Walking in the Scottish Highlands

Great for active first-timers and experienced hikers who like to blend walks with visiting cultural sites such as historic castles and whisky distilleries.

Before your tour, we recommend hiking regularly, and regular cardiovascular exercise before your vacation will increase your fitness levels and therefore your enjoyment of the hike.

Be sure to check the daily distances and elevation changes outlined in your itinerary.

Some of the walks are flexible too as you can opt to do them if you wish. It is very worth doing these amazing walks, but, if you wish, you can take local transportation to get between places and avoid the longer walking days.

The terrain is relatively gentle, mostly following well-maintained paths, riverside trails and minor roads. Sometimes you are following remote paths, sometimes through farms. Some sections of the path are indistinct and you will be walking across moorland.

Following prolonged spells of wet weather, sections can be boggy underfoot and the path becomes less distinct.

The optional Ben Vrackie hike is more challenging and the terrain is more mountainous and rugged.

This route ranges from easy to easy-to-moderate, depending on which walks you choose each day. Each tour variant has a grade, and within that, individual days may vary in difficulty, with some sections a bit tougher or easier than the overall rating suggests.

You'll stay in hand-picked 3- and 4-star B&Bs, guesthouses, and hotels throughout this tour. Every property is a cut above the ordinary, and several are traditional buildings with real character - a Victorian house converted into a hotel, a former doctor's house turned boutique B&B, and even a 5-star restaurant with rooms. Most blend old and new, and all of them are comfortable and welcoming.

We'll always try to confirm the accommodations listed, but if any aren't available, we'll provide alternative accommodation of the same or better standard. This is a popular tour, and accommodation in Blair Atholl is limited - for some departure dates, the best we can secure is the Old Manse of Blair, just outside town in the quiet surroundings of Highland Perthshire, about a 45-minute walk from Blair Atholl town centre. If this is the case, we'll provide taxi transfers from Blair Atholl to the Old Manse on your arrival day, and on to the start of your walk to Pitlochry on Day 3.

Yes, solo travelers are very welcome. There will be a supplement because some costs, like transfers, aren't shared. Or if you'd like to book a single room, just ask. These are available for a supplement.

Most accommodations provide a cooked breakfast, often a traditional Scottish breakfast with eggs, bacon and all the trimmings, though some serve a buffet-style breakfast instead, with plenty of choice either way. Lunch and dinner aren't included, so you're free to choose where you eat. We recommend booking dinner in advance where you can, especially in the smaller villages where options are more limited, and we'll give you a list of recommended restaurants in your Tour Info.

The best time to visit the Scottish Highlands is from early April to mid-October, when the weather is at its best, the days are long and most attractions are open. That said, weather in Scotland is famously unpredictable year-round, so come prepared for wind, rain, cold spells and sunshine, sometimes all in the same day. Packing a good waterproof and windproof jacket will stand you in good stead whatever the season.

Your bags will be collected from your accommodation each day and moved onto your overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg/44lbs per person.

It's vital that you adhere to these limits. Heavier bags, or additional items might not be transferred, and you may be charged locally. Airlines may have different allowances, but our luggage handlers do not have the same capacity or equipment, and their health and safety is our priority.

The walks on this route have a mix of GPS tracks and written walking directions depending on the trail.

Navigation is straightforward using our app which has maps, tracks and daily route info. Simply download the information and tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone. Once on the trail you do not need signal for the app to work and follow your progress.

A note of caution: avoid the Ben Vrackie Lochan walk in poor weather conditions.

This tour begins in Blair Atholl, around 80 miles north of Edinburgh on the main transport route through the Highlands. The village has good public transport connections, served by Citylink buses from Edinburgh (around 3 hours) or by train (around 2 hours). Scottish Scenic Transfers provide transfers to Blair Atholl from all entry points across Scotland, including the airports in Glasgow and Edinburgh. This is a premium service, and you should mention that you're travelling with Macs Adventure when booking.

If you choose the standard tour, you'll finish in Dunkeld, which is on a train line, with trains running on to Edinburgh (around 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours). Buses are also available, but take longer and require at least one change. Scenic Scottish Transfers also provide an onward transfer service from Dunkeld (again mention Macs Adventure when booking).

If you choose the Short Break tour, you'll finish in Pitlochry, which is also on a train line, with trains running on to Edinburgh in around 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours. Buses are available too, but take longer and require at least one change. Scenic Scottish Transfers also provide an onward transfer service from Pitlochry (again mention Macs Adventure when booking).

You'll need good hiking shoes or boots, comfortable hiking clothes, waterproofs, a daypack, and we recommend hiking poles. A portable charger for your cell phone is essential. On booking, our Tour Info will give you a complete packing list.

On certain days you can shorten the route or skip it entirely by using a taxi or public transport.

On this route, our luggage transfer van may also be able to help move you to your next overnight stop, where this is possible, so it's worth asking your Adventure Specialist about this option too.

Scotland's midges (small biting insects similar to gnats) are most active on still, overcast days during the summer. They're not a bother when it's windy, sunny, raining, or you're indoors, so a repellent for the odd occasion is normally all you need.

We recommend booking museum, castle and distillery visits in advance where you can - we'll include links for this in your Tour Info.

We highly recommend that you have travel insurance when you book with Macs Adventure. Your policy should cover medical treatment (including repatriation and emergency evacuation by air ambulance or helicopter), injury, death, third-party liability, and trip cancellation