Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Walking and climbing
Ramblers Association Scotland W ramblers.org.uk/scotland.
Campaigning organization with network of local groups, and news on
events and issues.
Scottish Mountaineering Club W smc.org.uk. The largest
mountaineering club in the country. A well-respected organization which
publishes a popular series of mountain guidebooks.
The whole of Scotland offers superb opportunities
for walking , with some of the finest areas in the
ownership of bodies such as the National Trust for
Scotland and the John Muir Trust ( W jmt.org); both
permit year-round access. Bear in mind, though, that
restrictions may be in place during lambing and
deerstalking seasons. See W outdooraccess-scotland
.com for information about hiking safely during the
stalking season. In addition, the green signposts of
the Scottish Rights of Way Society point to estab-
lished paths and routes all over the country.
There are several long-distance footpaths , such
as the well-known West Highland Way (see box,
p.133), which take between three and seven days
to walk, though you can, of course, just do a section
of them. Paths are generally well signposted and
well supported, with a range of services from
bunkhouses to baggage-carrying services.
Numerous short walks (from accessible towns and
villages) and several major walks are touched on in this
Guide. However, you should only use our notes as
general outlines, and always in conjunction with a
good map. Where possible, we have given details of
the best maps to use - in most cases one of the
excellent and reliable Ordnance Survey (OS) series
(see p.45), usually available from local tourist o ces,
which, along with outdoor shops, can also supply other
local maps, safety advice and guidebooks/leaflets.
For relatively gentle walking in the company of
knowledgeable locals, look out for guided walks
offered by rangers at many National Trust for
Scotland, Forestry Commission and Scottish Natural
Heritage sites. These often focus on local wildlife ,
and the best can lead to some special sightings,
such as a badger's sett or a golden eagle's eyrie.
WALKING TOUR OPERATORS
Adventure Scotland T 01479 811411, W adventure-scotland
.com. Highly experienced operator providing a wide range of courses
and one-day adventures, from telemark skiing to climbing, kayaking
and biking.
C-N-Do Scotland T 01786 445703, W cndoscotland.com. Prides
itself on offering the “best walking holidays in Scotland”. Munro-bagging
for novices and experts with qualified leaders.
G2 Outdoor T 01479 811008, W g2outdoor.co.uk. Personable, highly
qualified adventure specialists offering gorge scrambling, hillwalking, rock
climbing, canoeing and telemark skiing in the Cairngorms.
Glenmore Lodge T 01479 861256, W glenmorelodge.org.uk.
Based within the Cairngorm National Park, and internationally recognized
as a leader in outdoor skills and leadership training.
Hebridean Pursuits T 01631 720002, W hebrideanpursuits.com.
Offers hillwalking and rock climbing in the Hebrides and West Highlands,
as well as surf-kayaking and sailing trips.
Nae Limits T 08450 178177, W naelimits.co.uk. This excellent
Perthshire-based operator offers everything from wet 'n' wild rafting to
bug canyoning and cliff jumping.
North-West Frontiers T 01997 421474, W nwfrontiers.com.
Based in Ullapool, offering guided mountain trips with small groups in
the northwest Highlands, Hebrides and even the Shetland Islands.
Rua Reidh Lighthouse Holidays T 01445 771263, W ruareidh
.co.uk. From its spectacular northwest location, this company offers
guided walks highlighting wildlife, rock-climbing courses and week-long
treks into the Torridon hills.
Vertical Descents T 01855 821593, W verticaldescents.com.
Ideally located for the Glencoe and Fort William area, activities and
courses include canyoning, “funyakking” (a type of rafting) and climbing.
Walkabout Scotland T 0845 686 1344, W walkaboutscotland
.com. A great way to get a taste of hiking in Scotland, from exploring
Ben Lomond to the Isle of Arran. Guided day and weekend walking trips
from Edinburgh with all transport included.
Wilderness Scotland T 01479 420020, W wildernessscotland
.com. Guided, self-guided and customized adventure holidays, and trips
that focus on exploring the remote and unspoiled parts of Scotland by
foot, bike, sea-kayak, yacht and even on skis.
WALKING INFORMATION
W outdooraccess-scotland.com All you need to know about the
Scottish Outdoor Access Code, plus daily information for hillwalkers about
deerstalking activities (July-Oct).
W walking.visitscotland.com O cial site from VisitScotland, with
good lists of operators, information on long-distance footpaths, and
details of deerstalking restrictions and contact phone numbers.
W wildlife.visitscotland.com Highlights the fauna and flora you
may spot on a walk.
Winter sports
WALKING CLUBS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Mountain Bothies Association W mountainbothies.org.uk. Charity
dedicated to maintaining huts and shelters in the Scottish Highlands.
Mountaineering Council of Scotland W mountaineering
-scotland.org.uk. The representative body for all mountain activities,
with detailed information on access and conservation issues.
Skiing and snowboarding take place at five
different locations in Scotland - Glen Coe, the Nevis
Range beside Fort William, Glen Shee, the Lecht and
the Cairngorms near Aviemore. The resorts can go
for months on end through the winter with insu -
cient snow, then see the approach roads suddenly
 
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