Ask any globetrotter to name their favourite walking destination in the world and the chances are that walking in Scotland will be high up their list; and with good cause!

Scotland offers an incredible variety of scenery – from challenging craggy peaks, gentle rolling hillsides, glens, moor lands, lochs and un-crowded coastlines to fascinating city centres just begging to be explored on foot. The entire length and breadth of the country is a veritable walkers’ wonderland.

Add to the mix, Scotland’s long tradition of easy access to its countryside and, of course, the great Scottish welcome extended to walkers worldwide. It’s as if this country was made for walking!

Whatever your interests and aspirations, there are numerous marked trails throughout Scotland to suit all levels of fitness (and endurance!): short, leisurely strolls, longer hill walks or more testing long-distance hikes amid challenging terrain, the options are endless.

Top Walking Regions
As so much of Scotland is suitable for walking, any overview is at risk of omission. Possibilities include: the Outer Hebrides, Orkney & Shetland, the Isles of Arran, Mull, Islay and Skye, Ayrshire, Galloway, Perthshire, Angus & Dundee and the Kingdom of Fife, Stirling, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, Rothiemurchus Estate and Glenmore Forest Park near Aviemore in the Cairngorms National Park.

The Highlands of Scotland in their entirety are a walker’s paradise.

Aberdeen and the Grampian region, with its varied coastline, inland forests and mountainous regions, provide some superb walks. The Cairngorms, better known as a top ski area, also provides great year-round hill-walking (best suited to experienced walkers).

In the south of Scotland, Dumfries and Galloway are well-known walking territory; so too are the picturesque Scottish Borders.

Walking in Scotland the Easy Way
Scotland is awash with easy, yet scenic short walks for those who prefer a more laid-back approach to walking, or who simply choose to combine short walks with stop-offs along the way.

If this sounds appealing, you may wish to consider walking just a section of one of the popular longer paths, instead. Enjoy the camaraderie, the pick of the scenery, without even breaking into a sweat. This way, you enjoy the best of both worlds.

One such route where this approach works well is the Great Glen Way. Although the entire 73-mile route from Fort William to Inverness may seem daunting, small parts of the walk become totally feasible. In practice, around 80 percent of the pathway is accessible to most users including wheelchair and motorised buggy users. Only two sections at Drumnadrochit and Invermoriston should be avoided because of their steep gradients.

Routes Suitable for Wheelchair Users
Scotland has numerous walks that cater for wheelchair and motorised buggy users. For further information, contact your nearest Scottish Tourist Information centre. A couple of suggestions include sections of the paths near the Falkirk Wheel:

- Falkirk town centre to Calendar Park – Distance: 1.5 km (1 mile) Difficulty: easy (first half of route follows wide tree-lined tarmac path, second half, slightly rougher path with short inclines); disabled parking with disabled toilets at Calendar House;
- Union Canal & Falkirk Tunnel, from Falkirk High Station to Falkirk Tunnel and back – Distance: 800 metres from station to tunnel and back, 600 metres from westbound platform; Difficulty: moderate (hard surface, steep incline from subway, handrail through tunnel).

Hill Walking in Scotland
The best time of year for hill walking is usually from April to October; July and August are the busiest times. Hiking in the higher Scottish mountains is best between May and September. Be warned that winter walking in the Scottish Highlands requires additional equipment such as crampons and ice axes.

One of Scotland’s most popular hill walks is Ben Nevis. But, do allow six to eight hours; in winter, the summit is covered in snow, so only experienced hill climbers should attempt this walk.

Top Tip
Look out for the ‘Walkers Welcome’ symbol at accommodation establishments from guesthouses to ‘bothies’ (basic hut-style accommodation, common in the more remote Scottish Highland regions). Many cater specifically for walkers with options such as early breakfasts and drying facilities.

Long-Distance Walking in Scotland
Ramblers Association long-distance recommended routes include:

- Cateran Trail: circular from Blairgowrie via Glenshee (101 kilometres / 63 miles)
- Clyde Walkway: Partick, Glasgow to New Lanark (64 kilometres / 40 miles)
- Cowal Way: Portavadie to Ardgartan near Arrochar, in Argyll (75 kilometres / 47 miles)
- Fife Coastal Path: North Queensferry to Newport on Tay (125 kilometres / 78 miles)
- Great Glen Way: Fort William to Inverness (117 kilometres / 73 miles); can be combined with the West Highland Way
- Isle of Arran Coastal Way: circular from Brodick (100 kilometres / 62 miles)
- North to the Cape: (Challenging!): Fort William to Cape Wrath (326 kilometres / 204 miles)
- Rob Roy Way: Drymen to Pitlochry (126 kilometres / 79 miles)
- St Cuthbert's Way: Lindisfarne to Melrose (100 kilometres / 62 miles)
- Southern Upland Way: (Britain’s first official coast-to-coast footpath): Portpatrick to Cockburnspath (341 kilometres / 213 miles)
- West Highland Way: (Challenging, particularly the second half!) Milngavie, north of Glasgow to Fort William (153 kilometres / 96 miles).

Rights of Way & Walkers’ Access in Scotland
Rights of way are less clearly defined in Scotland than in England and Wales. This is because Scotland has, historically, exercised rights of access to all land unless there is a real reason for the public to be denied access.

The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 and the Land Reform Legislation in Scotland which came into effect on 9 February 2005 have confirmed this ‘statutory right of responsible access to almost all land and water’, provided that users behave responsibly. Exclusions include access to areas such as railways, quarries, harbours, airfields and defence grounds where the public is excluded by law. Local restrictions may also apply to certain areas during the shooting season (12th August to early December).

Resources

- ScotWays (the Scottish Rights of Way and Access Society)’s publication ‘Scottish Hill Tracks’ has maps and detailed information on Scottish walks; see also the website: www.scotways.com
- Ramblers Association – Scotland: www.ramblers.org.uk/scotland/, part of the Ramblers Association, website: www.ramblers.org.uk, Britain's largest walking organisation that aims ‘to promote walking and to improve conditions for everyone who walks in England, Scotland and Wales’.
- Tiso: walking shop, stocks a full range of walking and climbing clothes and equipment. website: www.tiso.com
- ‘100 Walks in Scotland’ an AA book which details mapped walks for all abilities.
- Scottish Youth Hostels Association (SYHA), website: www.syha.org.uk; 70 hostels in Scotland ranging from country cottages to historic buildings and purpose-built properties.