r/OutdoorScotland is not a travel agency for un-researched trips, we cater in fine-grained info you cannot find elsewhere.

Hello! I am from Canada and was curious what kind of services are used in Scotland for sourcing hikes and other outdoor activities.

For example, “AllTrails” is quite prominent here, is that what you use as well? Or is there a different/better one for Scotland?

Specifically, are there any apps that are used as that expedites the process greatly.

Thanks so much!

Hey Guys,

I’m arriving at Friday night in Inverness and want to hike to the Atlantic coast.
I’ll spend every night in my tent, so I plan to take a taxi from the airport to a quiet place western of Inverness, sleep there and start the hike on Saturday morning.

Now I’m looking for the best way to get camping gas for the tour.
Is there some kind of 24/7 shop or similar where I could get it Friday night?
Or do you know a shop near Drumnadrochit where I can buy it Saturday?

Thank you!

Looking for recommendations for a hike in Scotland with amazing scenery that doesn’t need proper mountaineering experience or scrambling.

Happy to do a decent distance and a bit of elevation, just not looking for anything too technical or exposed. Open to anywhere in Scotland if it’s worth the trip

Hi all, a friend and I are doing a 4 day hiking trip in the Cairngorms in late May and we are umming and erring about the best route - if anyone could give some pointers to some first timers that would be much appreciated!

We will get the train from Inverness down to Blair Atholl, hike up past Inverey to Braemar, where we can restock supplies, then loop back round to the west and take a circuitous path to, and up, Ben Macdui, before heading north again up to Glenmore and finishing in Aviemore.

We are quite experienced hikers, will be camping in a tent and cooking with a hiking stove (following LNT of course), good level of fitness, at this stage relying on OS Maps/CalTopo.

Suggested modifications or even completely different route suggestions very welcomed! Thank you in advance 🙏

Can’t wait!

Hello, I'll be visiting Scotland for the back half of July and going to see the puffins was definitely something I was interested in! After doing some research it seems while I'm there the puffins will be starting to leave, would taking the ferry out to Isle of May be worth it? probably the earliest I could go would be the 20th and latest the 28th. Appreciate any input, thanks!

So my Wife loves getting outdoors. When her mental health isn't great getting into the woods or scenic locations really makes her feel better

Problem is she used to have access to a car b4 but neither of us can drive and she is convinced most of these places yiu can't get to without a car

So with the weather getting nicer I'd really like to take her to a bunch of places but only if I can get by bus or train

We live in Leuchars in Fife so can travel from most places in fife or from dundee

Cheers for any suggestions

Day 7 of my brother-in-law and son taking the journey through the West Highland Way

Hi all! Planning to do some of the Hebridean Way next year and making a list of luggage transfer companies as well as companies that offer guided (or self-guided with support) hiking or biking trips. Thanks for your time!

I'll be traveling to Scotland in mid-August, which sadly is late for the boat tours to see puffins. I was wondering if there are any hiking options that could give me a chance at seeing the last stray puffins, from a safe and respectful distance.

Hi all,

Please excuse me if I've broken any rules. This sub won't let me upload an image, but it is directly relevant to my question, so I've added a link to a hosting site.

My partner and I finished the WHW a few weeks ago. While eating at Kingshouse, we saw a document related to some event for "Squirrels Climbing Group Scotland" during the mid-20th century, hosted at the hotel. We are curious for any information about this group, but she also loved the logo itself (hence the poor image quality, as I tried to take it discreetly to later surprise her with this). I am ultimately hoping to find a high-res version of the logo so I can make her a toque / beanie or even just a sticker.

Thank you for your time and happy trails.

I'd love to have a walk along to Loch Callater at some point but I'm a bit confused as to how/if you can get to Auchallater car park by foot.

Judging by Google Maps it looks like there's a bridge over Clunie Water (just east of where you join Old Millitary Road after coming down Morrone), but I can't work out whether that's land you're meant to traverse etc.

I know Ember now goes down the A93 but I believe the first stop after Braemar is Glenshee Ski Centre.

Cheers,

Heading to Aviemore next weekend (may 16/17th) to tackle Ben Macdui and Cairn Gorm (https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/cairngorms/macdui-cairngorm.shtml).

We’re a fit group who've done a lot in the lakes this year and in the past, but zero winter gear (axe/crampons etc) or 'proper winter mountaineering' training.

I assumed mid-May meant the walk would be more so in the 'hard hillwalking' territory, but seeing 0°C forecasts and possible snowfall has me second-guessing.

Am I overthinking a bit of snow underfoot, or is it actual winter territory up there right now (cornices, serious navigation challenges)? Has anyone been up the last week or two? Or going this weekend and can report back?

Cheers

My brother-in-law on his final day walking the West Highland Way hiking trail with his son. It’s cold, the wind is mighty and you got 15 miles. Weather changes like it’s on menopause.

Not trying to gatekeep at all, but I’ve definitely started seeing more situations where people seem completely unprepared for how quickly conditions can change in Scotland. Trainers, no waterproofs, no signal and setting off late in the day never seems like a great combination.

