were there best hikes in Scotland to come up with this guide to the best day hikes in Scotland in the Scottish mountains that you can fit into your Scotland Itinerary.
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Arthurs Seat
The extinct volcano just outside Edinburgh known as Arthur’s Seat afford the best views of Edinburgh, hiking it is free too. It also, of course, gives you a bit of exercise and lets you experience something of the great Scottish outdoors and hiking near Edinburgh.
Arthurs Seat is the highest point of Holyrood Park and provides for an easy 30-60 minute hike. I wouldn’t attempt this In bad weather or if the wind is particularly strong, as it gets very blustery as you make your way towards the top.
There are several routes to the top, but the easiest is well signposted and the trail is well made – add to that if the weather is decent you’ll have a consistent but not huge trail of other people to follow. If you want to make it to the very top there are some slippery rocks to scramble over.
On a good day there are glorious views over Leith, the Firth of Forth and the city of Edinburgh and is one of the best walks near Edinburgh. You’ll want to wear decent walking shoes and wear layers, take a waterproof if there is even a hint of rain in the air.
The Water of Leith
The Water of Leith is the main river flowing northeast through Edinburgh and into the sea at the port of Leith. The water was originally used to power waterwheels at mill site spaces along the river. You can still spot a few old mills there but the river has now been transformed into an urban greenbelt. Tucked away along the Leith is a 12.5 mile walkway that provides a green slice of wilderness through the middle of Edinburgh.
The trail has a surprising amount of wildlife for such an urban setting. There are 79 species of birds including grey heron, cormorant, kingfisher, swans and the great spotted woodpecker.
Part of what makes hiking the Water of Leith so fun are all the stops that you can take along the way. The trail strolls right past the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Dean Village, Stockbridge, the Botanical Garden and New Town. So, you can take all day to do the hike, stopping for additional sights along the way.
The Fiddler
Hiking the Fiddler on the West Coast of Scotland is one of the best west coast walks Scotland we have done as the expansive views out across to the Summer Isles and then the views from the summit down the 500 metre cliff face and across to the Scottish Highlands with beautiful lochs, make it one of the most spectacular day hikes we have ever done.
It takes about 2 hours each way, crossing moorland on a small path that has a few rock scrambles to negotiate, but nothing too strenuous. It is a good hike for kids too. On misty days the walk is not recommended but pick a fine day and the views are just stunning in every direction.
I first hiked The Fiddler with my husband in 2000 and then we returned in 2015 from Australia with our teenage daughters and introduced them to our favourite Scottish hike.
The start of the walk is 4 miles from Achiltibuie on a minor road just before Culnacraig. The nearest large town is Ullapool, about 1-hour drive away.
The Quiraing
The Quiraing loop is a great choice for anyone looking for Isle of Skye walks that’ll take a few hours and reward them with some of the most spectacular and dramatic landscapes in Scotland.
The Quiraing are one of the most distinctive ranges out there, formed by a massive landslip which has left behind high vertical cliffs and columns of rock on the Isle of Skye. Hiking it towards the top there are huge views to the islands of Raasay, Rona and the hills of Torridon on the mainland – but all the way up the incredible rock formations are really impressive.
While the walk isn’t long at around 6.5 km, it does have challenging sections, including scrambling over a rock gorge to cross a small stream and scree slopes. At times you’ll be very close to the cliff edge so extreme caution is needed.
Due to the fact there are a couple of sections that need skill and a head for heights, the full loop definitely isn’t for everyone, but those who do it will be rewarded with an unforgettable experience.
Goat Fell
by A girl and her dog on the road
Goat Fell is the highest mountain on the Isle of Arran. The walk can take anything from 4 – 6 hours, depending on weather conditions and walker fitness.
Starting from the beautiful Brodick Castle Estate, the hike begins on forest trails before opening out into dramatic mountain landscape with stunning views back down to the coast.
