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How to have an adventure in Scotland

How to have an adventure in Scotland

With nearly 800 islands, two national parks, 6000 miles of coastline, turquoise seas, rolling hills and majestic mountains, deep glens and massive lochs – Scotland is consistently voted one of the best countries in the world to visit for outdoor adventures.

Whatever the weather throws at you you can get outside in Scotland – from Munro bagging and scrambling to Via Ferrata to stand up paddle boarding, coasteering, sailing, mountain biking, and kayaking – you can do it all in Scotland. Here is my guide to the best adventures in Scotland.

My favourite adventures in Scotland

Here are my favourite places to do outdoor activities in Scotland…

  • Hike from Glencoe to Glen Nevis –  If you are going to spend one-day hiking (or as we call it, hill walking) in Scotland, then make it the walk from Glencoe to Glen Nevis. Be warned, this hike is a marathon distance (26 miles / 42 km) and involves 5000ft (1500m) of up hill-climbing, but the views through Scotland’s most famous glen and along the most beautiful section of the West Highland Way are utterly unbelievable and make for an incredible day out. Like long walks? Here are the best day walks in Scotland.
  • Go kayaking on the Isle of Barra – This island in the Outer Hebrides might be most famous for its airport on the beach but the beautiful island of ‘Barradise’ has lots on offer – not least an incredibly dramatic castle which gives the main town, Castlebay, its name. The best way to see the castle? Hire a sea kayak and can get out on the water and explore the bay. Read more: how to have an adventure in the Outer Hebrides.
  • Climb Suilven in Assynt – Above turquoise waters and white sandy beaches rise the otherworldly rock formations of Assynt in the Scottish Highlands. Forget climbing Scotland’s biggest Ben Nevis, the best hill in Scotland to climb is actually Suilven – it’s one of the best hillwalking days in the whole of Britain. Read more: my guide to climbing Suilven.
  • Walk the Fife Coastal Path – Scotland’s longest coastal path stretches from the Firth of Forth to the Firth of Tay and passes through the beautiful East Neuk to St Andrews and onwards to Dundee. My favourite section is from Anstruther to Crail which passes through gorgeous villages and past some excellent fish & chip shops. Read more: the East Neuk of Fife.
  • Scramble the Elie Chain Walk, Fife – above crashing waves and with views across to Edinburgh, you can climb, scramble and coasteer along the Elie Chain Walk above the Fife cliffs – it’s our Scottish version of a Via Ferrata. With eight chains to tackle, the route takes you along the coast for over a kilometre, with steps cut into the cliffs to aid your climbing – plus there is a great pub at the end. Read more: how to do the Elie Chain Walk.
  • Horse ride on a white sand beach on North Uist – the Uist Community Riding School at Balivanich on Benbecula offers horses riding on a stunning Outer Hebrides beach – you might even be able to persuade your horse to go for a paddle in the water.

The best places to do outdoor activities in Scotland

Looking for outdoor activities in Scotland? Whatever you are into, plan your mountain bike, SUP, hiking, scrambling and wild swimming adventures… with a lot more in between with the best places to do outdoor activities in Scotland.

The best place to go mountain biking in Scotland

With hundreds of mountains, glens and forests to explore, it’s no wonder Scotland is considered a world-class destination for mountain biking. The best place to go mountain biking in Scotland are at the 7stanes – world-class mountain biking centres in Southern Scotland. The 7stanes can be found at Ae, Dalbeattie, Glentress and Innerleithen, Glentrool, Kirroughtree and Mabie.

My favourite is at Glentress which has a full range of mountain bike trails available – from green to black – and they are free to use, all you have to pay for is it the parking! (£5 full day). We are complete beginners and love the Upper Green Route with its fabulous views across Peebles and those in the know as serious mountain bikers love the Innerleithen XC route. You can also hire bikes.

Visit Glentress // visit the other 7stanes.

