Scottish Highlands in 2 days, on foot

This 2-day self-guided walking plan for Scottish Highlands covers 12 narrated sights in an easy day-by-day order. Each day is split into a morning and an afternoon loop, and every stop has a two to three minute audio story in the Gingerguide app.

You set the pace: this is a suggested order, not a schedule. Walk it in 2 days, or stretch it out. Reorder freely; Scottish Highlands rewards a detour.

Day 1

Morning

1. Loch Ness & Urquhart Castle: Scotland's most legendary loch and the atmospheric ruins of Urquhart Castle, the best vantage point for spotting Nessie.
2. Glen Coe: One of Scotland's most dramatic and haunting valleys, site of the infamous 1692 massacre and a landscape of staggering beauty.
3. Ben Nevis: The highest mountain in the British Isles at 1,345 metres, a bucket-list challenge for hikers.

Afternoon

1. Old Man of Storr: An iconic pinnacle of rock on the Isle of Skye, rising dramatically from the Trotternish Ridge with panoramic views.
2. Fairy Pools: Crystal-clear natural pools and waterfalls at the foot of the Black Cuillins, with water so clear it seems enchanted.
3. Eilean Donan Castle: Scotland's most photographed castle, standing on a tidal island where three sea lochs meet.

Day 2

Morning

1. Glenfinnan Viaduct: The iconic 21-arch railway viaduct made world-famous as the "Harry Potter bridge" in the film series.
2. Fort William: The "Outdoor Capital of the UK," a vibrant Highland town at the foot of Ben Nevis and gateway to the Great Glen.
3. Inverness Castle: A striking red sandstone castle overlooking the River Ness, the capital of the Highlands.

Afternoon

1. Cairngorms National Park: Britain's largest national park, a vast wilderness of ancient forests, Arctic-like plateaux, and rare wildlife.
2. Loch Lomond: The largest lake in Great Britain by surface area, immortalised in one of Scotland's best-loved songs.
3. Stirling Castle: One of Scotland's grandest castles, a strategic fortress where Scottish independence was won and lost.

Full Scottish Highlands guide and all stops →