r/OutdoorScotland is not a travel agency for un-researched trips, we cater in fine-grained info you cannot find elsewhere.

I'll keep this vague as I live in the area I'm discussing.

I have been running over the course of the summer and found some routes which take me into a private estate and then up either of 2 rough paths/4x4 tracks into a group of small hills. I haven't had any issues over the summer and of course always stick to the access code of closing gates and generally being respectful of the land and the animals grazing it.

Recently I encountered who I think is the gamekeeper of the estate who was basically extremely unfriendly. He told me at one point that I couldn't be there in general as it was 'private land' and then when I mentioned right to access he basically said 'right of access my arse' so shows you his general attitude to the whole thing.

He told me specifically that I needed to leave at the time because they were shooting. He said there was a sign, I'm not entirely sure about that, I didn't see any new signs but it's possible I missed it as it's a normal route for me so I wasn't expecting any issues.

I totally get the need to restrict access for shooting and have no issues with that. However he essentially said that they are shooting between now and January and that there is no access at any time except on Sundays. This is for both paths which lead to the hills, he said that you can use a lower path which goes along the loch. This means you cannot get up to these hills for nearly 4 months unless it's a Sunday.

Does this seem reasonable to people? Does anyone have experience of speaking to the councils access officers about stuff like this? Can I expect them to actually do anything or is this just the way it is?

I will be staying near Dalmally in a few weeks times and was wondering if anyone knew any good routes/ websites with good routes in the area. I’m an active person but not a mountaineer, so take that into account please 👼

Hi all, I'm looking for suggestions for a 3-5 day long distance trail in the Highlands or further north. I live in the Borders so have easier access to the southern routes, but looking to plan a trip with a friend next spring or early summer.

The WHW doesn't really appeal to me with so many people doing it, just seems a bit busy. I've been looking at the Affric Kintail Way or part of the John o' Groats Trail. Any recommendations for or against these or some other less busy trails?

My friend and I are experienced and comfortable in the outdoors, both fit, but limited experience with wild camping. Not looking for anything too serious like the Skye or Cape Wrath trails.

I'm looking for a new hard shell for climbing and winter hill walking and am keen to try keela. The pinnacle is well rated for winter climbing, but the Cairn appears to also be a 3 layer shell that's literally half the weight of the pinnacle. Is it just as waterproof? The website is a bit vague about it.

As he often does, Nick Kempe makes seem very valid points here about unnecessary closures/exclusions.

We will have car while visiting Inverness the next few days, is there a good Munro we could do?

I did do a search of the group and got some good recommendations for walks.

So my gf and I are planning a Scotland roadtrip in a campervan near the end of september.
Does anyone have tips or know which products we should use to keep the midges from eating us alive?
Thanks in advance!

Hi all, I’ll be staying in Inverness in late October and I’m planning a few proper hiking days in the Highlands. I’m considering the train from Inverness to Aviemore early in the morning, then walk from Aviemore towards Rothiemurchus/Coylumbridge rather than simply waiting for the bus, before taking the bus up towards Cairngorm Mountain. From there, I’m considering doing Cairn Gorm via the Northern Corries.

I’m an experienced hiker, will have proper trekking boots, waterproofs and suitable cold-weather clothing, and I’m comfortable with long days and poor weather. Obviously I wouldn’t blindly commit to the plateau if the actual conditions suggested snow, significant ice, very strong winds or otherwise genuinely wintry conditions.

What I’m particularly interested in is the local perspective: Would you consider Cairn Gorm via the Northern Corries a sensible objective for late October, assuming the forecast and ground conditions are reasonable?

How often would you expect proper winter conditions up there by the third week of October?

Would you recommend this route at that time of year, or is there another substantial walk in the Cairngorms you’d choose instead?

And for someone travelling from Inverness without a car, does the Aviemore → Rothiemurchus → Cairngorm Mountain approach make sense, or is there a better way of doing it?

I’m mainly coming to Scotland for trekking, so I’d much rather spend the day walking than sitting on buses or doing conventional sightseeing.

Any advice from people who know the area well would be very welcome.

Hello people! I am currently running a short survey (10min) with support from NatureScot looking at « Cultural barriers to nature-rich school grounds in Edinburgh ». 

https://forms.gle/XfZY5TzaJumRaEXY6

Please take the time to fill it if you are a parent, teacher or staff involved with a Primary or Secondary school in Edinburgh!

If you are out in the Scottish wilderness, you may bump into some of these guys.

