Scotland… how to narrow it down?

[Austin K]

As Sebastion above me, I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed. We have 2 weeks in the UK in May, 10 days of which will be in Scotland, and I’ve been tasked with planning a 2-4 (2×2 or 1×4)night trip. There is a crazy amount of information online (walkhighlands.co.uk etc) which is great… except I can’t shake this feeling. Every year we go backpacking in NOCA, and every year, at least once, I hear a ranger in the visitor center offering terrible advice to people visiting from out of the area. “Well if you have two nights, you should go over 4th of July Pass”… it takes all the restraint I have (really, not much) not to intervene. “Two nights?!” You could hit McCallister and Bowen Passes! You could climb Ruby and South Early Winter Spire! You could see the old Mebee Pass Lookout!”

I just want to make sure I’m getting my calories worth in Scotland, and not end up on a mediocre outing (4th of July Pass is a great dayhike, by the way…) so if anyone has some “locals” info on some larger areas like the Cairngorms(?), that would be awesome.

Experienced duo, usually happy with 15-20 mile days, middle of May. We will have a car, so also looking for options that could include a bus back to the car (Cape Wrath?). Summits a plus (of course).

Many thanks. Now to pour over Amys TR for loop options!

[Jon Fong / Flat Cat Gear]

Try reaching out to Martin Rye or James Boulter (both are active on twitter and familiar with Scotland).  Keep in mind that a lot of hiking is pretty much off trail, I highly recommend a GPS, expect heavy winds (>>40 mph), expect rain and plan for snow.  In the Cairngorms, the treeline can be 700 m  with summits in the ~1200 m o 1300 m range.  This Summer there was a recorded 145 mph wind at the summit.  Have fun

[Bruce Tolley]

+1 to what Jon said.  Don’t forget fog and lack of visibility, and the wind again, and the rain blowing sideways.

I personally would go to Skye, or perhaps Arran. But ferries add time. You do not say how much time you have to get to your destination. A lot depends on your interests: peaks, valleys, rivers? The Cairngorms are beautiful but when I was there you could not see much more than 100 meters straight for two or three days in a row.

If the weather was forecast to be very nasty, I would opt perhaps for something in the lowlands. You could plan a walk that passed as many single malt distilleries as possible.

[ed hyatt]

Ah….there are indeed a lot of options…..

Some of the 2-4 day trips I have done are linked below; let me know what you fancy and I’ll plot you a route – with .gps files and everything….perhaps even a .pdf of the maps you might need!

There is a lot of choice – combining established routes with off-trail can deliver some outstanding trips; have fun.

Ben Alder group

Crianlarich group

Cluanie Ridge

Assynt – good wilderness

Cairngorms 1

Cairngorms 2

Mamores and Ben Nevis

Cairngorms 3

Cairngorms 4

Loch Awe

[Austin K]

Awesome info- many thanks.

Ed- your offer is quite generous. I’ll get back to you after I’ve scoured your TRs

To add info- We will have 10-11 days to travel to the site and return to Heathrow. I’d like a more casual outing, something with an actual path or waymarkers would probably be preferable (coast?). It sounds like we will already be going to Skye per my wife, so overnight options there would be helpful. I’m thinking maybe backpack on the coast and dayhike some inland peaks if the weather looks decent?

GPS- I use Alpinequest droid app currently, but having a harder time finding good hiking maps for that. Either way I will take it along.

We aren’t real extreme risk takers. Very familiar with the rain. We were shocked by the wind in Iceland- will be more prepared this time.

I’m hoping I can find a coastal route with the possibility of a bus back to our car. And I’m sure my wife would be more than happy to stay in a hostel or hut along the way.

[Jon Fong / Flat Cat Gear]

If you are going to Skye (particularly Quaraig )  I highly recommend the Flodigarry Hostel.  I spent three nights there exploring the Isle of Skye.  My 2 cents

http://flodigarry-hostel.scot/

 

 

 

[John S.]

http://www.johnmuirway.org

[ed hyatt]

Austin – get back to me by all means; I don’t do the waymarked/National Trails though.

This site however provides a guide to many of them; some coastal, other lochside.

[Catherine Harley]

The joy of Scotland is not having to follow a trail. Freedom to roam :-) ……. within reason.

Check out  – http://www.outdooraccess-scotland.com   (if you have not done so already).

Weather is the biggest deciding factor. Our weather is very changeable. Make lots of plans across a variety of areas. Don’t fix your plans until you see what the forecast is. I don’t usually firm up my plans until 48hrs before – when choosing where to go.  Try these – http://www.mwis.org.uk  ,  http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/forecast    ,   http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather

Depends what sort of experience you want. I don’t do national trails either.

 

 

[Austin K]

I can see the benefit of a lack of trails- I’m lucky enough to live in the North Cascades, where we have a ton of awesome mountain routes (and plenty of rain). As Catherine pointed out, weather will be a major factor, and I felt like logistics would be easier on a marked trail if the weather was poor. Hard to plan this far in advance. I suppose I might make a Highland route with a waymarked coastal trail plan as a foul weather back-up. After 11 years I know that few things are worth having a cold miserable wife as a tent-mate.

Muchas Gracias for the links. I’m really looking forward to this trip, no matter the weather.

[Author]

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