Walks in Scotland: The best hiking trails

What are both great in length and great in scenery? Scotland's Great Trails, of course! Scotland's long distance walking routes, such as the West Highland Way, the Great Glen Way and the Southern Upland Way are amongst the best hiking routes Scotland has to offer for experienced hikers and take you through some of our most outstanding scenery. They're fantastic for those who want to discover the country on foot, by bike, or even along one route, in a canoe!

The trails are distinctively waymarked, largely off-road and traffic free and have a range of visitor services along the way. You can enjoy the trails your own way – take the family on a walk or bike a route in small sections on an afternoon or day trip, or plan a multi-day epic and tackle a trail in one go.

If you decide to opt for a multi-day walk or want to stay overnight after a day on the trails and are looking for a room for the night, check out our Walkers Welcome scheme businesses. You’ll receive a warm welcome, drying facilities, local walks, weather and public transport information and more.

Find your perfect route:

• Coastal trails
• Mountain & loch routes
• Source to sea trails
• Historical routes
• Routes along towpaths and cycleways

Breathe in refreshing salty air, immerse yourself in dramatic seascapes, explore quiet coves and bays and see some spectacular marine wildlife, with this collection of sublime coastal trails.

Mull of Galloway Trail

• Start: Mull of Galloway
• End: Glenapp
• Length: 35 miles (56 km)
• Timing: 2 - 3 days

The Mull of Galloway Trail runs from Scotland's most south-westerly tip, through Stranraer and on to Glenapp, linking with the Ayrshire Coastal Path.

West Island Way

• Start: Kilchattan Bay, Isle of Bute
• End: Kames Bay, Isle of Bute
• Length: 30 miles (48 km)
• Timing: 2 - 3 days

Explore the beautiful beaches, moorland, forest and farmland of the West Island Way on the Isle of Bute, in the Forth of Clyde.

Berwickshire Coastal Path

• Start: Cockburnspath, Scottish Borders
• End: Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland
• Length: 28.5 miles (45 km)
• Timing: 2 - 4 days

The lovely Berwickshire Coastal Path in the south of Scotland takes in some of the UK's most spectacular cliff and coastal scenery.

Moray Coast Trail

• Start: Findhorn
• End: Cullen
• Length: 50 miles (80 km)
• Timing: 3 - 5 days

The Moray Coast Trail follows the Moray Coast, one of National Geographic's top rated coastal destinations in 2010.

Arran Coastal Way

• Start: Brodick
• End: Brodick
• Length: 65 miles (105 km)
• Timing: 4 - 6 days

The Arran Coastal Way takes you in a loop around the beautiful Isle of Arran off the Ayrshire coast.

Ayrshire Coastal Path

• Start: Glenapp
• End: Skelmorlie
• Length: 100 miles (160 km)
• Timing: 6 - 8 days

The Ayrshire Coastal Path offers dramatic views along the Ayrshire coast and across the Firth of Clyde.

Fife Coastal Path

• Start: Kincardine Bridge
• End: Newburgh
• Length: 117 miles (187 km)
• Timing: 7 - 9 days

Linking the Firths of Forth and Tay, the Fife Coastal Path goes through historic villages, award-winning beaches and wildlife reserves.

John Muir Way

• Start: Helensburgh, Argyll
• End: Dunbar, East Lothian
• Length: 134 miles (215 km)
• Timing: 7 - 10 days

The coast to coast John Muir Way celebrates John Muir as the father of National Parks and global conservationism.

Kintyre Way

• Start: Tarbert, Argyll
• End: Machrihanish, Kintyre
• Length: 100 miles (160 km)
• Timing: 7 - 10 days

Discover the lovely countryside, coast and beaches of the Kintyre peninsula along the Kintyre Way on Scotland's south-west coast.

If it's wild and wonderful you want, then these trails have this in abundance. Pack your rucksack (or - for the Great Glen Canoe Trail - load your canoe!) and experience some of the finest and most dramatic mountain and loch scenery to be found anywhere in Europe.

West Highland Way

• Start: Milngavie, near Glasgow
• End: Fort William
• Length: 96 miles (153 km)
• Timing: 6 – 8 days

Scotland’s most popular long distance route, the West Highland Way takes in some of Scotland's most iconic scenery.