The final ascent is heading up over an exposed ridge and it can be cold and windy. Make sure you check the forecast and that you are prepared for the conditions. The last time we did this hike the weather was extremely wild at the summit, despite there not being much wind when we started off
Arran is a truly spectacular Island, often referred to as ‘Scotland in Miniature’, and the views you get from the summit really give you an understanding of why!
It is also an Island teeming with an abundance of wildlife. Ptarmigan are common on the hill and you may even be lucky enough to spot a Golden Eagle.
Ben Nevis
by Ilive4travel
While visiting Scotland the one thing I wanted to add to my Scotland Itinerary on this trip was to hike Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Scotland and the UK.
I first checked with the visitors centre for the best day weather wise to hike. The summit is only clear around 1 out of every 10 days!!
I did the hike in June and the path to the summit is very clear, though at around two thirds of the way up the clouds came in and covered the summit, there was some snow near the top and it was a little difficult to see the path but generally ok.
Finally though I was at the highest point in Scotland, freezing with no view but mist, but so happy I made it.
The hike takes between 5-8 hours depending on how fit and experienced walker you are, I have hiked in the mountains of Peru and at altitude so I found it ok.
Make sure though you take plenty of layers and water. I started the hike in a long sleeved top and by the summit I was wearing a fleece, waterproof jacket, 2 pairs of gloves and a hat and I was still cold!!
The temperature on the top was around 1 degree Celsius!! When I had set off at the bottom it was around 18 degrees Celsius!!
The views as you are hiking up are amazing and I would love to do again as it’s a great trek and see the views from the top as its one of the best places to visit in Scotland.
I would certainly recommend doing this hike even if you aren’t the best walker, but only in summer for those not experienced with hiking in snow and map reading.
Ben Lomond
by Becky the Traveller
One of my favourite and best walks in Scotland was Ben Lomond, in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.
From Sallochy campsite where I was staying at on the waterside of Loch Lomond, I hiked along the West Highland Way one of the UK’s popular long-distance walks to the base of Ben Lomond.
There are two common routes up to the summit, the popular more touristy option or option B, a more challenging hike! Of course, I decided to take the challenging route up to the summit!
The trail starts after a stone bridge and takes you on a narrow winding path, remember to keep looking behind you as you get some great views of Loch Lomond. Be prepared for the false summit hill! But then the finally you hike up a steep rocky section and you’re at the top.
The views are simply stunning, if it hadn’t been for the hundreds of midges at the summit I could have stayed there for hours! On a clear day, you can see for miles out across to Loch Lomond.
This is one of the great hikes and one you should definitely add to your Scotland bucket list!
Ben Ledi
by TravelingMel
From the apartment we rented in Callender we could see Ben Ledi almost every day. We were there for a month, so some days it hid in clouds and other days, it was crystal clear, beckoning us toward its summit.
Ben Ledi is 879 meters (2884 feet) and a relatively easy hike. It’s steep, but it’s short at 6.5 miles round trip. Ben Ledi is a Corbett (a Scottish mountain over 2000ft) and the highest mountain in the main part of Trossachs National Park.
My 10-year-old son and I decided we needed to get to the top of Ben Ledi one day. The trail is bomber and easy to find and follow. One man was finishing up a new trail on the day we climbed, which eliminated the boggy sections and looked like it would preserve the landscape around the trail.
We climbed through a clear cut and then onto the side of the hill, eventually reaching the top. The views of Loch Lubnaig, the Trossachs, and this Southern Scottish Highlands trek was astounding. We could even see as far as Sterling.
I read that the trail gets quite crowded, but on a weekday in April, it wasn’t too bad.
There are lots of hikes to do around Scotland, its an amazing place to hike and to visit. If you don’t have a car to get around then its also possible to do hiking tours. Maybe a hiking down in the highlands or a loch lomond walk or hike part of the west highland way.
Which are the best treks that you enjoyed while visiting Scotland? Do you agree that Scotland is one of the best places to hike in the world? Let me know where to go in Scotland and your favourite hikes below for my next trip.
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