Walks in The Highlands of Scotland

The Steall Falls and the Nevis Gorge Walk make for the ultimate short, family-friendly adventure! So get ready to immerse in the Nevis Gorge’s dramatic, incredible scenery before reaching the roaring Steall Falls. One of our favourite images of this walk comes about halfway when the waterfalls appear at a distance. The views of the falls cutting through a jagged slope surrounded by folklore-like scenery make for a fantastic photo opportunity!

Some may find the one-way part of the Inchnadamph to Kylestrome Walk intimidating, but trust us, planning a ride back to your car or staying at the hotel in Kylesku (during summer) before turning around is so worth it. Plus, you can wild camp along the way, so there are options to ease the intimidation factor of this walk. You don't want to miss out on revelling in the lochs, scenic viewpoints, and Britain's tallest waterfall en route, do you?

The Fyrish Monument Walk fuses a fun combination of views to form an unforgettable adventure—despite its shorter length. This walk may not take you deep in the quintessential wild sweeping the Highlands, but it’s definitely a cool adventure that doesn’t compromise on scenery (or uniqueness!). While the main object along this walk is the Fyrish Monument, you’ll also get to revel in views of the Cromarty Firth below, with the North Sea and Ben Wyvis painting colour into the image.

The Loch Coruisk Walk may boast the prettiest freshwater scenery in Scotland, making this a must-do adventure if you’re in the Highlands. However, if you’re a spontaneous adventurer, this walk may not be the best choice for you as it requires booking a boat in advance, which we think adds to the uniqueness of this adventure! While the may path may be boggy at points, the incredible mountain vista flanking the loch will hinder you from focusing on your potentially soaking wet feet. (Come prepared with proper footwear if you can!)

The Devil's Staircase Walk travels from Kings House to Kinlochleven along the famed long-distance route, the West Highland Way. Of course, this description only describes a small section of the West Highland Way, but it is definitely one of the highlights as it climbs to the highest section of the entire route. You can also easily turn this into an out-and-back route as you’ll summit the Devil’s Staircase early on in your adventure.

This walking guide takes you to the Falls of Glomach via the easiest and shortest route, making it more accessible for walkers with some hillwalking experience, but no need to be super experienced to tackle this out-and-back excursion. With that being said, beginners may want to pocket this route to the incredible, roaring Falls of Glomach for a later day. This 17.5 km walk winds through quintessential mythical and folklore-like scenery that paints most of the Highlands, with the falls cascading into a gorge, elevating the already-epic views to the next level.

Don't let the 7.0 km distance fool you into thinking this will be a walk in the park! The Pap of Glencoe Walk is no easy feat, as it sees you gaining 716 m over a super short distance. However, the panoramic views of Loch Leven, backed by the soaring Mamroes range, make the extreme huffing and puffing worth it.

Be prepared to navigate rocks and boulders on the final climb of the Pap!

Completing the circular Ring of Steall Walk is no easy feat! Expect to tackle not one, but four Munros— An Gearanach, Stob Choire a Chàirn, Devils Ridge to Sgùrr a'Mhaim, and Am Bodach—while traversing incredibly rugged scenery! From phenomenal glen views where the Steall Falls elevate the level of wonder from 10 to 10+ to dumbfounding views atop four different peaks, the Ring of Steall Walk exhausts and entertains!

The South Glen Shiel Ridge Walk is a favourite among Munro-baggers as this incredible, adventurous excursion will see you cresting along a grassy ridge that undulates across seven summits. While most of the route features memorable ridgewalking, you will face some short scramble sections. Most people attempt to complete this long route in one day, but you can always split it into two by descending from the Druim na Coire nan Eirecheanach ridge and then take the Druim Thollaidh ridge the next morning. Don't forget to organize transportation for nine or so kilometres back to your car!

The Lost Valley (Coire Gabhail) Walk may look easy on paper, but trust us when we say that this adventure is not for the faint of heart. While the steep elevation gain packed into a short distance may be physically demanding, the surrounding scenery is incredible—and mysterious. Coire Gabhail is the hidden, secret valley where the Macdonalds from Glen Coe kept stolen cattle. An amphitheatre of green-laden hills and peaks flank the valley. It’s fun to explore the flat section of the valley, where you’ll encounter rocks bigger than homes. It’s pretty epic, to say the least!

The Stob Dubh via Buachaille Etive Beag Walk has you summiting two Munros along the Buachaille Etive Beag mountain range, creating a challenging but worthwhile exploration in the Highlands! The wild scenery throughout will hopefully distract you from your tired legs and lungs. Thankfully, the path is relatively straightforward, hopefully preventing you from getting lost (although we can’t guarantee this, of course).

Want to climb two Munros in a day? And we aren’t just talking about regular Munros; we’re talking about Scotland’s famed summit: Ben Nevis. That’s right! Climb Ben Nevis by way of Càrn Mòr Dearg on this incredible, strenuous walk. The other Munro? Càrn Mòr Dearg, which looms at a haunting 1,220 m of elevation, is the ninth tallest mountain in Scotland.

The Blà Bheinn Walk traverses a not-so-technical path at first before getting a bit more rough and tough later on as you continue to gain significant elevation. But in the middle of your moans, stop to revel in the incredibly wild Highland views, and you’ll be alright. Plus, know phenomenal views await at the top of the Munro!

The Glencoe Lochan Circular Walk makes for a fantastic family-friendly adventure! This short, relaxing adventure hugs the shores of the lochan backed by soaring mountains, making it easy to feel at ease as you explore the wild yet serene scenery. To top it off, the lochside path can accommodate wheelchairs

The short Duntulm Castle Walk makes for a fun, family-friendly adventure, especially if you're craving fresh air fused with history. Check out 17th-century ruins on this oceanside walk!

Want to feel like you’re a character in a timeless storybook? The Fairy Glen Circular Walk in the Highlands immerses you among grassy cone-shaped hills and leads you towards Castle Ewan, a rocky tower that you can climb if you feel so inclined. Expect to revel in phenomenal, supernatural scenery throughout this entire journey—and not only will adults love it, but the imagery will also entertain kids.

The Beinn Dòrain and Beinn an Dòthaidh Walk winds atop two incredible Munros, replete with otherworldly scenery every step of the way. This challenging route isn’t your typical straightforward out-and-back, lollipop, or circuit route as it blends all three walk types into one, so be sure to bring a GPS for secure navigation.

Explore an incredible ridgeline on the ever-so strenuous Five Sisters of Kintail Walk in the Scottish Highlands. This challenging endeavour will have you tackling not one but three Munros! Feel like you’re on top of a wild, wild supernatural world as you meander across the ridgeline. Do note that while we say this is dog-friendly, it’s important to keep your pups on a leash or maybe leave them at home due to steep drops along the ridge.

The Ben Starav and Glas Bheinn Mhòr Walk grants the chance to bag two Munros in one epic adventure! Revel in the wild Highland scenery painting a rugged landscape below from atop both these peaks. Some of the highlights are views of Loch Etive, Glen Etive and layers of grassy peaks bleeding into the horizon.

The Knockan Crag Trail is a fun walking adventure for the entire family, as it not only unveils fantastic views from atop Knockan Crag, but it includes unique sculptures en route, and kids have the chance to partake in a treasure hunt. This short route—ranked as easy—provides consistent entertainment!