Walk in Scotland FAQ's

Here we will hopefully answer any questions that you may have when you are planning your next walking holiday or break to Scotland. If however you still have questions, please email us at walking@visitscotland.com.

The truth about rain
Don't believe the comments that it always rains in Scotland - and don't just take our word for it - the following quote comes from the Met Office:

"There is a general misconception that the whole of Scotland experiences high rainfall. In fact, rainfall in Scotland varies widely, with a distribution closely related to the topography, ranging from over 3,000 mm per year in the western Highlands (comparable with rainfall over the mountains of the English Lake District and Snowdonia in Wales) to under 800 mm per year near the east coast (comparable with the Midlands of England)."

Don't know which area to visit?
Despite it's relatively small size Scotland has a huge variety of walking and one area can differ to another. To help you choose an area to suit your interests visit the Find a Walk section and select an area of Scotland. There you will find a brief description and a list of walks for that area. You can also access our Virtual Walks page which may give you further ideas.

Long Distance Path or short walk?
Scotland has a number of long distance routes making excellent multi-day trips but it is worth noting that many sections of these routes make excellent short walks for a day or less. See our Long Distance Paths page for more details on these routes.

What if it's wild and windy?
Although you might consider this a time to stay indoors why not wrap up well and venture out to see the power of nature. A wild and windy day can be the perfect time to visit some of our sea cliffs as huge waves crash against the shore - but do take care.

Wet days
It may come as a surprise but it does occasionally rain in Scotland! However, you can still make the most of your day - why not visit one of our many spectacular waterfalls at a time when they are at their best. The highest waterfall in the UK can be found at Eas Coul Aulin north of Kylesku in the north-west Highlands.

Autumn colours
In autumn the countryside takes on a very different look - warm colours emblazon the countryside in a blanket of golds, ochres, reds, and bronze. Low-lying mists and the smell of fungi add to the autumnal atmosphere, while wild geese flying overhead herald the first frosts. Why not time your visit to see what for many is Scotland at its best.

More than just mountains
Although Scotland is justifiably known for it's mountain walks there are many easier but equally rewarding walks. On the coast why not try some dramatic sea cliff walks in areas such as Shetland or the Mull of Galloway or the beautiful beaches and dunes of Harris, Aberdeenshire or Ayrshire. Inland, the ancient Caledonian Pine forests of Glen Affric, Speyside and Deeside or the open deciduous woodlands of Perthshire, the Trossachs and the Borders offer a huge range of woodland walks. You can get some ideas from our Virtual Walks page.

Make the most of your day
Scotland's northerly position gives it long summer days allowing you to really make the most of your day. In June you will often find the sun doesn't set until long after 10pm, meaning you can easily undertake evening walks. This is when the light is at its best and, of course, there are also those famous West Coast sunsets to look out for!

Local path networks
Many parts of Scotland have seen the building of new local path networks in recent years. Often taking you to local places of interest and the best viewpoints, as well as being close to a range of facilities, these paths provide ideal walks for all the family. Details of local networks including guides and maps are normally available from local Tourist Information Centres. Some also have their own web pages.

What is a Corbett?
In the 1920s J. Rooke Corbett published a list of hills between 2500 and 3000 feet. Unlike Munros, where there was no set criteria for the amount of distance or re-ascent between peaks, a Corbett must have at least 500 feet of reascent on all sides. There are currently 220 Corbett's and these too have become a tick list for hill baggers.

What is a Munro?
In Scotland, mountains over 3000 feet high are referred to as Munros after Sir Hugh Munro, first president of the Scottish Mountaineering Club who was first to publish a list of these peaks in 1891. There are 284 Munros on the list and over 2500 people have climbed them all. Ironically Munro himself is not one of them, having only two to climb at the time of his death. For further information see our Munros section.