Scottish Highlands Hiker

Hike in Wester Ross and Cairngorms National Park

This guided holiday explores two contrasting areas of the Highlands and offers some of Scotland's best hiking. Climbing several peaks during the trip, the walks offer glorious views across the moorlands and the areas boast a rich and varied wildlife. Adventurous days in the hills are balanced by relaxing evenings and warm hospitality in charming inns where outstanding cuisine leaves you fortified for the challenges ahead.

Day 1 Arrival in Inverness. Our Scottish journey begins at Edinburgh Airport from where you make your way into this charming capital city for a little exploration before taking the train north to Inverness. The 3-1/2 hour ride is one of the world's great rail journeys.

Days 2-4 Wester Ross. Four days of hikes begin with Loch Maree, one of the most beautiful in Scotland. Next is 3,000-foot Beinn Damh, gaelic for "Hill of the Stag", typically enjoyed in complete solitude. The path winds its way through superb rhododendron and pine forest, passing a lovely waterfall--Allt Coire Roill--which plunges from a sandstone terrace into the woodland far below. Our last hike in Wester Ross takes us along a ridge to the summit of Beinn an Eoin. On a clear day we can see right across the western seaboard of Scotland to the Isle of Skye and the Outer Hebrides.

Days 5-8 Cairngorms. Surrounded by ocean on three sides, our climb of Beinn Ghobhlach--"The Forked Mountain"--provides views across the northwest highlands. Then it's on to Cairngorms National Park, largest in Scotland, and home to a diversity of land forms ranging from ancient Caledonian pine forest to arctic plateau wilderness. One fourth of the U.K.'s threatened bird, animal and plant species reside here, including many iconic species of the Highlands such as red deer, golden eagle, wildcats and otters. We climb the U.K.'s second highest mountain, Ben MacDhui, and enter the "montane zone", a huge area of arctic wilderness. Next is Hill of the Shepherd, one of our local guide's favorites and is wonderfully situated above the Pass of Ryvoan. From the summit we descend past the poetic Ryvoan Bothy and the beautiful emerald-colored Angel's Lochan before shuttling back to Inverness.

Day 9 Departure from Inverness. The morning train departs for Edinburgh, arriving around lunchtime. From here you can transfer back to the airport at leisure to connect with your onward flights home.