More places to go mountain biking in Scotland:

  • Lochore Meadows, Fife – with over 1,200 acres of parkland to explore, Lochore Meadows Country Park is the perfect place to learn to mountain bike in Scotland or to brush up on your skills. There are lots of off-road mountain bike trails at Lochore Meadows – cycle around Loch Ore (3.5 mile / 5.65 km) trail, perfect for all ages or try out the White Wood with technical features like drops and rock gardens including ‘Rockzilla’. Visit Lochore Meadows.
  • Comrie Croft – with one of Scotland’s best campsites, Comrie Croft in Perthshire offers up a weekend away mountain biking in Highland Perthshire. Surrounding the campers are lots of red and black mountain bike trails, all hand-built. Comrie Croft hire out bikes for all levels, from full-suspension bikes for technical trails to balance bikes for kids to try out the beginner’s track. More things to do at Comrie Croft.
  • The Cairngorms & Aviemore – whether you like to cycle up mountains or prefer things a wee bit more leisurely, the Cairngorms’s national park is made for mountain bikes. There are purpose-built mountain bike tracks at the Glenlivet Estate, the Lecht Ski Centre and Laggan Wolftrax or hire a bike and cycle around the gorgeous Rothiemurchus Estate.
  • The Isle of Harris, Western Isle – explore the hills of Harris, the Scaladale Centre will load up mountain bikes for you and take you out into the hills – try the 12-mile Urgha and Maraig circuit otherwise known as the Postman’s Trail with views above stunning above Loch Mharaig – the route includes 840m of descent.
Try Stand Up Paddleboarding

The best place to go stand up paddle boarding in Scotland

SUP is one of the fastest-growing water sports and outdoor activities in Scotland is brilliant fun and really easy to learn – take it from me!

The best place to go stand up paddle boarding SUP in Scotland? The lochs of the Cairngorms National Park including Loch Morlich and Loch Insh. Scotland’s highest beach at Loch Morlich is a huge draw on a summer’s day and has beautiful views of the surrounding mountains. Hire paddle boards on the lochs with Loch Insh Outdoor Centre and Loch Morlich Watersports.

More places to SUP in Scotland:

  • Loch Lomond – hire your board or kayak from Loch Lomond Leisure and explore the islands in one of Scotland’s most famous lochs.
  • Arisaig and the Silver Sands of Morar – famous for its sandy beaches and still waters, Arisaig has lots of coves to explore.
  • Belhaven Bay, East Lothian – famed for its beaches, paddle out from this gorgeous beach for views of Bass Rock. 
  • The Isle of Barra – head out on your board to paddle around Kismul Castle in Castlebay before exploring further afield on ‘Barradise’.

If you fancy trying SUP for yourself, Lochore Meadows Country Park in Fife offers up a huge calm loch perfect for beginners. Try a two-hour beginners guide to SUP (£20 for adults, £10 for under 18s) which includes your paddle board and wetsuit hire. Once you are up on your feet take a guided SUP tour of the loch – perfect for those with more confidence – you will be doing tricks in no time! You can also have lessons with Paddle Surf Scotland in Perthshire, Wilderness SUP near Edinburgh or Blown Away Experiences at St Andrews.

The best place to go scrambling in Scotland

Love to get hands-on in the mountains? You will love Scotland. Beginner to scrambling? Try scrambling up the front of The Cobbler in the Arrochar Alps, climbing Stuc a’ Chroin and Ben Vorlich at Loch Earn and An Stuc in the Lawers Range above Loch Tay and finally my favourite, The Tarmachan Ridge from Meall Nam Tarmachan.

Looking for something a bit airier? Grade 1 scrambles in Scotland include:

  • The Carn Mor Dearg Arete route up Ben Nevis (or the CMD Arete) – which includes climbing the 4000-foot Carn Mor Dearg before sweeping around to Ben Nevis along a ridge.
  • The Ring of Steall – follow the An Garbhanach crest and the Devil’s Ridge around four Munros in the Mamores. It’s a full day out and will take good scamblers around 12 hours.
  • Bidean Nam Bian – hike into the heart of the Lost Valley in Glencoe before scrambling up the zig-zags to the top of Bidean Nam Bam, one of Scotland’s iconic mountains.
  • Beinn Alligin, the Horns of Alligin – Torridon is chock full of great ridge scrambles, but the best much be the horns of Alligin – this is one for those who really don’t mind heights!

