Long Distance Walking Trails + GPX
Each to their own thoughts
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.
A very special thanks goes to Mike Brockhurst (https://www.walkingenglishman.com/scotland.htm) who proved to be an incredible source of information.
Why would you hike? What is the point!? Watch this award winning short video. It inspires and is very well done. Mayby it provides the answer you seek,
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.
Southern Scotland
Moffat-Newbie Mains: 88 km/Grade 3
Glenapp-Skelmorlie: 148 km/Grade 2
Cocksburnpath-Berwick-upon-Tweed: 48 km/Grade 2
Jedburgh-Jedburgh: 107 km/Grade 2
Hawick-Harperrig: 82 km/Grade 2
Mull of Galloway-Glenapp: 72 km/Grade 2
Glenbuck-Ayr: 65 km + Heritage Path!/Grade 1
Ae Village-Hawick: 85 km/Grade 1
Portpatrick-Cocksburnpath: 338 km + Heritage Path!/Grade 3
Melrose-Lindisfarne: 100 km/Grade 2
St Ninian's Way: See: Way of St Andrews
St Wilfrid's Way: See: Way of St Andrews
Mid East Scotland
Blairgowrie-Blairgowrie: 104 km/Grade 3
Aberdeen-Ballater: 66 km/Grade 1
Fort William-Aviemore: 128 km + Heritage Paths/Grade 4
Kincardine-Newburgh: 183 km/Grade 2
Dyce-Fraserburgh or Peterhead: 86 km/Grade 1
Helensburgh-Dunbar: 212 km/Grade 1
Arrochar-St Andrews: 172 km/Grade 2
St Columba's Way: See: Way of St Andrews
St Duthac's Way: See: Way of St Andrews
Erraid (Isle of Mull)-Sth Queensferry: 370 km/Grade 5
Mid West Scotland
Drumnadrochit-Morvich: + Heritage Paths/71 KM/Grade 3
Brodick-Brodick: 109 km/Grade 4
Glasgow-New Lanark: 65 km/Grade 1
Callander-Inversnaid: 48 km/Grade 2
Tarbert-Machrihanish: 161 km/Grade 3
Portavadie-Inveruglas: 90 km/Grade 3
Drymen-Pitlochry: 128 km/Grade 2
Balloch-Inveruglas: 53 km/Grade 2
Milngavie-Fort William: + Heritage Paths/151 km/Grade 2
Kilchattan Bay-Kilchattan Bay: 34 km/Grade 2
Northern Scotland
Fort William-Cape Wrath: + Heritage Paths/378 km/Grade 4
Grantown-Forres: 38 km/Grade 1
Fort William-Inverness: + Heritage Path/117 km/Grade 2
Vatersay-Stornoway: 252 km/Grade 1
Inverness-John o'Groats: + Heritage Path/238 km/Grade 4
Forres-Cullen/72 km: Grade 2
Rubha Hunish-Broadford: 128 km/Grade 4
Fort Augustus-Torbreck: + Heritage Path/43 km/Grade 2
Buckie-Aviemore: 116 km/Grade 2
Lochinver-Tongue: 112 km/Grade 3
Additional Trails
Wallsend-Bowness-on-Solway: 135 km/Grade 2
Kirk Yetholm-Cape Wrath: + Heritage Paths/864 km/Grade 4