Starting out?

Hello there,

I'm planning a 5 day 4 night hiking trip up to Scotland with a mate of mine. We've done quite a bit of hiking in Wales and Lake District but have not ventured much further north. However, we're hoping to change that.

As such, I was just wondering if I can get some help with planning. Firstly, I'm not sure which part of Scotland to start in? I'm hoping for reasonably long and visually stunning walks. We've only done a few simple scrambles, so we'd probably opt out of that.

We're hoping to head out in August/September.

Thanks!

-Jo

Good on you for braving our lovely midges!!!

Are you planning to wild camp, use sites or bunkhouse it?

There is some great walking to be had around the Kinlochewe/Torridon area. Knoydart would also be top of my list of places to go. 

I'll probably bunkhouse it.. Might do wild camping for a night or two but it'll be highly dependent on the weather etc etc..

I know I know, I'm a bit of a wuss but what the heck, life is short.. and sleep is precious! 

Hi Jo Han Gan,

KISS says maybe the West Highland Way  (5-6 days or less if you move quickly!) or, the Great Glen Way.

Problems are the midges and it tends to get a bit crowded - so a roof over your head may not be so easy as a tent.

I'd look also at putting together something over Aviemore way or Breamar - i.e. linking together some of the routes through the Cairngorms - some with bothies. There are supposted to be less midges over there - but the midges may not know that.

I'd agree with Knoydart, too; just be prepared for the midges. Later in September maybe?

Nodrog.

The Cairngorms are worth considering. Starting from Blair Atholl where you can leave you car and walk in via Glen Tilt. There is a bothy at Corrour in the Lairig Ghru if necessarry. You could include some of the high mountain tops and return at night to your tent or the bothy. Walk out to Aviemore (lots of accommodation but book in advance in August) and then train or bus back to Blair Atholl.

Another option is Fort William and walk into the Corrour/Rannoch or take the train in and spent your days exploring the area. There is B&B at Corrour Station (no vehicle access to this Station) or there is the SYHA Hostel one mile away but you will need to book your accommodation there well in advance as it is a popular albeit remote hostel.

I wouldn't recommend the Great Glen Way - too much of it is on tarmac and doesn't do the area justice.

As you're planning to bunkhouse it check out the hostels info, see what realistic distance you want to travel and the availability of  nearby accommodation. This site may give you some idea. Unfortunately the Scottish Independent Hostels page wont load for me

I'd consider the Fort William area - easy access to the Mamores, Glen Coe.

Torridon is superb and jaw-dropping visually.

You can check out trip reports of Scottish hill walks

Wow!

 Thanks guys for all the suggestion. I've got my hands full over the next few days just looking and choosing the different routes. 

 Simon, I'll definately take your suggestion seems excellent. I'm just a little concern over the difficulty of this walk i.e. any airy scrambling etc. It's a lil hard to determine just looking online and I'll probably have to head out to the shops to get an OS Map to start some serious planning..

 Best wishes,

Jo 

I'd agree ith Kinley, as first trip Fort William area is as good as any, plenty of walking in the area, so many options.

If you're concerned about scramling then Cairngorms would be a safer bet, though generally there's long walk ins and not quite the stunning views of the Western Side.

Jo

No scrambling as such in my suggestion. A few bits on a couple of the Sisters where I felt the need to put hand to rock. But I think that that was just me being lazy, none of the guide books suggest that there is any scrambling. Or you could click on one of the hills in Scottish Hills and check out other trip reports. 

Map: get the OS Explorer 1:25,000, no. 414. Probably the best map in the world.

Simon Parkes wrote (see)

Stay at the Kintail Lodge bunkhouse. Start at Morvich, park by the MRT hut. Over Beinn Fhada, with an option on A Ghlas Bheinn, to Alltbeither Youth Hostel. Day 2, up Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan to Mullach na Dheiragain, back to YH. Day 3, Ciste Dubh and The Brothers; high wild camp at NH025145. Day 4, over The Sisters to Morvich. In my opinion this is incomparable in terms of scenery and a real feeling of remoteness. For details of a variant on this see here and here.