On October 14, 2026
By Rebecca Field
Why do we always use a single base for our trips?
We’ve always liked to run our trips more like family holidays and distinctly unlike road trips. We prefer to do the majority of the travelling at the beginning and end of a trip, then spend the rest of the time exploring the local area. Rather than packing up and moving on every morning, we can get to know a place properly, discovering different corners of the landscape and finding walks that we might otherwise miss.
This also gives us the flexibility to mix and match walking routes according to the weather and conditions. We’re not committed to moving onwards and upwards each day, or trying to reach a particular destination simply because it’s the next stop on the itinerary. If the wind is howling on the tops, we can look for a more sheltered route; if conditions are good, we can make the most of them. Having a choice of walks within reach of our base makes a real difference.
What are the benefits of a single base for your trip?
There are practical benefits for our guests, too. Once they’ve arrived, they can settle into their allocated rooms and stay for the duration, without the daily business of packing and repacking bags, loading the vehicle and checking into somewhere new. There’s time to relax after a day’s walking, enjoy a meal together and feel at home for the week.
For us, a good base isn’t just somewhere convenient to sleep. It needs to give us access to a variety of walks and landscapes, with enough options to make the most of whatever Scotland’s weather brings. It’s a way of getting to know an area rather than simply passing through it.
How to choose a hiking base
We start by designing the walks, then look for the best-placed accommodation in the area that suits the size of group we anticipate. There’s a fair amount of thought involved in this, and we won’t give away all our secrets learnt through experience!
Location is the first consideration. We need somewhere that gives us access to a good variety of walks without spending too much of each day travelling to and from the hills. The accommodation itself matters, too. This is going to be our home for the week, so it needs to be comfortable and practical for a group: enough space to relax together, preferably a fire to add to the cosiness, and more than one bathroom.
Finding somewhere that ticks all these boxes isn’t always straightforward. The prettiest cottage isn’t necessarily the best base for walking, and the ideal location on a map doesn’t guarantee that the accommodation will work for the group. It’s a question of getting the balance right.
A great base example
One cottage we’ve used is Tigh Muileann, and we’re planning to return. It works well for us because it’s centrally placed for the area we’re exploring, has plenty of bathrooms and, importantly, more than one twin room.
That last point might seem like a small detail, but it can make a real difference when organising a group. Some guests travel on their own and are perfectly happy to share a room, but would prefer separate beds. Having a choice of twin rooms makes it easier to accommodate everyone’s needs without compromising on the location.
It’s these practical details, alongside the geography, that help make a cottage work as a base for a walking holiday. We want somewhere that allows us to get out into the hills efficiently, gives us options when the weather changes and provides a comfortable place to return to at the end of the day. Tigh Muileann ticks those boxes for us.
A good base makes all the difference
For us, choosing a base is an important part of planning a successful walking holiday. It needs to put the right walks within reach, give us alternatives when the weather changes and provide somewhere comfortable to return to at the end of the day. Getting that balance right takes local knowledge and experience, but it means we can spend less time travelling between places and more time exploring the hills. And after a good day’s walking, there’s something to be said for returning to somewhere that feels like home for the week.
Why do guided walking holidays use a single base?
Staying in one place avoids daily packing and unpacking, reduces unnecessary transfers and allows a guide to choose from different walks according to the weather and mountain conditions.
How do you choose accommodation for a walking holiday in Scotland?
We start by planning the walks, then look for accommodation that gives us access to the area we want to explore and suits the size and needs of the group. Comfort, room layouts and bathroom facilities all matter, too.
Does staying in one place limit the walks you can do?
Not necessarily. A well-chosen base can give access to a variety of routes in different directions and at different elevations, allowing the guide to adapt the programme to the weather and conditions.
