Scotland – 8-day Tour in the Highlands
Dreaming of an 8-day road trip through the magnificent landscapes of the Scottish Highlands? Here is an ideal itinerary for hiking enthusiasts in search of adventure and unforgettable views.
💡 How to browse?
Click on the day of your choice to access the relevant section. You can then click on the photos or titles to view the detailed information sheet for each walk.
Your route (🖱️clickable links)
ℹ️Practical informations
🚗 Distance: 1250 km (approx. 19 hours of driving).
🚩 Departure: Edinburgh (similar duration from Glasgow).
🏰 Before leaving: Spend at least one day in Edinburgh to enjoy its unique charm.
Each hike comes with information on:
- Its level of difficulty and duration
- The journey time by car from the previous point
☔Adapt the route to your level and the weather
This tour has been designed to allow you to discover the most beautiful hiking areas of Scotland: Loch Lomond, Glencoe Valley, the Isle of Skye, the Torridon area, Assynt and the Cairngorms.
The program is relatively busy, but it can easily be adjusted for a longer stay if necessary. In addition, some of the hikes, such as Beinn Alligin, are very hard. If necessary, you can adapt your program by choosing more accessible routes or ones more suited to the weather conditions.
🔍 Need a different option?
Consult the map of hikes in Scotland to discover nearby routes.
Interactive map of the circuit
Click on an icon (J1, J2…) to display a pop-up window containing an overview of the hike. From this window, access the detailed information sheet by clicking on the title or the photo of the hike.
Day 1 – Devil’s Pulpit
Journey by car: 1 h 30 m, 98 km, from Edinburgh
Difficulty of the hike: Moderate
Duration: 1 h
On this first day, some easy walks are on the program to warm you up.
Start by exploring the Devil’s Pulpit, a gorge about thirty meters deep near Loch Lomond. Its name refers to a rock in the shape of a church pulpit. And the water, which has a reddish appearance (due to the red sandstone of the gorge), certainly seemed diabolical to the first explorers.
Please note: This walk involves walking through knee-deep water to reach the most spectacular point. If you prefer to stay dry, it’s better to start directly with the next hike!
Conic Hill
Journey by car: 15 min, 11 km
Difficulty of the hike: Easy
Duration: 2 h 30 m
Continue your journey with an unmissable hike from Balmaha, a charming town on the picturesque shores of Loch Lomond. Located on the Highland fault line, the summit of Conic Hill offers breathtaking views of the loch and its many small islands.
Kilchurn Castle
Journey by car: 1 h 30 m, 102 km
Difficulty of the hike: Very easy
Duration: 1 h
End the day in style with a visit to Kilchurn Castle, a historic treasure in ruins since 1770, located at the end of Loch Awe. Built in the mid-15th century by the Clan Campbell of Glenorchy, it offers a spectacular setting steeped in history in the heart of the Highlands.
Day 2 – Bidean Nam Bian
Journey by car: 50 min, 60 km
Difficulty of the hike: Hard
Duration: 7 h
Discover the magnificent Glencoe Valley today. This hike offers an unparalleled experience on the highest mountain in the region (1150 m). Bidean nam Bian is a complex mountain with many ridges and subsidiary peaks. Three of them stand out for their impressive vertical walls and forms the famous “Three Sisters of Glencoe”.
Alternatives: The Glencoe Valley is a hiker’s paradise. The Buachaille Etive Mor and Beinn a’ Bheithir circuits take you on a long ridge walk with magnificent panoramic views. If you are looking for a slightly more accessible alternative, Buachaille Etive Beag is the ideal choice.
Day 3 – Blà Bheinn
Journey by car: 2 h 45 m, 180 km
Difficulty of the hike: Hard
Duration: 5 h
Blà Bheinn, the only Munro (peak over 3,000 feet) outside the Cuillins range on the Isle of Skye, offers an exceptional viewpoint. After about three hours of climbing, you will reach the summit and be rewarded with a 360° panorama, undoubtedly one of the most spectacular on the island. A demanding but unforgettable hike!
