Scotland's 100 Best Walks

Just north of Kylesku Bridge

 

"Scotland's 100 Best Walks", Lomond Books, ISBN: 0-947782-66-4, is a veritable treasure trove compiled by Cameron McNeish, the UK's foremost hill walker (hiker) and broadcaster.

These are not long distance walking trails, although .......quite a few can be longer indeed! These are 'other' walks, from easy low-level walks along forest paths and coastlines, to longer and at times challenging mountain tracks. You want to walk? Look no further!

In the book itself you'll find detailed and anecdotal route descriptions sometimes rooted in history and legend. Truly a walker's delight!

I simply couldn't resist and have used the information to list these walks.

You want to know more? Go and get the book! Cameron McNeish is not only a true authority on hill walking, or 'hiking', but is a very accomplished and most entertaining writer as well. He is, as they say, the whole deal (or package).

Walks on the map!

A word of warning: Walking in the 'wilds' of Scotland can be tricky and sometimes outright dangerousDo 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.

Southern Hills And Coast

1

Glen Lochay Horseshoe near Killin. 25 km strenuous hill walk (8-10 hrs).

Region: Loch Lomond, Stirling & The Trossachs


2

Tarmachan Horseshoe near Killin. 10 km moderate hill walk (3-5 hrs).

Region: Loch Lomond, Stirling & The Trossachs


3

Glen Ogle Railway Trail near Lochearnhead. 9 km easy low-level walk (3 hrs). Region: Loch Lomond, Stirling & The Trossachs


4

Ben More and Stob Binnein near Crianlarich. 15 km moderate hill walk (6-8 hrs). Region: Loch Lomond, Stirling & The Trossachs


5

Beinn Laoigh (Ben Lui) near Crianlarich. 20 km moderate hill walk (7-9 hrs). Region: Loch Lomond, Stirling & The Trossachs


6

Cruachan Horseshoe near Taynuilt. 15 km moderate hill walk (6-8 hrs). Region: Argyll & The Isles


7

Beinn Lora near Benderloch. 5 km easy hill walk (2-3 hrs). Region: Argyll & The Isles


8

Dunstaffnage Trail (Castle!) near Oban. 8 km easy low-level walk (3-4 hrs). Region: Argyll & The Isles


9

The Cobbler near Arrochar. 15 km moderate hill walk (5-7 hrs). Region: Argyll & The Isles


10

Ben A'n (Am Binnein) near Aberfoyle. 6 km easy hill walk (2-3 hrs). Region: Loch Lomond, Stirling & The Trossachs


11

Ben Ledi near Callander. 12 km easy/moderate hill walk (4-6 hrs). Region: Loch Lomond, Stirling & The Trossachs


12

Ben Venue near Aberfoyle. 13 km easy/moderate hill walk (4-6 hrs). Region: Loch Lomond, Stirling & The Trossachs


13

Ben Lomond (West Highland Way) near Drymen. 12 km easy/moderate hill walk (5-7 hrs). Region: Loch Lomond, Stirling & The Trossachs


14

Conic Hill (West Highland Way) near Drymen. 10 km easy hill walk (4-6 hrs). Region: Loch Lomond, Stirling & The Trossachs


15

The Whangie near Milngavie. 5 km easy hill walk (2-4 hrs). Region: Loch Lomond, Stirling & The Trossachs


16

Campsie Fells near Strathblane. 12 km easy/moderate hill walk (3-5 hrs). Region: Loch Lomond, Stirling & The Trossachs

The Borders and the South West

17

The Merrick near Newton Stewart. 16 km strenuous hill walk (8-10 hrs). Region: Dumfries & Galloway


18

Solway's Castle Point near Dalbeattie. 9 km easy low-level walk (2-4 hrs). Region: Dumfries & Galloway


19

Criffel near Dumfries. 6.5 km easy hill walk (3-4 hrs). Region: Dumfries & Galloway


20

St Mary's Loch-Traquair (Southern Upland Way) near Peebles. 20 km easy hill walk (6-8 hrs). Region: Lothian & Scottish Borders


21

Minchmoor near Selkirk. 16 km easy hill walk (5-7 hrs). Region: Lothian & Scottish Borders


