CONTENTS TABLE OF WALKS vi LIST OF REGIONAL MAPS x 1 THE BEST OF WALKING IN SCOTLAND 1 1 The Best Family Walks . .1 7 The Walks with the 2 The Best Walks for Seeing Wildlife . .2 Best Attractions . .6 3 The Best Mountain Walks. .3 8 The Best Restaurants for Dinner . .7 4 The Best Hill Walks . .4 9 The Best Places for Lunch . .8 5 The Most Scenic Walks . .5 10 The Best Hotels . .8 6 The Best Coastal Walks . .6 11 The Best Budget Accommodations. .9 2 PLANNING YOUR TRIP TO SCOTLAND 10 1 Before You Go. .10 It’s Easy Being Green . 20 2 When to Go. .12 5 Walking Safety . .21 What to Bring: The Walker’s 6 Guided Walking Tours . .23 Checklist . 13 Frommers.com: The Complete 3 Getting There & Getting Around . .13 Travel Resource . 23 4 Choosing a Walk . .17 3 SUGGESTED ITINERARIES 25 1 ScenicCOPYRIGHTED Perthshire Getaway . .25 3 Deeside MATERIAL & Strathspey in 1 Week . .28 2 The Historic South in 1 Week. .26 4 Loch Ness & the North in 1 Week . .30 002_159897-ftoc.indd2_159897-ftoc.indd iiiiii 33/5/09/5/09 111:10:501:10:50 PPMM iv 4 EDINBURGH & GLASGOW WALKS 33 by Colin Hutchison Essentials . .34 Kelvin Walkway . .53 Yellowcraigs Beach to Mugdock Country Park North Berwick . .37 to Carbeth . .56 Scald Law—The Pentland Hills . .40 Dumgoyne Hill by Killearn . .59 Arthur’s Seat & Holyrood Park . .43 Queen’s View & the Whangie . .63 Falkirk Wheel. .47 Conic Hill . .66 Falls of Clyde. .50 Sleeping & Eating . .69 5 SOUTHERN SCOTLAND WALKS 72 by Colin Hutchison Essentials . .72 The Merrick . .90 OMMER’S BEST WALKING TRIPS IN SCOTLAND IN TRIPS WALKING BEST OMMER’S Dundonald Glen & Peebles . .93 the Smugglers Trail . .75 Selkirk to Abbotsford House. .96 Alloway, Ayrshire . .78 Melrose to Harestanes . 100 Portpatrick to Killantringan Coldingham—St. Abb’s Head— Lighthouse . .81 Eyemouth . 104 Wood of Cree . .84 Sleeping & Eating . 107 Loch Trool . .87 CONTENTS FR 6 TAYSIDE & FIFE WALKS 109 by Felicity Martin Essentials . 110 Ben Lawers . 128 Perth & Kinnoull Hill. 112 Glen Tilt. 131 Loch Leven Heritage Trail . 115 Seaton Cliffs. 135 Fife Coastal Path . 118 Mayar & Driesh. 138 Knock of Crieff . 121 Rannoch to Corrour . 141 The Hermitage. 124 Sleeping & Eating . 144 7 ARGYLL & THE WEST HIGHLANDS WALKS 147 by Felicity Martin Essentials . 148 Cruachan . 162 Callander Crags & Tobermory. 165 Bracklinn Falls. 150 Kilmartin Glen. 168 Ben Lomond . 153 Carradale . 170 Arrochar Alps . 156 Kinlochleven . 173 Glen Nant. 159 Sleeping & Eating . 177 002_159897-ftoc.indd2_159897-ftoc.indd iivv 33/5/09/5/09 111:10:501:10:50 PPMM 8 THE NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS WALKS 180 v by Felicity Martin SCOTLAND IN TRIPS WALKING BEST FROMMER’S Essentials . 182 Lochnagar . 197 Loch an Eilein . 183 Morrone . 201 Meall a’ Bhuachaille . 186 Dufftown to Craigellachie . 204 Cairn Gorm & Ben Macdui. 189 Spey Bay . 208 Bennachie . 192 Creag Meagaidh . 211 The Vat & Muir of Dinnet . 194 Sleeping & Eating . 214 Getting to Little Ord . 