Best Footwear Scotland

What kind of tour? Are you doing trail hikes or just walks? Your running shoe is highly rated for running and walking comfort, and also for traction in wet surfaces, so should be fine for general touring. I don't know what your tour consists of, but my Scotland tour had no actual hiking, and my sneakers were more than sufficient.

Thanks CJean, it’s a Rick Steves 13 day tour, not hiking but with strenuous walking. I saw a YouTube video (not RS) with a woman recommending hiking boots due to probable rain and mud for Scotland, even when not specifically hiking.
I feel better about just using my sneakers now—thanks!

We don't do true hikes anymore. My Brooks were just fine in September 2023 for both city and country walks.

I have done this tour (although before Covid) and I would wear the most comfortable shoes which seems like they are the Brooks. There was never any real hiking. I did get my shoes soaked on the Iona day as it was pouring rain the whole day. I got them dry that night by removing the insoles and placing them under the heated towel rail.

IF you go with the hiking boots, I'd wear them on the plane.

BTW, I just got back from tours of Orkney and Shetland where we walked way more than I did on the Best of Scotland and my low cut Altra athletic shoes were fine. I did have waterproof shoes which I needed but you may not need that.

I WOULD want good traction on the soles. My "spare" pair I did not look at before I left home and realized partway thru that the tread was worn down a lot which didn't give me as much grip as I wanted in some areas.

I have some achey-ness sometimes and I use a product called MELT Method balls. I know they don't work for everyone but they work for me especially if I'm on cobblestones or doing a lot of hills (which I avoid at home, hahaha!!). Here is a YouTube video from the developer of this method of fascia release showing what I do. I have done it for years so it only takes me about 5 minutes to do both feet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lU7BkcDCFvo&t=307s

I'm another one who has walked and spent time in Scotland and relied solely on low walking shoes. The problem with boots (imo) is that unless you are really used to them, they can cause problems when you are walking on less-than-perfect terrain.

We did not find hiking boots were needed on that tour. Just good, comfortable, shoes should be fine. We do carry a pair of dry socks in a zip lock bag in our day bag, Has saved the day a few times.

Hi, bethj,

Mrs. A and I have used Merrell MOAB low hikers for our last four trips to Scotland. They are available in waterproof and Gore-Tex. The "waterproof" are not particularly waterproof, but they will keep your feet dry unless you step in a puddle that's deeper than the top of the shoe!

The MOABs come in regular and wide fit, which is good for OAPs like us, who need the wide fit!

If you do get the Merrells, I'd recommend switching out the Merrell insole for a good Dr. Scholl's walking insole. It will make a world of difference!

Happy hiking!

Mike (Auchterless)

p.s.: If you go with the Gore-Tex version, get a half size larger than you normally would.

I appreciate each one of your posts—thank you all! That’s amazing you recommended Merrell Moab low hikers because that’s the exact boot I have used on trips to the southwest USA. I will try the better insoles when I use them.
Unless the weather forecast looks especially rainy before my trip I will go with my Brooks (with spare socks).
Now my challenge is packing as light as possible so I can carry my suitcase up stairs in little hotels! Don’t want to hurt my back and risk being a “grump!”