22

Taste of Ettrick near Moffat. 6 km easy hill walk (2-3 hrs). Region: Lothian & Scottish Borders


23

Lowther Hills (Southern Upland Way) near Moffat. 12 km easy hill walk (4-5 hrs). Region: Dumfries & Galloway


24

Hart Fell near Moffat. 13 km moderate hill walk (6-8 hrs). Region: Dumfries & Galloway


25

White Coomb & Grey Mare's Tail near Moffat. 7 km moderate hill walk (3-5 hrs). Region: Lothian & Scottish Borders


26

Eildon Hills near Melrose. 10 km easy hill walk (3-4 hrs). Region: Lothian & Scottish Borders


27

Glensax Horseshoe near Peebles. 20 km moderate hill walk (7-9 hrs). Region: Lothian & Scottish Borders


28

Pentlands (Scald Law) near Edinburgh. 13.5 km moderate hill walk (4-6 hrs). Region: Lothian & Scottish Borders

Eastern Highlands and Coast

29

Pittenweem To Fife Ness near St Andrews. 14 km moderate low-level walk (5-6 hrs). Region: Fife


30

Birnam Hill near Birnam. 7 km easy hill walk (2-4 hrs). Region: Perth(shire), Angus & Dundee


31

Birks Of Aberfeldy near Aberfeldy. 6.5 km easy low-level walk (2-3 hrs). Region: Perth(shire), Angus & Dundee


32

Pitlochry's Lochs And Rivers near Pitlochry. 10 km moderate low-level walk (3-5 hrs). Region: Perth(shire), Angus & Dundee


33

Ben Vrackie-Speckled Hill near Pitlochry. 8 km easy hill walk (3-5 hrs). Region: Perth(shire), Angus & Dundee


34

Driesh and Mayar near Kirriemuir. 14 km moderate hill walk (5-7 hrs). Region: Perth(shire), Angus & Dundee


35

Dark Lochnagar near Braemar. 30 km strenuous hill walk (8-10 hrs). Region: Aberdeen(shire) & Moray


36

Bennachie near Inverurie. 9 km easy hill walk (3-4 hrs)> Region: Aberdeen(shire) & Moray


37

Coastal Walk to Findlater Castle near Elgin. 8 km easy coastal walk (3-4 hrs). Region: Aberdeen(shire) & Moray


38

Benn Rinnes-Whisky Hill near Dufftown. 9.5 km easy hill walk (3-5 hrs). Region: Aberdeen(shire) & Moray


39

Abernethy Forest near Aviemore. 18 km long low-level walk (6-7 hrs). Region: Aviemore & The Cairngorms


40

Meall a' Bhuachaille near Aviemore. 8 km easy hill walk (3-4 hrs). Region: Aviemore & The Cairngorms


41

Around Loch an Eilein (Castle!) near Aviemore. 5 km moderate low-level walk (2-3 hrs). Region: Aviemore & The Cairngorms


42

Braeriach's High-Level Classic near Aviemore. 21 km moderate hill walk (8-10 hrs). Region: Aviemore & The Cairngorms


43

Ben Macdui (From The South) near Braemar. 30 km moderate hill walk (8-10 hrs). Region: Aberdeen(shire) & Moray


44

Corries Of Beinn a' Bhuird & Ben Avon near Braemar. 40 km strenuous hill walk (10-12 hrs). Region: Aberdeen(shire) & Moray


45

Lairig Ghru near Aviemore. 30 km long hill walk (10-14 hrs). Region: Aberdeen(shire) & Moray


46

Creag Bheag near Kingussie. 6 km easy hill walk (2 hrs). Region: Aviemore & The Cairngorms


47

General Wade's Badenoch Road near Newtonmore. 24 km long low-level walk (6-8 hrs). Region: Aviemore & The Cairngorms


48

Minigaig-Blair Atholl (Castle!) To Kingussie near Blair Atholl. 50 km strenuous 2 days hill walk (2 days). Region: Perth(shire), Angus & Dundee


49

A' Chailleach, Monadh Liath near Newtonmore. 10 km moderate hill walk (4-6 hrs). Region: Aviemore & The Cairngorms

