Scottish Highlands Walking & Hiking Tour
Couples, Friends & Solos
Scottish Highlands Walking & Hiking Tour
Couples, Friends & Solos
6 days
5 nights
Activity Levels 1-3
Premiere Hotels
2025: May-Oct2026: May-Sep
Legends of Scotland in Edinburgh, St Andrews & Loch Lomond
Regal castles nestled among moody mountains. Lofty crags reflected in shimmering lakes. Splendid country estates with championship golf courses. Spend your days exploring the remote corners of Scotland’s rugged wilderness by foot and your evenings unwinding at elegant abodes. Uncover the geology and culture of a beguiling landscape steeped in history. Three luxurious hotels, two spectacular national parks, one incredible trip.
Highlights
- Discover two crown jewels of Scotland’s public lands: Cairngorms and Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Parks
- Follow ages-old footpaths over heather-strewn leas and rolling green hills dotted with castles and lochs
- Pause in small villages to connect with locals, perhaps over a spot of tea or dram of Scottish whisky
- Stroll amid medieval and neoclassical gems in Edinburgh, the picturesque capital city bookending your trip
StartEdinburgh
EndGlasgow
* Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.
Itinerary
Days 1-2
Set out from the lovely historic villages of Dunkeld and Birnam, planned by the Dukes of Atholl in the 1700s, now the gateway to the Scottish Highlands • Walk through picturesque deciduous woodlands along the River Braan to beautiful Black Linn waterfall and its confluence with the River Tay • Stand in awe of the ancient Birnam Oak, immortalized in Shakespeare's Macbeth • Take in the spectacular natural beauty of the Royal Deeside and Cairngorms National Parks • At the Balmoral Castle estate, behold views of sparkling Loch Muick • Stop at the bothy at Glas-allt-Shiel House, featured in the hit series The Crown as the Queen's summer home • Toss a caber at the Highland Games Centre in Braemar, where the Braemar Gathering has been a highlight on the sporting calendar since 1832.
Nights 1-2
Set on a sunny wooded slope of Craigendarroch, creature comforts and serenity are on offer at this family-run hotel.
Day 3
Follow an ancient path used by cattle-thieving Cateran marauders in the Middle Ages • Straddling the border between Perthshire and Angus, the Cateran Trail is a spectacular walk through a quiet corner of the Cairngorms Highlands • Explore a Scottish landscape of spittals, moors, hills, heaths, bogs and glens • Take in glorious views of the Grampian Mountain range, whose peaks are often shrouded in mist • Arrive at world-famous St Andrews and relish coastal vistas from elegant and luxurious Old Course Hotel.
Night 3
One of Scotland’s leading hotels, the refined and elegant Old Course overlooks West Sands Beach and St Andrews’ world-famous golf course. (pool, spa)
Days 4-6
Discover the picturesque bens and lakes of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park • See the long-concealed mural by Phoebe Anna Traquair and explore the Arts & Crafts garden filled with the smell of roses • Set out on a stunning coastal walk through Anstruther to Pittenweem, admiring the rocky shoreline and quintessential Scottish fishing villages • Explore shimmering Loch Lomond by boat • Visit Cashel Forest, situated on the Highland Boundary Fault and offering vistas of Ben Lomond and the Arrochar Alps • Explore the ruins of Mugdock Castle, once a stronghold of the Clan Graham in the mid-13th century.
Nights 4-5
An elegant resort and golf course set on the shore of shimmering Loch Lomond. (pool, spa)
What's Included
See moreStraight Talk
We want to make sure you're on the trip that's right for you. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
In order to truly experience the beauty and diversity of the Scottish Highlands, we must cover some distances. On most days we spend 1 to 2 hours in the shuttle (and sometimes more). If you're prepared for this ahead of time, we're confident it won’t affect your enjoyment of the trip.
