Scotland’s glens, hills and mountains are the perfect place for hiking and walking.
Scotland has the highest mountain (Ben Nevis) and some of the most remote mountain areas (e.g. Knoydart, Cairngorms) in the UK and is the only area in the UK that has regular snow covering in winter.
The Scottish mountains are recognised as unique due to their height and proximity to the Atlantic and offer some great walking for beginners, but also some of the most remote walking country in Europe.
With literally thousands of miles of tracks, stunning scenery and breath-taking views, it is a hikers paradise. Scotland also benefits from walker-friendly access laws; with only limited exceptions, you are able to explore some of the best hill walking in the world.
Sofa 2 Summit is a FREE 7 part online guide to help you get the most out of hiking in the hills this spring and summer.
If you want to start hiking in Scotland's hills and mountains, or need a refresher in some key skills after a winter break from hill walking, Sofa 2 Summit will take you through the basics and help you get where you want to go.
Register now to get started and let us help you get from sofa to summit!
If you haven't been hiking in the hills before it's a good idea to build up your fitness, stamina, experience and confidence gradually. Part of the fun is challenging yourself, but set realistic goals to start with, and don’t try and do too much too son or be afraid to turn around if you feel you need to.
Before you start, you'll need to think about:
There are lots of great websites and guide books out there to help you plan your adventures. The WalkHighlands website is a good place to start for recommended routes and accommodation options, and can help you make the first steps.
Another alternative is to join a local club where you can meet new people, go out on organised walks and learn from the experience of other club members. Mountaineering Scotland has over 160 affiliated walking, climbing and ski touring clubs, and we offer training sessions so that members can learn important skills like navigation and winter skills along the way. No two clubs are the same and we recommend that you talk to more than one club before you decide which one to join.
The high mountains of Scotland should be treated with respect and conditions in the car park and and the top can be very different! Even summer can see snow and blizzards, especially on the high plateau of the Cairngorm Mountains and on the summit of Ben Nevis.
Scotland’s mountains offer a huge variety of challenges from gentle walks through glens and up smaller hills, to serious summer expeditions in rough, pathless and boggy terrain. In winter the hills transform into mountains, where more advanced mountaineering skills are required.
If you have any further questions, please contact our Mountain Safety Advisor Heather Morning. Heather can be contact by phone on 01479 861241 or by email.
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ClimbScotland is a registered trademark of the Mountaineering Council of Scotland Limited
Mountaineering Scotland is a registered trademark of the Mountaineering Council of Scotland Limited