195 9 THE NORTHERN HIGHLANDS WALKS 217 by Patrick Thorne Essentials . 218 The Start of the Great The Duke of Sutherland Glen Way . 233 Monument . 221 Sandwood Bay. 237 An Teallach. 224 Lael Forest . 240 Dog Falls, Glen Affric . 227 The Ben Nevis Tourist Path . 243 CONTENTS Fyrish Monument . 230 Sleeping & Eating . 246 APPENDIX A: FAST FACTS, TOLLFREE NUMBERS & WEBSITES 249 1 Fast Facts: Scotland . 249 2 Toll-Free Numbers & Websites. 256 APPENDIX B: LANGUAGE & PLACE NAMES 261 INDEX 263 General Index . 263 Restaurant Index . 271 Accommodations Index. 270 002_159897-ftoc.indd2_159897-ftoc.indd v 33/5/09/5/09 111:10:501:10:50 PPMM Table of Walks Walk Distance Edinburgh & Glasgow 1 Yellowcraigs Beach to North Berwick 9.6km (6 miles) round-trip 2 Scald Law—The Pentland Hills 14km (8.7 miles) round-trip 3 Arthur’s Seat & Holyrood Park 5.6km (3.5 miles) round-trip 4 Falkirk Wheel 5.6km (3.5 miles) round-trip 5 Falls of Clyde 4.6km (2.9 miles) round-trip 6 Kelvin Walkway 8.4km (5.2 miles) round-trip 7 Mugdock Country Park to Carbeth 8.2km (5 miles) round-trip 8 Dumgoyne Hill by Killearn 4.2km (2.6 miles) round-trip 9 Queen’s View & the Whangie 4.8km (3 miles) round-trip 0 Conic Hill 4km (2.5 miles) round-trip Southern Scotland 1 Dundonald Glen & the Smugglers Trail 6.2km (3.9 miles) round-trip 2 Alloway, Ayrshire 7.2km (4.5 miles) round-trip 3 Portpatrick to Killantringan Lighthouse 7.2km (4.5 miles) round-trip 4 Wood of Cree 1.7km (1 mile) round-trip 5 Loch Trool 14km (8.5 miles) round-trip 23km (14 miles) round-trip from visitor 6 The Merrick center; 13km (8 miles) round-trip from Bruce’s Stone car park. 7 Peebles 5.3km (3.3 miles) round-trip 8 Selkirk to Abbotsford House 11km (7 miles) one-way 9 Melrose to Harestanes 33km (20 miles) one-way 0 Coldingham—St. Abb’s Head—Eyemouth 16km (10 miles) round-trip Tayside & Fife 1 Perth & Kinnoull Hill 11km (6.9 miles) round-trip 8km (5 miles) one-way (round-trip 2 Loch Leven Heritage Trail by bus) 3 Fife Coastal Path 14km (8.7 miles) one-way 4 Knock of Crieff 7.5km (4.7 miles) round-trip 5 The Hermitage 6.8km (4.25 miles) round-trip 6 Ben Lawers 11km (7 miles) round-trip 7 Glen Tilt 9.7 or 14.7km (6 or 9.2 miles) round-trip 8 Seaton Cliffs 5.6km (3.5 miles) round-trip 002_159897-ftoc.indd2_159897-ftoc.indd vvii 33/5/09/5/09 111:10:501:10:50 PPMM Star Page Difficulty Best Time to Go rating number Moderate Jun.–Sept. 37 Moderate to Late summer, when the hills are a sea of purple heather. 40 Strenuous Early morning to escape the crowds; the summit is also a Easy 43 fantastic spot to enjoy the sunset. Easy Jun.–Sept. 47 Easy Sept.–Nov. 50 Easy Mid-summer to relax with a picnic. 53 Easy Spring for the wildflowers and reduced crowds. 56 Summer evenings for spectacular sunsets over the Arrochar Strenuous 59 Alps. Summer evenings for spectacular sunsets over the Arrochar Moderate 63 Alps. Moderate Great on any clear day, but crowded in the summer. 