You might recognize that thrill, that sense of freedom and near childlike wonder. Walking, or ambling along for that matter, resets your inner equilibrium and leaves ample time to think and reflect.
Although personally I prefer to simply follow my legs, I do understand perfectly well the attraction of the Trails. Most trails are signposted and well documented and quite a few offer accommodation, be it campsites, b&b's or even hotels. Underneath you'll find the official (some unofficial) Long Distance Walking Trails in Scotland with links to dedicated sites with all the details. Distances mentioned are often 'tenuous' at best!
A very special thanks goes to Mike Brockhurst who proved to be an incredible source of information https://www.walkingenglishman.com/scotland.htm)
Why would I hike? What is the point!?
This amazing award winning short video inspires and may well it provide the answer.
A word of warning: Walking in the 'wilds' of Scotland can be tricky and sometimes outright dangerous! Do not take unnecessary risks!
The horrible tragedy on the The Aonach Eagach Ridge (5 August 2023) which involved 3 people, serves to highlight the dangers.
Trail Grading (Developed by Walkhighlands). Do not rely only on your phone or app. There is not always a signal! Always take a map. Learn how to use a compass!
- Grade 1 - Easier walks, mostly on well defined paths. No special difficulties.
- Grade 2 - Slightly harder walks. Paths may be indistinct. Navigation skills are required.
- Grade 3 - Moderate hillwalks. Terrain will be steep. Map reading skills are essential and again: Navigation skills are required.
- Grade 4 - Harder hillwalks. Can include longer walks and pathless sections (careful navigation). Possible scree and minor scrambling. This grade is quite broad.
- Grade 5 - Tough by hillwalking standards; these routes can be very arduous or include trickier scrambling. Includes the hardest or most strenuous Munros.
Alphabetically with overview maps below
Affric Kintail Way (Central West) Drumnadrochit-Morvich: + Heritage Paths/71 KM/Grade 3
Annandale Way (South) Moffat-Newbie Mains: 88 km/Grade 3
Arran Coastal Way (Central West) Brodick-Brodick: 109 km/Grade 4
Ayrshire Coastal Path (South) Glenapp-Skelmorlie: 148 km/Grade 2
Berwickshire Coastal Path (South) Cocksburnpath-Berwick-upon-Tweed: 48 km/Grade 2
Borders Abbeys Way (South) Jedburgh-Jedburgh: 107 km/Grade 2
Cape Wrath Trail (North) Fort William-Cape Wrath: + Heritage Paths/378 km/Grade 4
Cateran Trail (Central East) Blairgowrie-Blairgowrie: 104 km/Grade 3
Clan Ring (Central East) Crief-Crief: 109 km/Grade 3
Clyde Walkway (Central West) Glasgow-New Lanark: 65 km/Grade 1
Cross Borders Drove Road (South) Hawick-Harperrig: 82 km/Grade 2
Dava Way (North) Grantown-Forres: 38 km/Grade 1
Deeside Way (Central East) Aberdeen-Ballater: 66 km/Grade 1
East Highland Way (Central East) Fort William-Aviemore: 128 km + Heritage Paths/Grade 3
Famous Highland Drove Walk (Add) Glenbrittle (Isle of Skye)-Crieff: 320 km/Grade 3
Fife Coastal Path (Central East) Kincardine-Newburgh: 183 km/Grade 2
Formartine & Buchan Way (Central East) Dyce-Fraserburgh or Peterhead: 86 km/Grade 1
Great Glen Way (360) (North) Fort William-Inverness: + Heritage Path/117 km/Grade 2
Great Trossachs Path (Central West) Callander-Inversnaid: 48 km/Grade 2
Hadrian's Wall Path (Add) Wallsend-Bowness-on-Solway: 135 km/Grade 2
Hebridean Way (North) Vatersay-Stornoway: 252 km/Grade 1
John Muir Way (Central East) Helensburgh-Dunbar: 212 km/Grade 1
John o'Groats Trail (North) Inverness-John o'Groats: + Heritage Path/238 km/Grade 4
Kintyre Way (Central West) Tarbert-Machrihanish: 161 km/Grade 3
Loch Lomond & Cowal Way (Central West) Portavadie-Inveruglas: 90 km/Grade 3
Mary, Queen of Scots Way (Add) Arrochar-St Andrews: 185 km/Grade 2
Moray Coast Trail (North) Forres-Cullen/72 km: Grade 2
Mull of Galloway Trail (South) Mull of Galloway-Glenapp: 72 km/Grade 2
River Ayr Way (South) Glenbuck-Ayr: 65 km + Heritage Path!/Grade 1
Rob Roy Way (Central West) Drymen-Pitlochry: 128 km/Grade 2
Romans and Reivers Route (South) Ae Village-Hawick: 85 km/Grade 1
Scottish National Trail (Add) Kirk Yetholm-Cape Wrath: + Heritage Paths/864 km/Grade 4
Skye Trail (North) Rubha Hunish-Broadford: 128 km/Grade 4
South Loch Ness Trail (360) (North) Fort Augustus-Torbreck: + Heritage Path/43 km/Grade 2
Southern Upland Way (South) Portpatrick-Cocksburnpath: 338 km + Heritage Path!/Grade 3
Speyside Way (North) Buckie-Aviemore: 116 km/Grade 2
St Columba's Way (Central East): See: Way of St Andrews
St Cuthbert's Way (South) Melrose-Lindisfarne: 100 km/Grade 2
St Duthac's Way (Central East): See: Way of St Andrews
St Ninian's Way (South):See: Way of St Andrews
St Wilfrid's Way (South): See: Way of St Andrews
Stevenson Way (Central East) Erraid (Isle of Mull)-Sth Queensferry: 499 km/Grade 5
Sutherland Trail (North) Lochinver-Tongue: 112 km/Grade 3
Three Lochs Way (Central West) Balloch-Inveruglas: 53 km/Grade 2
West Highland Way(Central West) Milngavie-Fort William: + Heritage Paths/151 km/Grade 2
West Island Way (Central West) Kilchattan Bay-Kilchattan Bay: 34 km/Grade 2