The Scottish Highlands are a paradise for outdoor adventurers. Although the mountains found here don’t quite reach the same elevated altitudes seen elsewhere in the world, they more than make up for it with beautiful, dramatic, and otherworldly landscapes. Below we present our guide to what we believe are 7 of the Best Hiking Trails in the Scottish Highlands, with a focus on trails that best maximize the effort-to-reward ratio. Therefore we won’t be covering trails that are excessively long (such as the West Highland Way trail) or difficult (such as the Ben Nevis ascent), but rather those that can be completed in a few hours while rewarding you with fantastic and varied scenery.
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You might also be interested in these pages:
Best Things to See in the Scottish Highlands
10-Day Scotland Roadtrip Itinerary (Edinburgh and Highlands)
Best Scenic Drives and Routes Through the Scottish Highlands
7 of the Best Castles to Visit in Scotland
The vast majority of the hiking trails presented below are best reached with your own vehicle.
For advice and tips on how to drive in Scotland, check out our Scotland Roadtrip Driving Guide.
If you haven’t booked your rental vehicle yet, we highly recommend using Discover Cars to get the best rates on your rental in Scotland.
1 – The Quiraing (Isle of Skye)
Located in the northern part of Skye’s Trotternish Peninsula, no area best depicts Skye’s otherworldly landscapes as much as the Quiraing. Shaped by a never-ending landslide lasting millennia, the landscape formations of the Quirang are unlike any other you’ve probably ever seen, so odd-shaped and yet so vividly colorful. What makes the Quirang particularly appealing for some is that you don’t even need to walk very far to get some of the best views the trail has to offer, as many are satisfied with what they see barely a few hundred feet beyond the parking lot. But we highly recommend walking the full trail, as this was our favorite one in Skye.
Another fun fact about this trail is that it doesn’t get as busy as the Old Man of Storr trail or the Fairy Pools trail (both presented below). You’re likely to see many people near the trailhead, but many don’t go much further. This is because many just come to the Quiraing for the two great viewpoints just beyond the parking lot.
The Quiraing got its name from the Old Norse “Kví Rand,” meaning Round Fold, and refers to a collection of grass-topped rock towers and crags that appear to have frozen mid-tumble in a variety of strange angles, as a result of Britain’s largest known landslide. At 2km wide, the Quiraing stretches from the escarpment down to the sea and actually is part of a much bigger series of ancient landslides all along the Trotternish ridge, which includes the Old Man of Storr.
Distance: 6.9 km
Route Type: Loop
Elevation gain: 265 m (cumulative elevation gain: 382 m)
AllTrails rating: (4.7, 1958 ratings (2023))
Duration: Most people complete the trail in 2h30-3h
For more information on exploring the Quiraing, check out our Quiraing Trail Guide.
Not an AllTrails member yet? We highly recommend signing up for either their free or paid membership plans. The free plan allows you to find new trails and plan routes but it can only be used while hiking if you have access to mobile data. The paid membership plan (AllTrails+) allows you to download trail maps for offline use and provides live progress updates and off-route notifications.
If you are still uncertain – you should know that the All Trails mobile application was voted the 2023 iPhone App of the Year by Apple.
2 – The Old Man of Storr (Isle of Skye)
The Old Man of Storr, a towering pinnacle and an iconic landmark of the Isle of Skye, is where you can experience one of Scotland’s most spectacular hiking trails. Although you have probably seen many pictures of the area before, there is definitely something special about seeing it with your own two eyes. The trail is located, like the Quiraing trail, in the Trottternish Peninsula, not far from Portree.
The trail leading up to the iconic Old Man of Storr was one of our favorites trails in the Scottish Highlands, let alone Skye. Although a moderately challenging uphill trail, the walk up to the main viewpoints isn’t particularly long. The walk and views of the surrounding landscape are particularly beautiful in the early morning around sunrise.
“The Storr”, which refers to the group of looming outcrops that include and surround the Old Man, is a title derived from the Norse word for “Great Man.” Standing at 55 metres high, the ‘old man’ component of the name derives from the fact that when seen from the front, the rocky pinnacle and The Storr behind it create the face of a haggard and craggy old man.
Distance: 5.5 km
Route Type: Out & back
Elevation gain: 310m (cumulative elevation gain: 357m)
AllTrails rating: (4.7, 3444 ratings (2023))
Duration: Most people complete the trail in 2h30-3h
For more information on exploring this iconic trail, check out our Old Man of Storr Guide.
