A hiking holiday in Scotland has to be on your UK bucket list. There are so many walks and hikes to go on in Scotland, and this post is going to take you through some of my favourites!

From the famous Ben Nevis to the easier city walks such as Arthur Seat in Edinburgh, there are loads of beautiful places in Scotland for you to explore. Check out the best places to visit in Scotland here. And of course, the rolling hills of the Scottish Highlands are absolutely worth seeing, as well as both of the Scotland National Parks. There’s something for everyone in Scotland, whether you want a day hike, a family trip or a full-on hiking challenge. The walks and hikes in Scotland are up there with some of the best hikes in the UK!

I personally cannot wait to get up to Scotland in my van. Come rain or shine, with the right hiking gear, you’re guaranteed an amazing active holiday and I’d love to inspire you to go hiking in Scotland too.

If you’ve never been hiking before, prepare yourself for hiking in Scotland with my beginner’s guide to hiking and/or my hiking top tips for beginners!

Other travel guides and blog posts that you may enjoy:

EXPLORE SCOTLAND ON MY BLOG HERE

See the NC500 road trip come to life in this Jamalon vlog series here.

Scotland Google Map Legend

Get lifetime access to my endless hours of research and time spent on the ground finding the best places to eat, drink, relax and explore in the area. You simply open the Google Map on your device and all my pins are at the touch of your fingertips.

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10 of the best hikes and walks to go on in Scotland…

jamalon_wheresmollie_scotland_nc50028 — Images captured by the @jamalon.official boys on their NC500 road trip

1. Ben Nevis

It goes without saying that hiking Ben Nevis is one of the best hikes to do in Scotland. It’s the only one of the three national peaks that I haven’t hiked, so I’m hoping to tick that one off my Scotland bucket list very soon! The full hike takes a total of 7-9 hours depending on your pace, so allow a whole day for this hike.

Wanting to hike all of the National Peaks?

2. Old Man of Storr, Isle of Skye

This is one of the most popular walking trails in Scotland. The ‘old man’ is a large rock that stands high above the Isle of Skye, and when you climb up towards it, you can see for miles all around. The views across the Islands of Raasay and Rona, then mainland, the ‘Storr Lochs’, Portree and the Cuillin Hills make the hike worth it! It’s quite steep at the top but at 3.8km it’s a good hike for beginners!

The best things to do on the Isle of Skye, Scotland

Planning a trip to Scotland? Start writing your Scotland bucket list with the best places to visit in Scotland here!

3. Loch an Eilein, Cairngorm National Park

Surrounded by the beautiful Rothiemurchus Forest, with an island of castle ruins in the centre, the walk around this freshwater lake is perfect for a relaxing but active day out. It’s one of the most popular short walks in Scotland (it only takes a couple of hours).

Check out my top tips for planning your next adventure here.

A complete guide to Cairngorms National Park, Scotland

4. Sandwood Bay

It’s hard to believe this beach is in the UK; the pictures look tropical! Wander through the moorland before coming out towards the stunning coastline. Trust me, it’s worth the walk!

Planning a road trip in Scotland? Check out my guide to planning a road trip in Scotland here, including all the best routes!

5. Quinag

One mountain, three summits. With dramatic landscapes and stunning views, this is one of the most popular hikes in the Scottish Highlands. If you want to complete all three summits in one day, allow eight-ten hours, but if you’d prefer to just do one, it’s relatively easy to go up and then come back down the same way.

The ultimate guide to planning a full UK road trip ft. the best places to visit in England, NI, Scotland and Wales.

6. Mountain trail, Beinn Eighe, Torridon

Supposedly Britain’s only waymarked mountain walk, this is not for a beginner hiker. Make your way through pine forests and up steep rocks to ‘Conservation Cairn’ at about 560 metres, from which you get a spectacular view of Beinn Eighe.

If you’re new to hiking, you might be feeling a little apprehensive about your first hike! Check out my beginner’s guide to hiking here, where I go through everything you need to do to prepare for your first big walk and everything to take with you and expect on the day.

7. Loch Lomond

Britain’s largest freshwater lake now has its own National Park to protect it and the surrounding area. There are a real variety of trails here, from short routes to day routes to hill walks, so there’s something for everyone. If you want to make a longer trip out of it, there are also campsites, and other things to do such as cycling, climbing and water sports! Find out more on the National Park website here.

A complete guide to Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, Scotland

Looking for more hiking inspiration? Here are my favourite hikes and walks in the UK!

EXPLORE ACTIVE TRAVEL ON MY BLOG HERE

8. The West Highland way

This 151km route is one of the most beautiful hikes in the Scottish Highlands. The whole route takes at least 8 days, but you can just hike part of it if you’d prefer a day hike in Scotland.

The 15 UK National Parks on a map: Which should you visit?

Add some city fun to your trip to Scotland: check out my guide to Glasgow here.

9. Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh

If you prefer a less strenuous city walk, rather than a full-blown hike, try the walk up Arthur’s Seat, which is an extinct volcano! Located in Holyrood Park, when you get to the top you get 360 views across the city.

Here are 18 top tips for your next hiking trip!