Roam Glade Editorial · Updated November 2026
You don't need to climb Ben Nevis to see the Highlands. The Fairy Pools on Skye, the island castle in Loch an Eilein and Steall Falls in Glen Nevis are all on short walks.
Distances below are approximate round trips. Paths in Scotland can be wet and rocky even when they are short, so wear proper footwear.
At a Glance
| Walk | Distance | Climb | Time | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loch an Eilein, Rothiemurchus | About 3 mi (5 km) loop | Flat | 1.5 hours | Easy |
| The Hermitage, Dunkeld | About 1.5 mi (2.4 km) return to Ossian's Hall | Minimal | 45 minutes–1 hour | Easy |
| Steall Falls, Glen Nevis | About 2.5 mi (4 km) return | About 120 m (400 ft) | 1.5–2 hours | Easy–moderate |
| Fairy Pools, Isle of Skye | About 2.5 mi (4 km) return | About 100 m (330 ft) | 1.5 hours | Easy |
| Glencoe Lochan | About 1 mi (1.6 km) loop | Gentle | 40 minutes | Easy |
| Fairy Glen, Isle of Skye | About 1 mi (1.6 km) wander | About 50 m (160 ft) | 45 minutes | Easy |
The Walks
Loch an Eilein, Rothiemurchus
Easy- Distance
- About 3 mi (5 km) loop
- Climb
- Flat
- Time
- 1.5 hours
- Best season
- All year
Highlights: Ancient Caledonian pine forest around a loch with a ruined castle on an island. Red squirrels and crested tits live here.
Start and parking: Loch an Eilein car park on the Rothiemurchus Estate, about 3 miles south of Aviemore (pay parking).
Families: Wide, mostly level track; good with an all-terrain buggy.
Dogs: Yes; on a lead in the bird-nesting season.
The Hermitage, Dunkeld
Easy- Distance
- About 1.5 mi (2.4 km) return to Ossian's Hall
- Climb
- Minimal
- Time
- 45 minutes–1 hour
- Best season
- All year; autumn colour in October
Highlights: A woodland path beside the River Braan to the Black Linn Falls, viewed from the folly of Ossian's Hall, under some of the tallest trees in Britain. Salmon leap here in autumn.
Start and parking: National Trust for Scotland car park off the A9 just north of Dunkeld (pay parking; very busy on sunny weekends). Dunkeld & Birnam station is about 20 minutes' walk away.
Families: Easy path; railings at the falls.
Dogs: Yes, on a lead.
Steall Falls, Glen Nevis
Easy–moderate- Distance
- About 2.5 mi (4 km) return
- Climb
- About 120 m (400 ft)
- Time
- 1.5–2 hours
- Best season
- All year; wet and slippery after rain
Highlights: A rocky path through a wooded gorge opens suddenly onto a flat meadow and the 120-metre Steall waterfall. A three-wire rope bridge crosses the river — it is optional and not for everyone.
Start and parking: Upper Falls car park at the end of the Glen Nevis road, about 7 miles from Fort William. The last stretch of road is single-track.
Families: Rocky and uneven with drops beside the path; fine for sure-footed children with an adult close by.
Dogs: Yes, but keep them close in the gorge.
Fairy Pools, Isle of Skye
Easy- Distance
- About 2.5 mi (4 km) return
- Climb
- About 100 m (330 ft)
- Time
- 1.5 hours
- Best season
- April–October
Highlights: A string of clear blue pools and small waterfalls on the River Brittle below the Black Cuillin. Stepping stones cross the burn; after heavy rain these can be under water.
Start and parking: Fairy Pools car park in Glen Brittle (pay parking, fills quickly in summer). The road in is single-track.
Families: A good gravel path, with stream crossings on stepping stones.
Dogs: Yes; sheep graze here, so use a lead.
Glencoe Lochan
Easy- Distance
- About 1 mi (1.6 km) loop
- Climb
- Gentle
- Time
- 40 minutes
- Best season
- All year
Highlights: Forest trails around a small lochan planted with North American trees in the 19th century, with reflections of the Pap of Glencoe on still days.
Start and parking: Glencoe Lochan car park, signposted from Glencoe village.
Families: Short, well-made loops; several routes of different lengths.
Dogs: Yes.
Fairy Glen, Isle of Skye
Easy- Distance
- About 1 mi (1.6 km) wander
- Climb
- About 50 m (160 ft)
- Time
- 45 minutes
- Best season
- All year
Highlights: Miniature cone-shaped hills, small lochans and a basalt outcrop known as Castle Ewen. Please don't move stones or build stone spirals; it damages the site.
Start and parking: Small car park on the minor road east of Uig, northern Skye (pay parking; very limited spaces).
Families: Fun for children; grassy slopes are slippery when wet.
Dogs: Yes; sheep graze here.
Getting There
Aviemore, Dunkeld and Fort William are on the railway from Edinburgh, Glasgow or London, so several of these walks work without a car. Skye walks are easier by car or on a guided tour; buses on the island are limited. Many Highland roads are single-track with passing places, so allow more time than the map suggests.
Weather, Midges and Access Rights
- Expect rain at any time of year; good waterproofs make every walk better.
- Midges are worst from late May to September on still, damp days. Bring repellent.
- Scotland's Scottish Outdoor Access Code gives you the right to walk most land responsibly: leave gates as you find them, respect livestock and take litter home.
- Ticks are common in long grass and bracken; check yourself and your dog after walks.
When to Go
May and June have long days and fewer midges than high summer. September and October bring autumn colour in Perthshire and the Cairngorms, and red deer during the rut. In winter, plan short walks around the light: there are only about six and a half hours of daylight in December.
Questions People Ask
What is the easiest scenic walk in the Scottish Highlands?
Loch an Eilein near Aviemore is a flat, roughly 3-mile loop around a loch with a ruined island castle. The Hermitage near Dunkeld and the Glencoe Lochan trails are shorter still.
When are midges worst in Scotland?
Highland midges are most active from late May to September, especially on still, damp, overcast days and around dawn and dusk. A breeze keeps them away. Bring repellent and a head net if you are sensitive.
Can I walk with my dog in the Highlands?
Yes. Under the Scottish Outdoor Access Code dogs are welcome, but keep them under close control or on a short lead near livestock and during the bird-nesting season (April to July), and pick up after them.
Can I do these walks without a car?
Some, yes: Loch an Eilein is reachable by bike or on foot from Aviemore, and the Hermitage is near Dunkeld & Birnam station. Others, like Steall Falls and the Fairy Pools, are much easier by car or on a tour.
Check before you go
Trail conditions, closures, fees and transport change. Distances and times here are approximate round-trip figures; confirm details with the official sources: