The following walking tour suggestions are all easily possible in a day from anywhere in the Central Belt of Scotland – Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling, Perth or Dundee. We are very lucky that the hills and glens of the Highlands are less than an hour’s drive from Glasgow and an hour and half from Edinburgh. However there are other lower hills and coastal routes even closer to our big cities so you won’t need to spend much of your day travelling. 

 

A Walk in the Pentlands – Edinburgh’s local hills
This half or full day trip can cater for any fitness/ability level with a variety of walks possible from Level 1 to Level 3. The Pentland Hills start right on the edge of the city and offer beautiful ridge walks with wonderful views and small manageable summits. In the valleys there are lochs with easier low level walking including sheltered routes ideal for days when the weather is less than perfect! Despite being so close to Edinburgh it is possible to find quiet routes and enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the beautiful countryside.

Callendar and the Trossachs – Scotland in Miniature
A full day trip to one of the most beautiful parts of Scotland. Situated on the edge of the Highlands the Trossachs has a variety of walking options to suit all abilities. The small peak of Ben A’an (Level 2) is achievable for most reasonably fit walkers. It’s a half day walk that can be followed by a relaxed pub lunch in a nearby inn and then either a short afternoon walk to Bracklinn Falls or perhaps a visit to Doune Castle or Deanston Whisky Distillery. Also in this area are some higher summits like Ben Venue or Ben Ledi which make for fantastic full day outings (Level 3).

Loch Lomond, Conic Hill and the West Highland Way
The West Highland Way is Scotland’s iconic long distance path but it’s possible to follow short sections of it on a one day tour. Less than an hour north of Glasgow (or 1.5 hours from Edinburgh) lies Loch Lomond – Scotland’s largest loch and the heart of one of our National Parks. This Level 2 walk follows part of the West Highland way as it traverses Conic Hill – a small summit with incredible views over Loch Lomond to the higher mountains to the north and west. Later we walk through the woods beside the loch itself before finishing in a local inn for well a deserved refreshment. This tour can be combined with a visit to Stirling Castle or perhaps Glengoyne Distillery which is located nearby.

The Fife Coastal Path and Historic Fishing Villages
This walk is along another of Scotland's long distance paths but it is ideal for day walks as well. Our favourite section is between Elie and Crail, an 18km, Level 2/3 walk  (shorter sections are possible too). The route passes through several beautiful old fishing villages with picturesque little harbours and traditional red-tiled cottages, including St Monan's, Pittenweem and Anstruther. Each has its own character with lots of little art galleries, craft shops, pubs and cafes as well as world famous fish and chips! In between the villages are fascinating sections of coastline with small sandy bays, rocky headlands and lots of wildlife. As this is a one-way walk we will make use of the local bus service to return us to the start. A visit to the ancient university town of St Andrews, or Kingsbarns whisky distillery can easily be added to the day.

Multi-day Walking Tours

Its impossible to cover all the options possible if you have more time to explore Scotland. You could go island-hopping on the West Coast, nature watching in the forests of the Cairngorm National Park, tackle one of Scotland’s 282 Munros (peaks over 3000 feet) or follow one of the historic drove roads through the hills. Or if you have long enough why not try a mix of all of these? A multi-day walking tour can be based in a central accommodation taking day trips out each day or can move around the country (we normally recommend a minimum of 2 nights in each place for a more relaxed trip). Whatever your ability level there are endless possibilities for walks in all parts of the country - please let us know what you are interested in and let us help you plan the perfect trip.

Customised walking tours.

Perhaps you enjoy walking but not for the whole of your trip? We can easily customise any holiday to include a mix of walks, general sightseeing, castle visits, whisky tastings and even a bit of shopping. It’s your holiday so please feel free to request the type of tour that suits you best. As always in Scotland we are spoiled for choice in what we can do each day – let us use our expertise to guide you.

Walk grades

Walkers’ ability and fitness levels vary greatly – what is an easy stroll for some people can be a serious challenge for others. To try and help you find the perfect activity level for your walking trip we grade our walks as follows. Please remember that in poor weather or wet and muddy conditions all walks can seem a bit harder than when the sun is shining!

 

Level 1 – Easy walking

Shorter walks on good, mostly level paths with only minor height differences.

Usually up to 1-3 hours walking time at a relaxed pace covering distances up to 8 km. Lots of time for photos and nature watching. We often arrange 2 or 3 such walks in different locations during a full day tour to give you more variety and interest.

For people new to walking tours and especially for people just looking for a bit of gentle exercise amidst stunning scenery, we strongly recommend our easy walking tours.

 

Level 2 – Moderate walking/hiking

Either longer walks than Level 1 or similar lengths of walk but with more height gain. Mostly good, well surfaced paths with occasional uneven ground.

Typically walks of 3-5 hours at a relaxed pace covering distances of 10-12km or shorter steeper walks of 2-3 hours with a height gain of up to 300m. Plenty of time for stops to admire the views.

Most people of average fitness will easily be able to manage (and enjoy!) our moderate walking tours.

 

Level 3 – Difficult walking/hiking

Longer walks with either greater distances or more height gain than Level 2. Mostly on good paths and trails with occasional rougher ground. Level 3 walks may be at higher altitude and more exposed to the weather.

Normally full day walks with 5-6 hours walking time and covering from 12-20km. Height gain of up to 750m on some walks.

You ideally will be a regular walker at home and have some experience of walking up hills on rougher ground but a good fitness level is all that’s really needed to enjoy our more difficult walks.

 

Clothing

Quick drying walking trousers are best but tracksuit bottoms/joggers/leggings are acceptable. Jeans are not recommended on anything other than easy walks.

On the top half a breathable wicking base layer will keep you drier and more comfortable than cotton and a couple of fleece layers to go on top of that is the best combination of warmth and light-weight. The important thing is to have several layers to take on and off and keep you at a comfortable temperature

 

Equipment

All you need for any of our walking tours is the following:

Comfortable walking shoes or boots (trainers/runners are fine if you are used to walking in them – but you will probably get wet feet!). Well fitting, proper walking socks are best.

A waterproof jacket (and overtrousers if you have them)

A hat and gloves (all walks from Oct-Mar, moderate or difficult walks all year round)

Water (min 1 litre per person per day) and snacks/lunch

Sunscreen (even in Scotland!)

Any personal medication you may require during the day

A small backpack/rucsac to carry the above