Central Highlands

50

Creag Meagaidh near Spean Bridge. 16 km strenuous hill walk (7-9 hrs). Region: Fort William, Ben Nevis & Lochaber


51

Beinn a'Chlachair near Spean Bridge. 20 km moderate hill walk (7-9 hrs). Region: Aviemore & The Cairngorms


52

Ben Alder near Newtonmore. 50 km strenuous 2 days hill walk (2 days). Region: Aviemore & The Cairngorms


53

Rannoch Moor (West Highland Way) near Bridge of Orchy. 28 km moderate hill walk (8-10 hrs). Region: Fort William, Ben Nevis & Lochaber


54

Stob Ghabhar & Stob a'Choire Odhair (West Highland Way) near Bridge of Orchy. 20 km moderate hill walk (6-8 hrs). Region: Argyll & The Isles


55

Buachaille Etive Mor (West Highland Way) near Glencoe. 13 km moderate hill walk (6-8 hrs). Region: Fort William, Ben Nevis & Lochaber


56

Bidean nam Bian near Glencoe. 10 km moderate hill walk (5-7 hrs). Region: Fort William, Ben Nevis & Lochaber


57

The Aonach Eagach near Glencoe. 6.5 km (moderate hill walk/scramble (3-5 hrs). Region: Fort William, Ben Nevis & Lochaber


58

The Ring Of Steall near Fort William. 15 km moderate hill walk (6-8 hrs). Region: Fort William, Ben Nevis & Lochaber


59

Glen Nevis Gorge & Meadows near Fort William. 6 km easy low-level walk (2-4 hrs). Region: Fort William, Ben Nevis & Lochaber


60

Ben Nevis & Carn Mor Dearg near Fort William. 20 km strenuous hill walk (7-9 hrs). Region: Fort William, Ben Nevis & Lochaber


61

Stob a'Choire Meadhoin & Stob Coire Easain near Spean Bridge. 15 km moderate hill walk (5-7 hrs). Region: Fort William, Ben Nevis & Lochaber

Western Highlands

62

Ardgour/Garbh Bheinn near Strontian. 13 km strenuous hill walk (6-8 hrs). Region: Fort William, Ben Nevis & Lochaber


63

Moidart/Ross-Bheinn Peninsula Hills near Glenfinnan. 16 km strenuous hill walk (6-8 hrs). Region: Fort William, Ben Nevis & Lochaber


64

Moidart/Glenfinnan Corbetts near Glenfinnan. 12 km moderate hill walk (5-7 hrs). Region: Fort William, Ben Nevis & Lochaber


65

Streap near Glenfinnan. 14 km moderate hill walk (6-8 hrs). Region: Fort William, Ben Nevis & Lochaber


66

Knoydart/Sgurr na Ciche 'near' (20 km!) Achnacarry.  21 km strenuous hill walk (6-8 hrs). Region: Fort William, Ben Nevis & Lochaber


67

Knoydart/Ladhar Bheinn 'near' (40 km!) Invergarry. 35 km moderate 2 days hill walk (2 days). Region: Fort William, Ben Nevis & Lochaber


68

Beinn Sgritheall 'near' (25 km!) Shiel Bridge. 10 km moderate hill walk (5-7 hrs). Region: Isle of Skye & Kyle of Lochalsh


69

The Saddle/An Diolaid near Shiel Bridge. 16 km moderate hill walk/scramble (6-8 hrs). Region: Isle of Skye & Kyle of Lochalsh


70

Gleouraich & Spidean Mialach 'near' (30 km!) Invergarry.  12 km moderate hill walk (4-6 hrs). Region: Fort William, Ben Nevis & Lochaber


71

Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan 'near' (30 km!) Invergarry. 22 km strenuous hill walk (7-9 hrs). Region: Isle of Skye & Kyle of Lochalsh

Northern Highlands

72

Coire Lair horseshoe near Strathcarron. 16 km strenuous hill walk (6-8 hrs). Region: Caithness, Sutherland & Ross


73

Torridon/Beinn Damh near Shieldaig. 12 km moderate hill walk (5-7 hrs). Region: Caithness, Sutherland & Ross


74

Torridon/Beinn Alligin near Shieldaig. 10 km moderate hill walk (4-6 hrs). Region: Caithness, Sutherland & Ross