Expert? Scotland’s ultimate grade 2 – 3 scrambles include, the Curved Ridge route up Buachaille Etive Mor, Glencoe, the narrowest ridge on the British mainland – Aonach Eagach, the Corrag Buidhe traverse on An Teallach, and the full traverse of the Skye Cullin. Do not attempt these grade 3+ scrambles without experience, ropes, good weather and a series head for heights.

Outdoor adventures – Via Ferrata & zip wires in Scotland

Zip wires in Scotland – Go Ape run a treetop adventure at Glentress Forest, Peebles. With constant reminders of ‘always stay attached’, the routine of clipping on and off, plus having a secure harness, will see you swing and climbed obstacles with ease. There are huge zip wires and Tarzan swings – you will be happily launching off platforms with glee – one of my favourite outdoor activities in Scotland.

There are 29 Go Ape Tree Top Adventures nationwide and prices range from £33 for a gorilla (aged 16 and over) to £25 for a baboon (aged 10 to 15) and are worth every penny.

Where to do outdoor activities in Scotland

The Scottish lowlands

For most of us living in Scotland we can’t hoof it to the Highlands every weekend for our outdoor activities. Thankfully, the Scottish lowlands are chock full of brilliant adventures. One of my favourite regions is Fife – with a 117-mile coastal path, scrambling and coasteering and gorgeous beaches, it’s one of the best places to get outside in Scotland.

WATCH – How to get outside in Fife 

Outdoor activities in Scotland’s National Parks

Scotland has two national parks – Loch Lomond and the Trossachs and the Cairngorms. Loch Lomond is one of Scotland’s largest lochs and the national park has 21 Munros to bag, all within an hour of Glasgow. To the east, the Cairngorms are home to ospreys, reindeer, pine martens and red squirrels, and is one of Scotland’s true wildernesses – perfect for outdoor adventures.

The Scottish highlands

Looking for mountains to climb, rivers to canyon, glens to explore, and thousands of miles of stunning scenery? Welcome to the highlands of Scotland. One of my favourite regions in the Scottish highlands is Assynt – the mountains are otherworldly and the beaches, the best in the world.

Scottish Islands

From popular destinations such as the Isle of Skye to the beautiful Isle of Barra, the Inner Hebrides to the islands of the Firth of Clyde, Ayrshire and Argyll, to Orkney and Shetland, Scotland’s islands come complete with lots of outdoor activities – Munros to climb, coastal walks, massive seascapes, stunning beaches to explore and that warm island welcome.

A Via Ferrata or ‘iron path’ – is a guided climb via steel wire or chain which allows routes to be followed that might be too dangerous to scramble. In Scotland, you can go via ferrata in Kinlochleven along the Grey Mare’s Tail Waterfall with Vertical Descents, or follow the Elie Chain Walk – a series of chains fixed into the rocks in Fife.

Watch – my guide to the Elie Chain Walk, Fife 

Winter sports in Scotland

If you are looking for snow in Scotland, then head straight for the Cairngorms National Park. Other great places to visit in Scotland in winter are Glencoe, the Nevis Range by Fort William or Torridon for incredible mountains views. If the snow does arrive in earnest, Scotland has five ski centres.

The largest ski resort in the UK is at the Glenshee Ski Resort in the Cairngorms National Park, with 22 lifts and 36 runs – check out the huge Glenshee piste map. The Nevis Range by Fort William also offers winter activities on the Aonach Mor piste with 35 runs and, for non-skiers, the only gondola in Scotland – the Nevis Gondola. Other ski centres can be found at Glencoe Mountain Resort, The Lecht, and Cairngorm Mountain.

