Scotland Peter Irvine’s the best
Long walks Pull on your boots, go outside, and stroll. Scotland has some of the world’s greatest walking routes
West Highland Way
The 93-mile walk starts at Milngavie near Glasgow and goes via some of Scotland’s most celebrated scenery to emerge in Glen Nevis before the Ben. The route is: Mugdock Moor-drymen-loch Lomond-rowardennaninversnaid-inverarnan-crianlarich-tyndrumbridge of Orchy-rannoch Moor-kingshouse Hotel-glen Coe-the Devil’s Staircasekinlochleven. The latter part from Bridge of Orchy is the most dramatic.
Southern Upland Way
214-mile walk from Portpatrick across the Rhinns of Galloway, much moorland, the Galloway Forest Park, the wild heartland of southern Scotland to the gentler east Borders and the sea at Pease Bay (official end, Cockburnspath). Route is Portpatrick-stranraer-new
Luce-dalry-sanquhar-wanlockheadbeattock-st Mary’s Loch-melrose-lauderabbey St Bathans. Usually walked west to east, the Southern Upland Way is a formidable undertaking. Info from Ranger Service.
The Speyside
A long-distance route that generally follows the valley of the River Spey from Buckie on the Moray Firth coast to Aviemore in the foothills of the Cairngorms, with a side spur to Tomintoul over the hill between the rivers Avon and Livet. The main stem of the route largely follows the valley bottom – a distance of 62 miles. The Tomintoul spur has more hillwalking character and rises to a great viewpoint at 600m. Info from Ranger Service. Usual start is from Spey Bay five miles north of Fochabers.
Cateran Trail
Named after the Caterans (marauding cattle thieves), this 62-mile hike crosses their old stamping ground – the hills and glens of Angus and Perthshire. Splendid circular from a start at Blairgowrie and 4-5 days to complete; there are also five sections: Blairgowrie-bridge of Cally-glenshee-glen Isla-alyth.
Peter Irvine is the author of the essential travel guide Scotland the Best published by Collins, priced £15.99