Talking about the weather is a national pastime in Scotland, where the climate is famously unpredictable and dramatic. Summers are generally mild but can change rapidly due to its northern latitude, maritime climate and mountainous landscape. Microclimates can bring sun, wind, fog, sleet and rain—all in the same day (or even the same hour!). Some days may be cold and rainy from morning until night, while an unexpected heatwave can send temperatures soaring. Be sure to pack warm layers and waterproof gear for each day of your trip.
Hotels
World-Class Hotels
Our hand-selected Premiere hotels offer exceptional hospitality and experiences as special as the regions we explore.
Hotels may vary based on departure. Any variations will be displayed when selecting a departure under Dates & Prices.
Nights 1-2
Premiere Hotel
Set on a sunny wooded slope of Craigendarroch, creature comforts and serenity are on offer at this family-run hotel.
Night 3
Premiere Hotel
One of Scotland’s leading hotels, the refined and elegant Old Course overlooks West Sands Beach and St Andrews’ world-famous golf course. (pool, spa)
Nights 4-5
Premiere Hotel
An elegant resort and golf course set on the shore of shimmering Loch Lomond. (pool, spa)
Gallery
#MyBackroadsTrip
Review Snapshot
by PowerReviews
Reviewed by 7 customers
Do it
This was one of the best vacations we've ever gone on. The trip leaders were all fantastic. The other guests were fun and congenial, the itinerary and food and accommodations were all top notch. It was a truly great trip. Don't hesitate to go. Do it.
Scottish Higjlands
We loved the trip, our leaders and our companions!
We Keep Returning to Backroads when Planning Future Trips
We just finished our tenth trip with Backroads and had another wonderful experience. The leaders are the highlight of our experiences but the places we visit are also very special. We tell everyone we can to try Backroads for the ultimate in an active travel vacation.
All our Backroads trips have been wonderful and memorable.
Backroads carefully selects the guides, places to stay and locations of travel. We have been on seven walking trips and each one has been memorable and the guides are informative and always helpful. The itinerary for the walks allows that each guest can walk at their own pace and engage as they may choose.
Our trip exceeded our expectations!!
all aspects of this trip were perfectly planned and executed. The leaders were fantastic - personable, helpful and knowledgeable. The hikes, food and accommodations were fabulous. Honestly, this trip surpassed our expectations.
Leaders tried but everyone exhausted by itinerary
Stay in The Highlands. Driving all the way across Scotland to Loch Lomond is too much. Also keep clients in special local accommodations, not large 'factory' hotels. The hotel at St. Andrews is a Kohler Hotel, from Wisconsin! The last hotel is a time share and reminded me of similar properties in the U.S. Way too ambitious of an itinerary with way too much driving. When walking along the coast, book accommodation near there rather than schlepp clients for hours and hours. Also, both dinners at first hotel would be better than taking clients to a cold, bland and too drawn out 'cheaper' dinner experience off property. Not good. But really, cut back on van shuttles!
Backroads Guest Services
Thank you for taking the time to provide us with your feedback regarding your recent Scottish adventure with Backroads. We regret to hear that the extensive driving across Scotland and the choice of accommodations did not align with your preferences. Your suggestion to stay in The Highlands and book accommodations near coastal walking areas is duly noted, and we will certainly consider this input for future itineraries. We understand your concern about the dinner experience at the first hotel and the choice of a time-share property for the last stay. We strive to provide a diverse range of accommodations to suit various preferences, but your feedback will be instrumental in reviewing and refining our selections. We also appreciate your feedback on reducing van shuttles. Our aim is to strike a balance between providing accessibility to the best trails in the area and minimizing travel time. Your input will be taken into consideration as we evaluate and adjust our itineraries.
Just as advertised AND better
We had a wonderful time hiking in Scotland and learning about the local culture. It was easy going even on the somewhat harder hikes. The guides were so flexible and kind. One of my top five trips ever
Dates & Prices
Dates & Prices
Click on dates for pricing, itinerary variations (if any) and to book your trip. Price is per person, double occupancy in USD.
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