Hiking in the Highlands
From 45-minute loch loops to the 8-hour grind up Ben Nevis. The Highlands have trails for every pair of legs. The trick is matching the walk to the weather — and knowing when to turn around.
The best hiking days in the Highlands stay with you for years. The worst ones — sideways rain on an exposed ridge, cloud so thick you can\'t see your feet, the growing certainty that you should have turned around an hour ago — those stick around too, and they teach you more. The key is being honest about conditions and your own limits.
Below is a curated list, roughly ranked from "pre-walk coffee" to "serious full-day commitment." Every hike here has been done by someone on our team, in various states of preparedness and discomfort. We\'ve included the practical stuff that guidebooks often skip: what the car park situation is, which trails become dangerous in certain weather, and when the midges are bad enough to justify a head net.
Trails, Ranked from Easy to "I Should Have Trained"
Glencoe Lochan
Easy · Glencoe2.5 km · 45 – 60 min · Minimal
A flat woodland loop around a mirror-calm loch. The pines were planted by a homesick Canadian, and on a still morning the reflections could pass for British Columbia. Three colour-coded trails. The blue route is buggy-friendly. Best first walk in Glencoe.
Old Man of Storr
Moderate · Isle of Skye3.8 km · 1.5 – 2 hrs · 260m gain
The most famous walk on Skye, and it earns the Instagram fame. A well-maintained path leads up to the 160-foot rock pinnacle. The first 20 minutes are the steepest — after that it's a steady climb with the views opening up behind you. Go at sunrise. The car park costs £6. By 9am in July it's full.
Lost Valley (Coire Gabhail)
Moderate · Glencoe6.3 km · 2 – 3 hrs · 330m gain
A hidden valley where the MacDonalds stashed their stolen cattle. The approach involves some rock-hopping and a stream crossing. The valley floor is flat — you come around a final boulder and the whole basin opens up. Bring waterproof trousers; the ground is often boggy even in dry spells.
The Quiraing Circuit
Moderate-Hard · Isle of Skye6.8 km · 3 – 4 hrs · 370m gain
Skye's most dramatic landscape — a landslip that's still moving. The full circuit takes you along the escarpment edge with views over the sea to the Outer Hebrides on a clear day. The path can be narrow and muddy. If the cloud is down, don't attempt the full loop; the car park viewpoint is still spectacular.
Buachaille Etive Mor
Hard · Glencoe7 km · 4 – 5 hrs · 840m gain
The mountain on the Glencoe postcards. The route up Stob Dearg climbs loose scree — it's steep from the start and doesn't ease up. The last 200 metres are a hands-on scramble. Summit views stretch across Rannoch Moor. Check MWIS before you go. Wind above 30mph makes the ridge dangerous.
Ben Nevis (Mountain Track)
Hard · Fort William16 km · 6 – 8 hrs · 1,345m gain
The UK's highest mountain. The so-called "tourist route" (Mountain Track) is the standard path — a relentless stone staircase from start to summit. It's not technical but it's long: 8km of uphill, then 8km of downhill on the same punishing surface. The summit plateau is a boulder field in cloud. In winter, this is a mountaineering route requiring crampons and ice axe. In summer, it's a fitness test. Either way, check the forecast on MWIS and tell someone your plan.
West Highland Way (Section: Bridge of Orchy to Kingshouse)
Moderate · Argyll19 km · 5 – 6 hrs · 350m gain
If you're doing one section of the 96-mile WHW, do this one. It crosses Rannoch Moor — the most remote, exposed, and beautiful stretch of the whole trail. The path is good, the elevation is gentle, but the weather can turn fast and there's zero shelter. In good conditions it's an unforgettable day walk. In bad conditions it's an exercise in humility.
Cairngorm Plateau
Hard · Cairngorms12 km · 5 – 6 hrs · 700m gain
A different beast from the west coast mountains. The Cairngorms are a high-altitude plateau — rounded, vast, and disorienting in mist. Navigation skills are non-negotiable; the paths disappear in cloud and the terrain looks identical in every direction. Start from the Cairngorm Mountain car park (paid). In winter this is full Arctic conditions.
Safety: The Boring but Important Section
The Mountain Weather Information Service (mwis.org.uk) is the gold standard for Scottish mountain forecasts. Check it the night before and again in the morning. If it says "chance of cloud-free Munros: 10%", choose a valley walk instead.
Phone signal disappears in most Highland glens. If you're not back by evening, someone needs to know to make the call. This is basic mountain safety, not paranoia.
Map, compass, waterproofs, extra layer, food, water, headtorch, first aid kit, whistle, fully charged phone. The Lost Valley might take 2 hours in sunshine and 4 hours in rain with a turned ankle.
Between November and March, even the "easy" Highland peaks require crampons, ice axe, and the skill to use them. The Cairngorm Plateau in winter has Arctic conditions. Take a guide if you're not trained.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best hike for a first-timer?
Old Man of Storr on Skye. The path is clear, the climb is manageable (260m), the views start after 20 minutes, and the rock pinnacle at the top is genuinely cool. Get there before 8am and you'll have it mostly to yourself. Glencoe Lochan is better if you want flat.
When can I hike in the Highlands?
May through September is the reliable hiking season. April and October can work but expect snow on high ground and shorter days. November through March is winter mountaineering — the weather, not the calendar, decides if a route is doable. Many hikers with crampon and ice axe experience do winter walks safely; without those skills, stick to valley paths below the snow line.
Do I need hiking boots, or will trainers work?
Boots with ankle support and waterproofing. The trails are rough — loose rock, bog, stream crossings — and trainer-clad hikers are the ones we see sliding down wet grass slopes. The one exception is Glencoe Lochan, which is graded gravel and fine in trainers on a dry day.
How fit do I need to be for Ben Nevis?
You need to be comfortable walking uphill for 4 hours with 1,300m of ascent, then downhill for another 3-4 hours on tired legs. The descent hurts more than the climb. If you can do a 10-mile hike with similar elevation on a local hill without being wrecked the next day, you're fit enough. If you're unsure, try Buachaille Etive Mor or the Lost Valley first.