Did you know the world’s best indoor ice climbing is actually in Scotland? At Kinlochleven by Glencoe is the Ice Factor, where 400 tonnes of snow make up their 12m high ice wall. Learn to ice climb or learn winter skills to get you out climbing on the snow and ice for real in Scotland’s mountains.

outdoor activities in Scotland

Best places to wild swim in Scotland 

They say no one ever regrets a wild swim, but with the temperature of the water off Scotland you certainly won’t forget it. However if you do brave it, the beaches off Scotland are perfect for swimming, you will certainly feel refreshed! Here are some of my favourite places to wild swim in Scotland:

  • Harris and North Uist, The Outer Hebrides – with clear turquoise waters, soft sands, and shallow depths, you won’t be able to resist swimming off the beaches of Harris and North Uist. My favourite beaches is Hushinish.
  • Achmelvich Beach, Assynt – one of Scotland’s most famous beaches, and it is no wonder, all of Lochinver and Assynt beaches in the far north of Scotland have clear blue water, and white sands.
  • An Lochan Uaine, Glenmore Forest – deep in the heart of the ancient Glenmore Forest and surrounded by huge Caledonian pines is the beautiful Lochan Uaine – where it is said the waters get their green hue from the local fairies washing their clothes in it.
  • Loch Morlich, the Cairngorms – Scotland’s highest beach at Loch Morlich is a huge draw on a summer’s day – and swimming in the loch gives you beautiful views of the surrounding mountains – watch out, the loch is fed from snowfalls on the mountains, it can get very cold indeed.
outdoor activities in Scotland

Outdoor activities – Hillwalking and Hiking in Scotland

Scotland is a walker’s paradise. With 30 long-range walks and thousands of miles of beautiful lochside pathways, there is so much to explore. Put on your walking boots, watch out for the weather and get outside.

  • New to hill walking?  Here are 10 steps to go from a total hiking beginner to looking like you know what you are doing – my beginner’s guide to hillwalking in Scotland
  • Scotland’s best day walks – There are hundreds of amazing walks right across the country from the Highlands to the Lowlands – but the best walks take a little more effort, here are my favourite day hikes in Scotland.
  • The best hills for beginners hills in Scotland – Are you thinking of starting hillwalking in Scotland? Before rushing off to bag a Munro, here are my recommended hills for beginners in Scotland.
  • The best Munros for beginners in Scotland – here are my favourite 20 Munros for beginners, from Ben Lomond to Ben Lawers. With 282 Munros (mountains over 3000ft) to ‘bag’, climbing them is a national pastime.
  • Scotland’s most iconic hills – Scotland’s mountains are charismatic despite their lack of height, and because of Scotland’s dependably undependable weather, at times downright dramatic. Here are my favourite iconic Scotland mountains to climb.
  • How to climb Ben Nevis – want to bag the big Ben? Here is my complete guide to climbing Ben Nevis, Scotland and the UK’s highest mountain.

WATCH – My beginners guide to bagging a Munro

What’s your favourite way of getting outside in Scotland?

Love, from Scotland x

Kate Hopper

The blogger behind Love from Scotland

Love from Scotland is your guide to how to travel Scotland like a local. My name is Kate and on my site you will find everything you need to plan your perfect trip to Scotland – from destination guides to the best places to stay.

 kate@lovefromscotland.co.uk

exploringthelandscape

Tuesday 30th of July 2019

Wow! Your photos really do show that there are some beautiful places in Scotland. I've been to Scotland a handful of times, most recently, last year, to the Isle of Arran. We fell in love with the place and are going back this summer. But this post just shows that there are so many other places I think we need to visit.

Rowan loves Harry Potter, so I think we'll have to try and find Hagrid's Hut in Glen Coe.

Thanks for linking up to #AdventureCalling.

Lauren The Helpful Hiker

Tuesday 30th of July 2019

What an awesome post, packed full of inspiration. We haven't' been to Scotland for a while, but when we do we'll have some great ideas to try. It can be overwhelming planning a trip, so this is perfect! Thanks so much for sharing with us #AdventureCalling

Lorna Holland

Saturday 20th of July 2019

I absolutely love Scotland - it's so peaceful and unspoilt, and the scenery is idyllic! We're hoping to head back up to Scotland for a few days in September so thanks for all the tips in this post, definitely some great things to check out! #adventurecalling

Zoe

Friday 19th of July 2019

Oh, this makes me want to return to Scotland. We broke our Scottish virginity at Christmas last year, in a wonderful cottage in Aviemore. Thank you for the guide, I will surely be booking another trip! #adventurecalling

hip2trekem

Wednesday 17th of July 2019

Brilliant blog post jam packed full of ideas! I'm not sure I would be brave enough for the chain walk.