3 – Devil’s Staircase (Glen Coe)
Beautifully nestled in the heart of the Scottish Highlands, Glen Coe Valley is definitely a place to enjoy beautiful mountain scenery. It is a true paradise for hikers, hill walkers and outdoor enthusiasts alike, where you will find a wide range of trails catering to all abilities. Because there are so few forested sections in the valley, there is rarely a need to climb very high to enjoy the stunning scenery of Glen Coe’s towering mountains and dramatic valleys.
One of our favorite trails in Glen Coe was the Devil’s Staircase. This trail is technically part of the West Highland Way trail (a long-distance walking route through the Highlands), one where you’ll be required to climb 400 m in elevation over a short 2.5 km section of trail. However, despite the intense ascent, the reward at the top is definitely worth the effort. The scenery as seen from the summit is simply stunning, which is why this trail is one of our favourites in the Glencoe area. And like the Glen Coe Old Military trail highlighted above, you have non-stop jaw-dropping views during the entire trail.
Distance: 5.1 km
Route Type: Out & back
Elevation gain: 400 m
Start point: Devils Staircase car park
AllTrails rating: (4.5, 103 ratings (2024))
Duration: Most people complete the trail in 2h – 2h30
For more information on this trail, check out our Devil’s Staircase trail guide.
4 – Camasunary Bay Trail (Isle of Skye)
Of the many walks and hikes we did on Skye, Camasunary Bay is probably the one that surprised us the most. It starts by meandering through fields filled with grazing sheep and then slowly goes up and down through rolling hills with beautiful views of the nearby Cuillin mountains, until a final ascent takes to a plateau where a stunning coastal and beach vista awaits. It’s a moderately long trail, but not particularly difficult in terms of elevation gain.
The trailhead is located in southern Skye, near the town of Elgol, 60km south of Portree. We were very surprised by how few other people we saw on this trail given how beautiful the scenery is. We highly recommend this trail for anyone wanting to discover a beautiful yet seldom-frequented trail.
Distance: 9.7 km (full trail), only 6km if you stop near the top of the pass.
Route Type: Out & back
Elevation gain: 160m (cumulative elevation gain: 392m)
Start point: Camasunary Car Park
AllTrails rating: (4.6, 73 ratings (2023))
Duration: Most people complete the trail in 2h30-3h
For more information on exploring this Skye hidden gem, check out our Camanusary Bay Guide.
5 – Lost Valley Trail (Glen Coe)
Also known as the Hidden Valley trail or Coire Gabhail, The Lost Valley trail was one of our favorite trails in Glen Coe and definitely one of the best trails in the Scottish Highlands – it has a little of everything and something for everyone. There are beautiful forested sections, an open stunning valley surrounded by dramatic peaks, (easy) river crossings, some easy flat and some harder steep sections, and some light scrambling over boulders in certain spots. Also, the trailhead is next to the famous Three Sisters of Glen Coe viewpoint.
Distance: 6.3 km
Route Type: Out & back
Elevation gain: 230 m (cumulative elevation gain: 340 m)
Start point: Three sisters car park
AllTrails rating: (4.7, 1264 ratings (2024))
Duration: 2h-2h30
For more information on this trail, check out our Lost Valley trail guide.
Bonus: The Lost Valley Trail can easily be combined with Glen Coe’s Old Military Road trail (the both share the same trailhead by the car park). It’s a short and easy trail that probably has the best work-to-reward ratio of all the trails listed here. The scenery is stunning from the trailhead and continues to be stunning during the entirety of the trail. The trail runs through the Glen Coe valley floor along the River Coe. It’s a great trail to get a taste of Glen Coe, especially if you are short on time or don’t want to climb difficult trails.
Distance: 3.5 km
Route Type: Out & back
Elevation gain: 66 m
Start point: Three Sisters car park
AllTrails rating: (4.4, 48 ratings (2024))
Duration: 45-60 minutes
For more information on this trail, check out our Glen Coe Old Military Road Trail guide.
Hiking Packing List
All Trails subscription – This comes in really handy for areas with little or no cell reception, as the annual subscription allows you to download trail maps for offline use.
External Battery – If you are using your phone to track your progress along the trail or to help with navigation, you certainly don’t want your phone to die on you. That’s especially true in the unlikely event that you might get hurt or need assistance.
Hiking poles – These can be particularly useful in steep trails or muddy/boggy trail conditions.