Not to be missed: Just before entering the Isle of Skye, stop at the beautifully restored Eilean Donan Castle, ideally located on the shores of Loch Duich. Its enchanting setting is well worth the detour!
And at the end of the hike, continue along the road after the Blà Bheinn car park to Elgol: the views are splendid.
Day 4 – Quiraing
Journey by car: 1 h 20 m, 84 km
Difficulty of the hike: Moderate
Duration: 4 h
Your second day on the Isle of Skye takes you to the Quiraing, an impressive geological formation created by a landslide on the Trotternish peninsula. Like the Old Man of Storr, this iconic site attracts many visitors, and for good reason: it offers some of the most spectacular scenery in Scotland.
While many are content to admire the views from the car park or take a short stroll, the full loop promises total immersion in this timeless setting, with breathtaking panoramas and beautiful surprises along the way. A hike not to be missed!
Old Man of Storr
Journey by car: 20 min, 20 km
Difficulty of the hike: Easy
Duration: 2 h
On the agenda for the second excursion of the day: an unmissable walk to The Old Man of Storr, one of the most popular sites on the Isle of Skye.
The scenery is magnificent and the majestic pinnacles create a unique atmosphere. The ascent is not too difficult and leads to an exceptional viewpoint of the rock formations, the island of Raasay and the Applecross peninsula in the background.
Day 5 – Beinn Alligin
Journey by car: 2 h 20 m, 140 km
Difficulty of the hike: Very hard
Duration: 7 h
The Beinn Alligin (Gaelic for jewel mountain) hike is one of the great classics of the Torridon area. It takes you up two Munros: Tom na Gruagaich (922 m) and Sgùrr Mhòr (986 m). All along the ridge walk, the views are absolutely spectacular, making this an unforgettable adventure in the heart of the Highlands.
Please note: This hike is rated very hard and includes some very vertiginous passages, particularly when crossing the Horns of Alligin. For a less demanding alternative, consider a round trip to the main summit. You will enjoy the same spectacular views while reducing the difficulty of the route.
Day 6 – Ben More Coigach
Journey by car: 2 h 30 m, 155 km
Difficulty of the hike: Hard
Duration: 6 h
Continue your exploration north to the beautiful Coigach region, where Ben More Coigach stands proud. This majestic peak rises steeply from Loch Broom to a height of 743 meters. Thanks to its coastal location and its high prominence, it offers breathtaking views, stretching from Ullapool to the Summer Isles, and further north, from Coigach to the emblematic peaks of the splendid region of Assynt.
This horseshoe-shaped loop takes you to three summits linked by a spectacular ridge, offering exceptional views at every turn. Without a doubt one of the most beautiful walks in Scotland!
Day 7 – Cùl Mòr
Journey by car: 45 min, 34 km
Difficulty of the hike: Hard
Duration: 6 h
Continue your exploration of the magnificent Assynt region today with the ascent of Cùl Mòr, one of the iconic mountains that shape this unique landscape. Here, the peaks stand like isolated giants, dominating an enchanting landscape dotted with sparkling lochs and lochans.
Crossing the summit is simply magical, with breathtaking panoramas opening up at every turn, each more beautiful than the last. An unforgettable adventure for all lovers of the great outdoors!
Day 8 – Uath Lochans
Journey by car: 2 h 15 m, 172 km
Difficulty of the hike: Easy
Duration: 2 h
On your return to the Scottish capital, take a well-deserved break halfway through the journey in the Cairngorms National Park. Enjoy this superb walk around four small lochs, remnants of the last Ice Age, for an immersion in the heart of nature.
Set in the heart of the majestic pine forest of Inshriach, this hike invites you to observe the local flora and fauna: red squirrels, dragonflies and other insects enliven this enchanting landscape. An ideal moment of relaxation before hitting the road again and returning to the hustle and bustle of the city!