When I first knew I was headed to Scotland in January, the first thing I looked up was where to hike! You could say I’m a little bit of a hiking junkie and love spending time in nature.
My best friend, who came on this trip with me, and I have a very similar traveling style. We love the go-go-go, action-packed, outside adventure vibe. Read our 7-Day Scottish Highland Itinerary here!
Before starting our trip, we mapped out all the hikes we wanted to do and planned our road trip around the different hikes. We narrowed it down to 4 that were accessible during the winter. And you better believe rain or shine we were doing all of them!
Here are 4 stunning hikes that you MUST do when venturing through the highlands.
1. Meall Fuar-Mhonaidh- Near the Loch Ness
When I first created my list of things to see in Scotland, the first place that popped into my mind was the Loch Ness. I heard so many stories of the Loch Ness Monster (Nessie as they call it there) and wanted to see it for myself.
This was one of the first stops we made when we got to the highlands. We found the Meall Fuar-Mhonaidh hike through a government site dedicated to providing hiking information for locals and tourists. This site provides tons of useful information such as hiking terrain, if you can access the trail with public transport, where to park/start the hike, and a bunch of other useful information.
The beginning of the hike started on an incline in a forested area with trees, moss, and a stream.
We then slowly started to hike past the tree line barrier and into the boggy marsh. Because we had planned our trip during the winter, the snow had just melted a few days prior, leaving the trail very muddy.
Once past the tree layer, the terrain starts to level out and you need to use the giant ladder to get over the fence onto the other half of the trail.
You continue walking straight ahead toward the next little hill. And this is where the magic happens! You can now see a full 360-degree view of the Loch Ness and surrounding colorful mountains.
The marshy grass was so vibrant in color I was amazed every time I laid my eyes on it! My friend and I were geeking out on how beautiful it was here and what great weather we were having in January.
I think we jinxed the weather because we didn’t end up making it to the end of the hike! The rain and wind started to pick up. And let me tell you, the wind is no joke here. You can feel it through your entire body!
All in all this was a great intermediate hike (around 5 miles) and moderate grade and terrain. Highly recommend this hike to anyone willing to get their shoes a little muddy for a great view of the Loch Ness.
2. Steall Waterfall- Near Ben Nevis
We were staying in Fort William for 2 days and decided to find a hike near Ben Nevis. Unfortunately, many of the hikes on Ben Nevis were closed or inaccessible because of the snowfall the week prior.
So we opted for a hike close by to be able to see Ben Nevis.
The drive from Fort William to Steall Waterfall was so scenic as well.
We were greeted by Scottish Highland cows on the road! My friend Tanya and I were in awe of these huge animals! It was also on our “Scottish bucket list” to see them!
The parking lot at Steall Falls was very accessible and easy to find. There were 2 separate parking lots so during peak season, there would be an overflow lot. We were lucky only 4 cars were there with us. Perks of traveling during the off-season!
The start of the hike had a bit of an incline through a wooded area. There was moss and a pretty lookout over the surrounding mountains.
The hiking grade is the steepest in the beginning. Once you reach the valley area, it is flat the rest of the way to the waterfall.
There is a section of the hike where you can choose to “tightrope” over the river below. Tanya and I opted for this route because we felt up for the challenge! Just fueling our adventure-junkie selves.
I have to say it was a little scary in the beginning but then once you got the hang of it, it was smooth sailing. The steal rope was a lot more sturdy than I expected.
Once crossing the river, it’s a straight shot to the waterfall ahead. But watch out for the bogginess. We were walking over watered/muddy areas, so make sure you wear the proper shoes. But again, we were hiking during winter so if you decide to go during the summer months, I would imagine this wouldn’t be a problem.
Highly recommend this hike for everyone! This trail is great for kids and dogs too. This was one of the easier hikes we did while in Scotland and it did not disappoint.
Also, I highly recommend staying in Fort William for a few nights to be able to explore more of this beautiful landscape! The town is also so cute and reminded me of Germany with the cobble stone streets.
3. Old Man of Storr- Isle of Skye
If you do just one hike in Scotland, make sure it is this one! This hike is one of the most famous hikes in the Highlands and get this… hardly anyone was there!
Usually with touristy attractions, you run into the problem of hiking with a bunch of people and for me personally, it takes the fun out of it and I can’t fully enjoy the experience.
If you hike here during the winter months there should be fewer tourists for sure!
The Old Man of Storr is located north of Portree continuing on the A855 highway. From the highway, as you’re approaching the parking lot, you can see the Storr sticking up toward the sky!
There is plenty of parking here, especially during the off-season. Even the view from the parking lot was worth the drive!
Fare warning:
The hiking grade was straight up and then straight down. Just so you know before you start, this hike although challenging, is so worth the physical demand!
The first time we tried to attempt the hike, we stopped about a third into it because the weather was so brutal. We had rain that felt like BB guns were shooting at you, wind that tossed your hair in all directions and the temperature was bone chilling.
But after all of that… this was the view:
And it was so worth it!!
So needless to say after the storm passed, the next day my friend and I went for round 2 of the Storr.
The weather on the second day was beautiful!! The storm had brought snow on the Storr and the surrounding mountains. Tanya and I were hiking in winter wonderland.
We had no idea what to expect with the weather and the hiking conditions… all we knew was that we definitely needed to make it to the top this time.
We were greeted with gorgeous weather, sunshine, and beautiful lighting around the Storr.
This was just one of those traveling experiences that I’ll remember forever.
4. Dunnottar Castle- Stonehaven
At this time my friend and I had moved our “travel base” to Aberdeen for the week.
This hike is a great day trip from the city of Aberdeen. We took the bus from the city center and stopped in the town of Stonehaven. The bus ride was direct and took about 40 minutes.
From the bus stop, you have to walk to the Stonehaven Harbour and from there you can follow the signs to the Dunnottar Castle.
The start of the hike is a steep incline on a paved road. Once you get to the top, you have a pretty view of the Stonehaven Harbour. The rest of the hike along the cliffs is straight and on even ground.
The path continues straight on a gravel, dirt pathway.
On the hike, you can also see the Stonehaven War Memorial.
Once halfway through the hike, you can start to see the castle.
Be aware:
We went hiking in the winter and ran into boggy ground. The pathway was wet and soggy from rain a few days before so just make sure to wear the proper shoes.
When you get to the castle, you have the option to tour inside and learn about the history of Dunnottar. We opted to hang by the beach and watch the seagull’s nests and fly off the cliffs catching prey from the ocean below.
I recommend this hike for any and all hikers! This is also a great option for kids and people who want an easier hiking option.
Happy hiking! Can’t wait to hear how it goes 🙂