6 – Kerrera Loop Trail (Isle of Kerrera)
Although its Hebrides Isle neighbours of Mull, Iona, Jura and Islay are more famous and well-known, Kerrera should definitely not be overlooked when visiting the beautiful coastal town of Oban. It’s a land of lush and green rolling hills with a beautiful walking trail from which to admire it, and there’s also a stunning hilltop castle ruin to visit and a delightful tea garden from which you can relax and enjoy the beautiful island scenery. Located less than a mile from the shores of Oban, a walk on the Isle of Kerrera is truly a wonderful way to spend a day in the Oban area. The island is known in particular as the place where King Alexander II of Scotland died in 1249. Today, the permanent population of the Isle tends to hover around 60 inhabitants, most of whom are sheep and cattle farmers.
You can make the walk as short or long as you would like. You can do short out-and-back walks in various directions, only visit the tea garden and/or the castle ruins (40-45 min each way), or complete one of several loop trail options around the island (3 hours or more). Our preferred route on the island is the full Kerrera Circular Walking Trail (southern island loop).
After having crossed several scenic coastal sections and idyllic farmland, you will eventually reach the ruins of Gylen Castle. Shortly thereafter, around the 2/3 mark of the trail, you will come across the Kerrera Tea Garden, a great place to stop for replenishment.
For more information on visiting Kerrara, check out our Isle of Kerrera guide.
7 – Glenfinnan Loop Trail (Glenfinnan)
Although not known as a hiking destination, you can definitely turn a visit to the Glenfinnan Viaduct into a short and unique hiking adventure. During the trail you will first go under the viaduct before climbing to an elevated viewpoint from which you can watch the Jacobite Steam Train (a.k.a. the Harry Potter train or the Hogwarts Express) pass over the viaduct (assuming you time your hike with the train’s arrival – for more information you can check out our Guide on Visiting the Glenfinnan Viaduct).
After seeing the viaduct, you can either return the same way you came for a short total of 2.3 km, or you can continue along and complete a loop trail that is about 4 km long.
Distance: 3.9 km
Route Type: Loop
Elevation gain: 72m (cumulative elevation gain: 89m)
AllTrails rating: (4.5, 579 ratings (2023))
Duration: 1h (excluding time waiting for train)
The loop option provides you with two additional benefits (aside from the longer and scenic trail): 1) You can enjoy beautiful views of Loch Shiel from several viewpoints along the trail. 2) If Walking the trail at a decent pace after the train passes by the viewpoint, you can catch up to the steam train while it is briefly stopped at the Glenfinnan train station.
Preparing a trip to Scotland?
You might be interested in these Scotland pages:
10-Day Scotland Roadtrip Itinerary (Edinburgh and Highlands)
Scotland Driving Guide and Tips
7 of the Best Castles to Visit in Scotland
Best Things to See in the Scottish Highlands
Best Hikes to do in the Scottish Highlands
We also highly recommend these guidebooks:
Rick Steves Scotland
Lonely Planet Scotland’s Highlands
Photography Gear
If you like our photography, you might be interested in some of the gear we use to shoot our travel and hiking destinations.
Camera Body – Nikon Z 6ii Fx-series Mirrorless Body
Main Lens – NIKON 24-120mm F/4G ED VR AF-S
Zoom Lens – Sigma 745-306 150-600mm f/5-6.3
Polarizing filters – Urth Circular Polarizing (CPL)
Camera Tripod – K&F Concept 64-inch Camera Tripod
Mini-tripod – Lammcou Flexible Camera Tripod
Camera/hiking backpack – Vanguard Alta Rise 48 Backpack
Universal Travel Adapter – VYLEE Universal International Power Travel Plug
Other Travel Essentials
Travel Insurance
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e-Sim cards
Airalo is the world’s first and largest eSIM store with eSIM plans for 200+ countries and regions worldwide. With Airalo eSIMs, travellers can get connected the moment they land at their destination and avoid nasty data roaming charges
eSIMS are a sustainable alternative to single-use SIM cards – they are 100% digital, require less energy to produce and be re-used rather than disposed of.
Car Rentals
Discover Cars is our go-to website for car rentals. We almost always find our preferred rate there.
Transfer from Airport
Welcome Pickups is our favourite private transfer service, which you can pre-book at a fixed price. Currently available in 220 cities all over the world (mostly in Europe, but with several major cities in Asia, the Middle East and the US).
Kiwitaxi is another private transfer service – we haven’t tried it yet, but it’s currently available in a few more countries (102 as of 2024).
Hotels and Accommodations (coming soon)
Photography Prints
If you found this blog useful, you can help support our blog by purchasing low-cost digital prints. Printed physical prints are also available for purchase.
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Well, that wraps it up! We hope you enjoyed our Best Hiking Trails in the Scottish Highlands Guide and that it will prove useful for planning your trip to the beautiful Scottish Highlands.
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