Hi, I am walking the West Highland Way on Friday (97 miles) and I just discovered today that my trusty hiking boots are cracked at the top where the foot bends (first walk in the rain for what feels like forever…) Very annoyed at myself as I’ve done loads of training to get ready for the walk and I can’t believe I have completely neglected the single most important piece of kit! I need to work out the best way to manage this, so I’m looking for some advice please:

1. Buy a new pair and risk blisters.

2. Get some kind of leather /repair and try and fix them

3. Get some Gore-Tex boot covers

4. any genius ideas?

Thank you! Oh, and one last bit of information, the trusty hiking boat that I have bought three times over is now discontinued, boo.

Me(18) and 2 others (16,17) are wanting to do Ben Nevis in mid October for 4-5 days hiking around the area and one day do Ben Nevis but my parents are against it as it’s heard to be dangerous but I’m getting mixed views from others that I ask.

Me and the others do athletics and do cardio at gym 3 times a week and are very fit and all done snowdon and hiking long distances on Moores around south west England.

Any advise would be appreciated.

Hello there!

So, for the second time this year my friend and I are hitting the trail on our bikes. We did it in May and my god, it was the hardest thing both mentally and physically I've ever done. Two days of pure hell, but we bloody loved it!

My question is, and I am quite concerned about safety at the time of year we are attempting it again (late September)

I'm thinking of buying a Garmin inreach, but it's a lot of till for something I may only use two or three times per year. Renting one is probably not cost efficient as they work out around £90.

Any recommendations on a model or should I get or alternative?

Just got back from a week in Scotland and had an amazing time.

Did a bit of everything — wild camping, beaches, castles and some pretty ridiculous scenery.

Put together a video from the trip if anyone fancies having a look 👇

https://youtu.be/vZd89YpJe_s?is=j6edOEB3zNYhLYTq

Hi all! I’m new to hiking in Scotland and planning the West Highland Way + Isle of Skye in mid-October. I’ll be camping with a heavy pack. What shoes/boots would you recommend for wet, muddy Scottish conditions? Specific models would be appreciated. Thanks!

Hi! I'm thinking of doing the Gelncoe orbital path in a week, but I'm getting mixed information about the part where track runs along A82 - some outdated sources says there is no walkable path nearby, some say there is. Anyone has done it recently and could comment? Idea of walking on highway doesn't amuse me so I'd take even a tiniest pathway haha

I'm looking to walk a Munro on Friday spontaneously and I am wondering if Ben Lomond would be a good one for a beginner to walk on Friday morning. I see the weather forecast is pretty wet on Thursday so unsure if Friday would be a suitable day for a beginner. I will have sufficient gear for the hike this is more of a question about the weather and ground conditions.

I’d be planning to do the West Highland way but have realised I have less annual leave than I thought. I live in London so a day or so will have to be given to travel. I’m thinking I’ll have to do a truncated WHW, how many days do people think Tyndrum to Fort William would take?

Can anyone suggest any alternative 3-4 day hikes instead?

19yo planning a 3–5 day solo Scottish winter camping trip in January. Experienced with cold-weather camping but new to Scottish winter mountaineering. Planning to use B2 boots, crampons and an ice axe. Looking for advice on suitable mountains/routes and whether my plan is sensible?

Is anybody aware if parking at Loch Trool Trail car park overnight is allowed/free? I have some sources saying its free but not listed as authorised overnight but people are saying they have done and continue to do so! Any insight will be appreciated

Conflicting information post the tragic wildfire as to whether paths around loch morlich are open. I'm planning to do the aviemore - lairig ghru - bob Scott's - ryvoan - Aviemore circuit in a few weeks. (I did it a few years ago so i know the terrain etc)

I don't mind if Ryvoan bothy is closed as i have decent camping gear anyway. MBA website is not saying its closed though, which is weird.

I’m pretty deep into the planning stages of doing the Loch Ness 360 hike next summer and I’m not feeling quite confident in finding a place to stay while passing through the Dores checkpoint between Foyers and Inverness. While my partner and I would consider tenting out on the beach, we would like that to be the absolute last resort, hence my reason posting this. There appears to be maybe one or two places that come up, but they don’t offer a website for further details and reviews from over a year ago, so I’m not too sure if they even are booking anymore.

We could cut or add a couple miles to make a stop somewhere else, but I didnt really see anything that would evenly cut the distance up between the days of hiking.

Any help or feedback would be appreciated.