Great Glen Way

• Start: Fort William
• End: Inverness
• Length: 79 miles (127 km)
• Timing: 5 – 6 days

The walking/biking equivalent of the Canoe Trail, the Great Glen Way threads its way through stunning mountain and loch scenery.

Southern Upland Way

• Start: Portpatrick, Dumfries & Galloway
• End: Cockburnspath, Scottish Borders
• Length: 212 miles (339 km)
• Timing: 12 – 16 days

The epic coast-to-coast Southern Upland Way across the south of Scotland is our longest Great Trail.

The Great Trossachs Path

• Start: Inversnaid, Loch Lomond
• End: Callander, Trossachs
• Length: 30 miles (48 km)
• Timing: 2 – 3 days

Discover the treasures of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park along the fabulous Great Trossachs Path.

Three Lochs Way

• Start: Balloch, Loch Lomond
• End: Inveruglas, Loch Lomond
• Length: 34 miles (54 km)
• Timing: 2 – 3 days

Taking in Loch Lomond, The Gareloch and Loch Long, the Three Lochs Way is the perfect option for immersing yourself in sublime scenery.

The Loch Lomond & Cowal Way

• Start: Portavadie, Cowal
• End: Inveruglas, Loch Lomond
• Length: 57 miles (91 km)
• Timing: 3 – 5 days

The Loch Lomond & Cowal Way passes through stunning Argyll scenery via waymarked forest and hill tracks, quiet roads and serene shorelines.

Great Glen Canoe Trail

• Start: Caledonian Canal, near Fort William
• End: Inverness
• Length: 60 miles (96 km)
• Timing: 5 days

The Great Glen Canoe Trail is a fabulous adventure for experienced canoeists following the Caledonian Canal and taking in several lochs including Loch Ness.

Follow these routes from their source to coastal end, stopping along the way at some remarkable visitor attractions. Don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled for timid riverside wildlife or simply enjoy a picnic on a peaceful river bank.

Speyside Way

• Start: Aviemore
• End: Buckie, Moray Coast
• Length: 65 miles (104 km)
• Timing: 4 – 5 days

Linking the Moray Coast with the Cairngorms National Park, the Speyside Way passes through whisky country and leads into the UK’s largest National Park.

Clyde Walkway

• Start: Partick, Glasgow’s West End
• End: New Lanark World Heritage Site
• Length: 40 miles (64 km)
• Timing: 2 – 3 days

Connecting Scotland’s biggest city with a UNESCO World Heritage and the Falls of Clyde, the Clyde Walkway takes in history and wildlife along the way.

River Ayr Way

• Start: Glenbuck Loch, East Ayrshire
• End: Ayr, South Ayrshire
• Length: 44 miles (70 km)
• Timing: 3 – 4 days

Passing through historic landscapes and areas rich in wildlife, explore tranquil East Ayrshire before reaching the seaside town of Ayr along the River Ayr Way.

Annandale Way

• Start: Devil’s Beef Tub, near Moffat
• End: Annan, Dumfries & Galloway
• Length: 55 miles (88 km)
• Timing: 4 – 5 days

Heading through delightful Dumfries & Galloway countryside, with steep climbs and rough ground at times, the Annandale Way is a long distance route to savour.

Step back in time with these fascinating historical trails. Follow in the footsteps of pious monks and a saint or learn how less saintly Roman invaders, marauding cattle-rustlers and the notorious Rob Roy MacGregor left their indelible marks on today’s landscapes.

Cross Borders Drove Road

• Start: Harperrig, Pentland Hills Regional Park
• End: Hawick, Scottish Borders
• Length: 52 miles (83 km)
• Timing: 4 – 5 days

The Cross Borders Drove Road follows ancient routes once used for moving livestock to the old markets at Falkirk and Crieff.

Romans and Reivers Route

• Start: Ae Forest, near Dumfries
• End: Hawick, Scottish Borders
• Length: 52 miles (83 km)
• Timing: 4 – 5 days

Step back in time along the Romans and Reivers Route and discover old Roman roads and trails used by the notorious Border Reivers (raiders).

