5 of the most famous walks in Scotland

The West Highland Way is Scotland's most revered long-distance walk (Shutterstock)

Given its stunning scenery and history-steeped lochs and munros, it isn’t surprising that Scotland is home to several revered long-distance walks.

The most well known of these is the West Highland Way, which spans a huge stretch of the Scottish wilderness.

However, there are also other equally worthwhile and enjoyable walks elsewhere in Scotland. Take a look at our favourite Scottish walks, and choose your next big adventure.

Here are most famous Scottish walks:

1. West Highland Way

2. Great Glen Way

3. Fife Coastal Path

4. Borders Abbeys Way

5. Speyside Way

Note: Scotland currently remains in lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, and therefore this list should merely serve as inspiration for future trips.

1. West Highland Way

This is Scotland’s first long-distance walking route, and also one of the most popular, both with experienced walkers and with novices. The West Highland Way is 154.5 km in length, and usually takes a week to eight days to complete. However, some walkers can finish it in five or six days, if they really make an effort.

The walk begins at Milngavie, on the outskirts of Glasgow, and finishes at Fort William in the Highlands. The terrain is very varied, encompassing farming land, hills and mountains.

The route goes along Loch Lomond, and takes in Conic Hill on the Highland Boundary Fault. Walkers will also be impressed by the wild Rannoch Moor, and the dramatic Glencoe.

The final destination of Fort William is reached by Glen Nevis, home to Britain’s highest peak, Ben Nevis. Many walkers round off their journey by climbing the mountain, and enjoying the fabulous panorama of the glen from the summit.

The most avid walkers can continue their trip by joining the Great Glen Way, which begins where the West Highland Way ends.

Although this walk avoids the highest ground, there are still challenging sections, including the east side of Loch Lomond, with other exposed areas along the route.

Length: 154km, Start point: Milngavie, Finish point: Fort William

2. Great Glen Way

This walk is 117 km long, and spans the breadth of the country, from coast to coast. Walkers can explore the natural fault-line of the Great Glen, and discover many Highland lochs on the way. Loch Linnhe, Loch Lochy, Loch Oich and the Loch Ness are among the great bodies of water that you will see on your journey.

If you are a novice walker, this is a good route to begin with. However, there is also a more challenging version for experienced walkers, which takes in higher ground between Fort Augustus and Drumnadrochit.

The Caledonian Canal is another notable point on the journey. It was built by Thomas Telford to link the lochs to the Moray Firth.

The route begins at Fort William, and ends at Inverness Castle, in the Highlands’ main city.

Length: 117km, Start point: Fort William, Finish point: Inverness

3. Fife Coastal Path

This delightful coastal walk stretches between the Forth and the Tay estuaries, between Kincardine and Newburgh. When the path was created in 2002, it ran from North Queensferry to Tayport, and was extended in 2012, to make a total distance of 180 km.

Walkers will encounter a number of charming former fishing villages and seaside towns on their way, such as Crail.

Another notable stop on the journey is the historic town of St Andrews, the home of golf in Scotland. Visitors can also see the magnificent university buildings and the ruined cathedral.

Aberdour Castle is well worth a visit, as is Macduff’s Castle near East Wemyss.

On the south bank of the Tay, walkers will come across the scene of one of Britain’s greatest rail disasters. Between the towns, there are several golden beaches and nature reserves which will bring joy to nature enthusiasts and bird watchers.

The industrial towns of Kirkcaldy and Leven are also on the route, providing some variety, as well as some former coal yards.

The path between Crail and St Andrews is the most challenging part of the walk, but otherwise, the going is pretty easy.

Length: 188 km Start point: North Queensferry, Finish point: Tayport

4. Borders Abbeys Way

Length: 107km Start point: Jedburgh, Finish point: Jedburgh

5. Speyside Way

Length: 130 km Start point: Buckie, Finish point: Aviemore