Hi there,
We are a couple planning a first trip to Scotland in May 2025 and plan to stay around 8 nights.
We are interested in hiking and the outdoors and so far know we want to spend time in Edinburgh & Isle of Skye.
Planning to hire a car and drive between the two places via Glencoe.
If we had more time, would be interested in walking the West Highland Way - is there anyway you can hike just part of this? Otherwise grateful for some other day hike suggestions.
Don't need to be hiking everyday!
Also keen to hear any other suggestions for places we should visit.
Will be arriving into Edinburgh - so is it best to start here or head straight to the highlands?
Thanks!
Posted by
Lake District, England
7827 posts
Doing a day hike on the West Highland Way- for most of the easier southern sections this is far easier using entirely public transport, as returning to the starting point of a linear walk for a parked car (while possible) is a significant encumbrance.
But on the northern section there are several possibilities-
a. Stay overnight in Glencoe or Kinlochleven. Then take the 0900 local bus from Kinlochleven to Glencoe for the 0944 Citylink bus up to Glencoe Ski Centre at the A82 White Corries Road End (where the WHW crosses the A82 so the bus stops on the WHW) then walk to Kinlochleven (if you stayed in Glencoe Village then local bus from Kinlochleven to Glencoe, runs every 2 hours).
b. Stay overnight at Glencoe or Kinlochleven, then walk to Fort William ending at the ceremonial arch which marks the end point, taking Citylink back to Glencoe or the local bus back to Glencoe or Kinlochleven. The last bus back to Glencoe and Kinlochleven is as late as 9pm.
c. A bit more complicated would be bus as above (but this time beyond the Ski Centre to Bridge of Orchy), walk north to the Ski Centre and Bus Back at 1543 or 1738 (the 1738 has a nice connection at Glencoe for Kinlochleven).
d. As c but staying on the bus as far as Tyndrum, then walk to Bridge of Orchy for the bus back. Tyndrum is the much bigger settlement (with several refreshment options) so there is a good argument for doing that walk in reverse heading south, but there is also a hotel at Bridge of Orchy while you wait for the return bus.
Posted by
Lincolnshire, UK
2279 posts
If you are arriving jet lagged then begin with a couple of dats in Edinburgh to recover.
The best source of information for walks is the Walk Highlands website. This has information about walks in and around Edinburgh here.
You are spoilt for choice on Skye with everything from short easy walks to the real head banger stuff....
There is also some excellent walking around Glencoe so you could easily break journey here.
There's no reason why you shouldn't walk some of the West Highland Way, doing it as an out and back. Many people have been doing that for years! It's quite intersting to do that as views are different each way.
The only downside is only having eight days for all of this - any chance of stretching it to a few more days as there is so much good walking and scenery....
Posted by
38 posts
I'm following this thread as we would like to do a similar Highlands trip in July 2025 for about 7 or 8 nights. For our hiking, it needs to be moderate. We're open to doing this independently or going with a small group. We've been to Edinburgh and the Borders once before in 2019, but didn't visit the Highlands at all on that trip. I've also been to Aberdeen once for work, but that was many years ago and didn't visit the region outside that city.