66 Easy to In August the old village of Dundonald holds its fair. 75 Moderate Spring or autumn to avoid peak season and enjoy the Easy 78 colors. Easy to Best in the summer, but start early to have the trail to 81 Moderate yourself. In the spring, bluebells carpet the forest floor and bird- Easy 84 watchers may spot rare migratory visitors. Easy to Jun.–Sept. 87 Moderate Any clear day; in winter, be equipped for snow Strenuous 90 conditions. Easy Especially rewarding during the autumn colors. 93 Easy to Spring and autumn to avoid the busiest period. 96 Moderate Strenuous Colors are best in late spring and early autumn. 100 Moderate to Mid- to late summer for the wildflowers, bracing sea air, 103 Strenuous and surfing. Moderate April to June for spring colors. 112 Easy At dawn to see the most wildlife. 115 May to July to enjoy tempting beaches and colorful Moderate 118 gardens. Moderate October to mid-November for autumn colors. 121 Easy January and February for snowdrops and waterfalls. 124 Strenuous June to August for mountain flowers. 128 October and November for autumn colors and to hear red Moderate 131 deer rutting. Easy May to July for nesting seabirds and wildflowers. 135 continues 002_159897-ftoc.indd2_159897-ftoc.indd vviiii 33/5/09/5/09 111:10:511:10:51 PPMM Table of Walks Walk Distance Tayside & Fife (continued) 9 Mayar & Driesh 14km (8.5 miles) round-trip 19km (12 miles) one-way (round-trip 0 Rannoch to Corrour by train) Argyll & West Highlands 1 Callander Crags & Bracklinn Falls 9.3km (5.8 miles) round-trip 2 Ben Lomond 13km (8.1 miles) round-trip 3 Arrochar Alps 14.2km (8.9 miles) round-trip 4 Glen Nant 4km (2.5 miles) round-trip 5 Cruachan 16km (10 miles) round-trip 6 Tobermory 4km (2.5 miles) one-way (round-trip by bus) 7 Kilmartin Glen 6.4km (4 miles) round-trip 8 Carradale 12km (7.5 miles) round-trip 9 Kinlochleven 10km (6.5 miles) round-trip The Northeast Highlands 5km (3.1 miles) + optional 1.6km (1 mile) 1 Loch an Eilein round-trip 2 Meall a’ Bhuachaille 8.4km (5.25 miles) round-trip 3 Cairn Gorm & Ben Macdui 24km (15 miles) round-trip 4 Bennachie 8.9km (5.5 miles) round-trip 1.1km (0.7 miles) and 2.9km (1.8 miles) 5 The Vat & Muir of Dinnet round-trip 6 Lochnagar 20km (12.5 miles) round-trip 7 Morrone 12km (7.5 miles) round-trip 8 Dufftown to Craigellachie 7.2km (4.5 miles) one-way (round-trip by bus) 9 Spey Bay 16km (10 miles) round-trip 0 Creag Meagaidh 21km (13 miles) round-trip The Northern Highlands 1 The Duke of Sutherland Monument 9.7km (6 miles) round-trip 2 An Tellach 18km (11 miles) round-trip 3 Dog Falls, Glen Affric 6km (3.8 miles) round-trip 4 Fryish Monument 5.6km (3.5 miles) round-trip 5 The Start of the Great Glen Way 6.4km (4 miles) round-trip 6 Sandwood Bay 13km (8 miles) round-trip 7 Lael Forest 2.9km (1.8 miles) round-trip 8 The Ben Nevis Tourist Path 16km (10 miles) round-trip 002_159897-ftoc.indd2_159897-ftoc.indd vviiiiii 33/5/09/5/09 111:10:511:10:51 PPMM Star Page Difficulty Best Time to Go rating number Strenuous July to September for heather blooming.