75

Torridon/Liathach near Kinlochewe. 12 km strenuous hill walk (6-8 hrs). Region: Caithness, Sutherland & Ross


76

Torridon/Beinn Eighe near Kinlochewe. 16 km strenuous hill walk (6-8 hrs). Region: Caithness, Sutherland & Ross


77

The Great Wilderness/Slioch near Kinlochewe. 20 km moderate hill walk (6-8 hrs). Region: Caithness, Sutherland & Ross


78

The Great Wilderness/A'Mhaigdean near Dundonnelll. 40 km strenuous hill walk (10-14 hrs). Region: Caithness, Sutherland & Ross


79

The Great Wilderness/An Teallach near Dundonnell. 22 km strenuous hill walk (10-12 hrs). Region: Caithness, Sutherland & Ross


80

Seana Bhraigh near Ullapool. 25 km strenuous hill walk (8-10 hrs). Region: Caithness, Sutherland & Ross


81

Assynt/Coigach & The Fiddler near Ullapool. 16 km moderate hill walk (6-8 hrs). Region: Caithness, Sutherland & Ross


82

Assynt/Rubha Mor of Achnahaird near Lochinver. 16 km moderate hill walk (4-6 hrs). Region: Caithness, Sutherland & Ross


83

Assynt/Stac Pollaidh near Lochinver. 3 km moderate hill walk (2-3 hrs). Region: Caithness, Sutherland & Ross


84

Assynt/Suilven near Lochinver.  25 km strenuous hill walk (8-10 hrs). Region: Caithness, Sutherland & Ross


85

Sutherland/Sandwood Bay near Kinlochbervie. 16 km moderate coastal walk (5-7 hrs). Region: Caithness, Sutherland & Ross


86

Sutherland/Foinaven near Kinlochbervie. 28 km strenuous hill walk (12-15 hrs). Region: Caithness, Sutherland & Ross


87

Sutherland/Ben Hope near Altnaharra. 7 km easy hill walk (4-6 hrs). Region: Caithness, Sutherland & Ross

The Islands

88

Orkney-Isle of Hoy/Hills of Hoy. 19 km moderate coastal walk (6-8 hrs). Region: Orkney Islands


89

Shetland-Isle of Unst/Hermaness Hill. 8 km moderate coastal walk (3-5 hrs). Region: Shetland Islands


90

Isle of Harris/Clisham near Tarbert. 7 km moderate hill walk (4-5 hrs). Region: Western Isles (Outer Hebrides)


91

Isle of Skye/Marsco near Slichagan. 18 km moderate hill walk (6-8 hrs). Region: Isle of Skye & Kyle of Lochalsh


92

Isle of Skye/Sgurr nan Gillean near Slichagan. 16 km strenuous and technical hill walk/scramble (6-8 hrs). Region: Isle of Skye & Kyle of Lochalsh


93

Isle of Skye/Bla Bheinn (Blaven) near Broadford 6.5 km moderate hill walk (4-6 hrs). Region: Isle of Skye & Kyle of Lochalsh


94

Isle of Skye/Boreraig & Suisinish near Broadford. 16 km moderate coastal walk (6-8 hrs). Region: Isle of Skye & Kyle of Lochalsh


95

Isle of Rum/Rum Cuillin near Kinloch. 21 km strenuous hill walk (8-12 hrs). Region: Fort William, Ben Nevis & Lochaber


96

Isle of Mull/Ben More near Knock. 13 km moderate hill walk (6-8 hrs). Region: Fort William, Ben Nevis & Lochaber


97

Isle of Mull/Carsaig Arches near Carsaig. 13 km moderate coastal walk (5-7 hrs). Region: Fort William, Ben Nevis & Lochaber


98

Isle of Kerrera/The Green Isle near Balliemore. 12 km easy coastal walk (4-6 hrs). Region: Argyll & The Isles


99

Isle of Jura/The Paps near Leargybreck. 16 km strenuous hill walk (6-8 hrs). Region: Argyll & The Isles


100

Isle of Arran/Cir Mhor near Sannox. 13 km strenuous hill walk/scramble (4-6 hrs). Region: Ayrshire, Arran & Clyde Valley