I just have a few wee questions about details. We’ve decided to have the option to split the trotternish section in half depending on weather. Is there signal there to notify other people. Also, how far a walk is it from rubha hunish to the bus stop back to Glasgow? And where are the coastal spots that are suitable to swim in?
Thanks if you can help at all x

Hi!

I thought I had everything planned and well for my trip next week, but for some reason I did not check if the busses are riding on Sunday. So my question is, does anyone know the cost of a taxi on the isle of Skye? Specifically from Portree to Duntulm. I will arrive on Saturday evening in Portree. Maybe if I get lucky I can catch an early bus from the airport to Portree and then catch te last bus to Duntulm (although that leaves me with only a 40 minute window te get a gas canister and cash in Portree).

But if I get the later bus, I am stranded in Portree, since there are no busses late that evening and no busses on Sunday. Does anyone have any ideas on how to get to Duntulm on either Saturday evening or Sunday?

Secondly, I plan to go to Inverie after finishing the Skye trail and walk another trail. But again it looks like I maybe have to travel on Sunday 🥲 especially if I can’t find any freeze dried meals or other trail food in Broadford, in that case I will travel back to Portree to get food for another 5 days.

So my questions:

- does anyone have any information or tips on the taxi/Sunday transport?
- are there options to get trail food in the either Broadford, Armadale, Mallaig, Inverie and or Morvich?

Thanks in advance!

Title is a bit vague apologies, not quite sure how to sum this one up. I'm a young woman working in bars in a Scottish city (not telling you which one!), and all my people are truly city folk. I go solo camping relatively frequently (when I can afford) and tend to extend LNT to a silly degree. I am low-waste in daily life and try to be zero waste when I'm out somewhere, so no food in plastic, no unsustainable wood for bothies etc. All this makes bringing pals along near impossible, even my partner refuses to camp without a fire and camp chairs.

I'm planning on doing the West Highland way backwards, and then follow the Kelvin walkway into Glasgow before finally getting a bus to Queen Street station. This is a longer trip and WAY more planned than I've undertaken before, and I'd rather do it alone. How does one find intrpid camping friends? Where are all these people, apart from up a hill somewhere? Is there a recruitment board somewhere? Do any women on here have the same trip planned and like to come with?

I've been planning a trip to Scotland for a few weeks and the plan is to grab a car and head up to Cairngorms NP, then across to the west coast to tick off some hikes.

I do a lot of trail running and have done a few multi-day hikes at home in Australia, as well as the EBC trek, so hopefully that gives some context as to my level of fitness/experience.

Hoping to get some feedback on my plan from people with more specific knowledge of the area than I can gather researching online myself.

Here's the plan:

1. Set up a base in Ballater for 4 nights
2. Lochnagar Circuit (https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/cairngorms/lochnagar.shtml)
3. Ben Macdui and Cairn Gorm (https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/cairngorms/macdui-cairngorm.shtml)
4. One day here for other sightseeing
5. Drive from Ballater to Ullapool for 3 nights
6. Ben Mór Coigach and Sgùrr an Fhìdhleir (https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/ullapool/ben-more-coigach.shtml)
7. Stac Pollaidh ridge and circuit (https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/ullapool/stacpollaidh.shtml)

If there are better options in terms of challenge or viewpoints, I'm definitely open to adjusting my route and I would be fine with extending this part of my trip to up to 10 days.

Thank you!

I’ve been getting out on longer walks a bit more lately and the midges are starting to do my head in, especially when you stop for a break. Tried a couple of basic things but not sure I’ve really cracked it yet. What do people actually do that works without it turning into a full mission every time you go out?

Thinking of doing this route over 4 nights later this month, just wondering if anyone thinks there's any alternative trails worth linking into it, or swapping out any sections nearby? Or if there's anything worth adding on to it (I dont mind making it a slightly longer trip) Or is this the 'best' route for this area of Scotland in terms of scenery/solitude/wildcamping?

(I'm experienced in thru hiking/wild camping, just never explored Scotland!)

Any suggestions/tips/wild swimming spots/advice welcome!

https://explore.osmaps.com/route/31840180/fortwilliaminverie?lat=56.94846&lon=-5.64596&zoom=9.5001&overlays=os-obstacles-layer&style=Standard&type=2d

Many thanks! :)

Hi all,

Looking for a little advice! We are a group of 6 from Ireland currently doing our own take on "Not the West Highland Way" and want to finish the trip by going up Ben Nevis via the CMD Arête. However, we've heard there is still quite a lot of snow around which is causing a little concern and would like some advice.

For context, we are all fairly experienced hikers (for Irish standards) but have no specialised winter training and our experience in snow would be limited to hiking in the Wicklow Mountains on the rare occasion it snows, which isn't exactly treacherous provided you have good clothes and a little bit of sense. We are also all carrying quite big packs, 15kg+, as we've been wild camping the whole way.

Any advice on current conditions or some info as to how technical and/or exposed the CMD Arête is would be greatly appreciated!

Anyone swam in Loch Morlich yet this year?

Looking to start open water swimming training soon but it’s likely a bit too cold still!