How to have an adventure in Scotland

The best place to go scrambling in Scotland

Love to get hands-on in the mountains? You will love Scotland. Beginner to scrambling? Try scrambling up the front of The Cobbler in the Arrochar Alps, climbing Stuc a’ Chroin and Ben Vorlich at Loch Earn and An Stuc in the Lawers Range above Loch Tay and finally my favourite, The Tarmachan Ridge from Meall Nam Tarmachan.

Looking for something a bit airier? Grade 1 scrambles in Scotland include:

• The Carn Mor Dearg Arete route up Ben Nevis (or the CMD Arete) – which includes climbing the 4000-foot Carn Mor Dearg before sweeping around to Ben Nevis along a ridge.
• The Ring of Steall – follow the An Garbhanach crest and the Devil’s Ridge around four Munros in the Mamores. It’s a full day out and will take good scamblers around 12 hours.
• Bidean Nam Bian – hike into the heart of the Lost Valley in Glencoe before scrambling up the zig-zags to the top of Bidean Nam Bam, one of Scotland’s iconic mountains.
• Beinn Alligin, the Horns of Alligin – Torridon is chock full of great ridge scrambles, but the best much be the horns of Alligin – this is one for those who really don’t mind heights!

Expert? Scotland’s ultimate grade 2 – 3 scrambles include, the Curved Ridge route up Buachaille Etive Mor, Glencoe, the narrowest ridge on the British mainland – Aonach Eagach, the Corrag Buidhe traverse on An Teallach, and the full traverse of the Skye Cullin. Do not attempt these grade 3+ scrambles without experience, ropes, good weather and a series head for heights.

Outdoor adventures – Via Ferrata & zip wires in Scotland

Zip wires in Scotland – Go Ape run a treetop adventure at Glentress Forest, Peebles. With constant reminders of ‘always stay attached’, the routine of clipping on and off, plus having a secure harness, will see you swing and climbed obstacles with ease. There are huge zip wires and Tarzan swings – you will be happily launching off platforms with glee – one of my favourite outdoor activities in Scotland.

There are 29 Go Ape Tree Top Adventures nationwide and prices range from £33 for a gorilla (aged 16 and over) to £25 for a baboon (aged 10 to 15) and are worth every penny.

A Via Ferrata or ‘iron path’ – is a guided climb via steel wire or chain which allows routes to be followed that might be too dangerous to scramble. In Scotland, you can go via ferrata in Kinlochleven along the Grey Mare’s Tail Waterfall with Vertical Descents, or follow the Elie Chain Walk – a series of chains fixed into the rocks in Fife.

Watch – my guide to the Elie Chain Walk, Fife 

Winter sports in Scotland

If you are looking for snow in Scotland, then head straight for the Cairngorms National Park. Other great places to visit in Scotland in winter are Glencoe, the Nevis Range by Fort William or Torridon for incredible mountains views. If the snow does arrive in earnest, Scotland has five ski centres.

The largest ski resort in the UK is at the Glenshee Ski Resort in the Cairngorms National Park, with 22 lifts and 36 runs – check out the huge Glenshee piste map. The Nevis Range by Fort William also offers winter activities on the Aonach Mor piste with 35 runs and, for non-skiers, the only gondola in Scotland – the Nevis Gondola. Other ski centres can be found at Glencoe Mountain Resort, The Lecht, and Cairngorm Mountain.

Did you know the world’s best indoor ice climbing is actually in Scotland? At Kinlochleven by Glencoe is the Ice Factor, where 400 tonnes of snow make up their 12m high ice wall. Learn to ice climb or learn winter skills to get you out climbing on the snow and ice for real in Scotland’s mountains.

Best places to wild swim in Scotland 

They say no one ever regrets a wild swim, but with the temperature of the water off Scotland you certainly won’t forget it. However if you do brave it, the beaches off Scotland are perfect for swimming, you will certainly feel refreshed! Here are some of my favourite places to wild swim in Scotland:

• Harris and North Uist, The Outer Hebrides – with clear turquoise waters, soft sands, and shallow depths, you won’t be able to resist swimming off the beaches of Harris and North Uist. My favourite beaches is Hushinish.
• Achmelvich Beach, Assynt – one of Scotland’s most famous beaches, and it is no wonder, all of Lochinver and Assynt beaches in the far north of Scotland have clear blue water, and white sands.
• An Lochan Uaine, Glenmore Forest – deep in the heart of the ancient Glenmore Forest and surrounded by huge Caledonian pines is the beautiful Lochan Uaine – where it is said the waters get their green hue from the local fairies washing their clothes in it.
• Loch Morlich, the Cairngorms – Scotland’s highest beach at Loch Morlich is a huge draw on a summer’s day – and swimming in the loch gives you beautiful views of the surrounding mountains – watch out, the loch is fed from snowfalls on the mountains, it can get very cold indeed.

Outdoor activities – Hillwalking and Hiking in Scotland

Scotland is a walker’s paradise. With 30 long-range walks and thousands of miles of beautiful lochside pathways, there is so much to explore. Put on your walking boots, watch out for the weather and get outside.

• New to hill walking?  Here are 10 steps to go from a total hiking beginner to looking like you know what you are doing – my beginner’s guide to hillwalking in Scotland
• Scotland’s best day walks – There are hundreds of amazing walks right across the country from the Highlands to the Lowlands – but the best walks take a little more effort, here are my favourite day hikes in Scotland.
• The best hills for beginners hills in Scotland – Are you thinking of starting hillwalking in Scotland? Before rushing off to bag a Munro, here are my recommended hills for beginners in Scotland.
• The best Munros for beginners in Scotland – here are my favourite 20 Munros for beginners, from Ben Lomond to Ben Lawers. With 282 Munros (mountains over 3000ft) to ‘bag’, climbing them is a national pastime.
• Scotland’s most iconic hills – Scotland’s mountains are charismatic despite their lack of height, and because of Scotland’s dependably undependable weather, at times downright dramatic. Here are my favourite iconic Scotland mountains to climb.
• How to climb Ben Nevis – want to bag the big Ben? Here is my complete guide to climbing Ben Nevis, Scotland and the UK’s highest mountain.

WATCH – My beginners guide to bagging a Munro

What’s your favourite way of getting outside in Scotland?

Love, from Scotland x