Borders Abbeys Way

• Start: Jedburgh
• End: Jedburgh – though you could start and end at any of the towns along the route
• Length: 68 miles (109 km)
• Timing: 5 days

The circular Borders Abbeys Way links the four great ruined Borders abbeys at Jedburgh, Melrose, Kelso and Dryburgh.

Cateran Trail

• Start/End: Route can be joined/end at any stage, but perhaps start and end in Alyth or Blairgowrie
• Length: 64 miles (103 km)
• Timing: 5 days

Follow the Cateran Trail and discover ancient tracks that were once used by cattle rustlers (Caterans) who plundered nearby glens from the middle ages to the 17th century.

St Cuthbert's Way

• Start: Melrose, Scottish Borders
• End: Lindisfarne/Holy Island, Northumberland
• Length: 62.5 miles (100 km)
• Timing: 5 days

Dedicated to St Cuthbert, a seventh century monk, bishop and hermit, the St Cuthbert's Way is a great route for revitalising body and spirit.

Rob Roy Way

• Start: Drymen, Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park
• End: Pitlochry, Perthshire
• Length: 77 miles or 94 miles (123 or 150 km)
• Timing: 7 days

Follow in the footsteps of one of our most celebrated outlaws (or folk heroes!)  through outstanding Trossachs, Stirlingshire and Highland Perthshire scenery along the Rob Roy Way.

St Magnus Way

• Start: Egilsay
• End: St Magnus' Cathedral
• Length: 58 miles
• Timing: 4-5 days

Immerse yourself in Orkney's rich history and heritage by taking on St Magnus Way. The route is inspired by the life and death of Magnus, Orkney's patron saint.

Explore easy-going long distance routes that lie along some of our former railway lines, canal towpaths and quiet country roads, where the attractions and scenery will take your breath away.

Caledonian Canal

• Start: Fort William
• End: Inverness
• Length: 60 miles (96 km)
• Timing: 5 days

An engineering marvel, built by Thomas Telford, the Caledonian Canal runs through Neptune's Staircase and past lochs Lochy, Oich, Ness and Dochfour, before meeting the Moray Firth at Inverness.

Dava Way

• Start: Forres
• End: Grantown-on-Spey
• Length: 24 miles (38 km)
• Timing: 2 days

The Dava Way, through Speyside and the Cairngorms National Park, follows the old Highland Railway line, climbing from sea level to 1050 feet at Dava summit.

Formartine & Buchan Way

• Start: Dyce, near Aberdeen
• End: Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire
• Length: 40 miles (64km) - with 13-mile (21 km) spur option from Maud to Peterhead
• Timing: 3 - 4 days

Passing through some lovely Aberdeenshire countryside, this route runs along the old Formartine & Buchan railway line.

Crinan Canal

• Start: Crinan
• End: Ardrishaig
• Length: 9 miles (14 km)
• Timing: 1 day

Set amidst breathtaking Argyll scenery, cross the Mull of Kintyre on the short but rewarding Crinan Canal towpath.

Union and Forth & Clyde Canal Towpaths

• Start: Bowling, West Dunbartonshire
• End: Edinburgh
• Length: 62 miles (100 km)
• Timing: 4 - 5 days

Cutting Scotland in half between the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Clyde, the Union and Forth & Clyde Canal Towpath route follows marvellously engineered and flat towpaths.

The Hebridean Way

• Start: Isle of Vatersay, Outer Hebrides
• End: Butt of Lewis, Outer Hebrides
• Length: 150 miles (240 km)
• Timing: 6 days

Enjoy a two-wheeled island odyssey like no other exploring the Outer Hebrides archipelago along the awesome Hebridean Way. This epic route, on the very edge of Europe, uses causeways and ferries to hop between islands.

The Caledonia Way 

• Start: Campbeltown, Kintyre
• End: Inverness
• Length: 237 miles (379 km)
• Timing: 6 - 11 days

Experience Scotland's magical west coast by bike along the Caledonia Way. From the quiet roads and captivating coastline of Kintyre, to the lochs and mountains of Argyll and The Highlands, this is a route to savour.

The Lochs & Glens Way 

• Start: Glasgow
• End: Inverness
• Length: 215 miles (346 km)
• Timing: 5 - 12 days

The Lochs and Glens Way long distance cycling route runs through some of the finest central belt and Highlands scenery and crosses through Scotland's two national parks.