Hiking the Scottish Highlands -Tips For The Cautious Traveller on the Adventure Of A Lifetime

Hiking in Scotland is Amazing!

A country with many great sights and hikes

For those who like hill walking and hiking, Scotland offers just about the best you can get.  It's a great place to go if you want to be just a little bit out of your 'comfort zone',  and offers few of the negative challenges that turn people off hiking for life.  Follow the links below to navigate to more detailed pages. 

Why Scotland for Hiking?

Isle of Skye

Ballachulish woodland walk

So,what makes this special, you ask?    And why for 'cautious 
adventurers?   First, there are hikes for everyone, both supremely challenging and a 'walk in the park'.  Proof of this is in the wide variety of people hiking in Scotland - from the seriously engaged 'Munro' counter to families with children and dogs, and many, many people in their fifties, sixties, seventies or older.   Almost everywhere you go will provide stunning scenery, panoramic views and a sense of wonder.  For English speakers, there are no language challenges, so,when you run into a spot of bother as people inevitably do, getting assistance is straightforward and friendly.   

Accommodations

Scotland is also a place where there are accommodations to suit every pocketbook, from self-catering hostels with dorms and private rooms, and campgrounds, B&B's,  luxury digs that are as good as the best as Europe can provide.  more information

Weather

Sunny Days are common - in spite of the rumours.  And, when it rains, it is mostly short lasting 

Finally, a lot of visitors have misconceptions about Scottish weather:  like it rains all  the time. This is not close to true, unless you are particularly unlucky, or go at the wrong time of year. This summer (2015) was a particularly wet one (compared to the last few years).   Even then, rain was highly intermittent and didn't last for more than a few minutes on most days, and was no wetter than most places in north western Europe.   Well prepared travelers easily  get past this with light rain gear.   more information

Getting Around

Getting around Scotland is very easy, using public transport bus and train.  In fact, using the train in Scotland can be an amazing part of the experience, given that some of the trains travel along iconic routes. Taking ferries is also a great experience, and a necessity if travelling to the islands to the west and north.  However, if you are prepared to drive on the left hand side of the road, a rental car gives you much greater opportunity for spontaneity, and allows for the sudden change of plan that is impossible when on a bus or train, and it shortens travel times dramatically.    more information

Where to go?

This depends on the focus of your trip.   I have some biases, so take the following with a grain of salt.  This link will  lead to a few comments, but also some web sites that will stimulate your interest. 
The Scottish Highlands

OtherPages:
Adventures in Seniordom - Planning and Day 1,  2015
On the Way to Skye
The Isle of  Skye