Hillwalking in Scotland during Autumn is a very much under-rated joy. Hillwalking in Scotland brings so many rewards – and in autumn you’ll be delighted by a scenery of fabulous rich colours. The joys of autumn are very much under-rated. Yes, there is a wee bit less daylight but that means you have the exceptional opportunity to observe both sunrise and sunset in a day. The sun is at a lower level in the sky so the light you see across the landscape during the day is exceptionally good for photography. There are also far fewer people around generally than in high summer. More than likely we will have our routes to ourselves.
This holiday includes four days of guided mountain walks to reach 7 Munro summits.
Autumn skyline with the sun going down
PROPOSED ITINERARY
Spectacular and unusual views from the viewpoint above Craigellachie Nature Reserve
Guided walking trip exploring Trotternish Peninsula, north of Portree on Skye
During this trip we head for the northern-most peninsular of Skye, the Trotternish. This area is rich in scenery and culture with the highest number of Gaelic speakers in Skye. The landscape is unique containing 2 of Skye’s most famous landmarks – the Old Man of Skye, an isolated rocky pinnacle, and the Quirang – dramatic and unusual rock formations. By the end of the week, we’ll have traversed the length of the ridge running the length of the peninsula and we’ll also take in a couple of the Red Cuillin hills as an introduction to the Cullin Ridge – perhaps a target for a return visit to Skye.
HIGHLIGHTS
ROUTES INCLUDE
Please enquire for tailor-made price for groups of up to 8 people.
Arrive: Fraoch Lodge (or as designated) on day before activities begin, preferably between 5 & 7pm if possible so that you have time to settle in and meet the others before dinner.
Day 1: We fully explore the extraordinary landscape of The Quirang at the northern end of the Trotternish ridge. As the glaciers retreated colossal landslips have created a bizarre series of spires and pinnacles to give us a route of unending interest on a complex mountain.
Day 2: We head south along the Trotternish ridge over Beinn Edra. We follow the backbone of Skye’s largest and northern most peninsula: on one side of the escarpment steep descending slopes; on the other, a continuous 15km long twisting line of cliffs providing continuing interest, all with seaward views.
Day 3: Bold Glamaig and its neighbours Beinn Dearg Mor and Beinn Dearg Mheadhonach provide an obvious horseshoe circuit above the famous Sligachan Inn. Though not a particularly long day, it provides the opportunity to take the challenging ascents at your own pace, before we descend down a more gentle ridge for a well-earned drink.
Day 4: From breakfast onwards we all take a day off. There is the chance to explore Skye’s many delights; or take a spectacular coastal walk; or a chance to rest the weary limbs and chill out. In the evening, we’ll head out to a top class local restaurant for a fantastic meal out.
Day 5: We climb to the pinnacles surrounding the much-photographed Old Man of Storr, before continuing up to the high point of the Trotternish ridge, The Storr. From here we head north to complete our traverse of the main Trotternish Ridge before heading down to the coast.
Day 6: Belig and Garbh-bheinn again provide another very worthwhile horseshoe circuit high above the head of Loch Ainort. Looking directly into the heart of the renowned Black Cuillin range, the peaks provide outstanding views across the most rugged of mountain scenery.
Depart: the morning after the walking is complete
We’ve put together a fantastic mountain walking weekend out in the hills of the Scottish Highlands. You’ll be able to blow the cobwebs away; enjoy a blast of fresh air and completely forget about any work related concerns focusing on your well-being and mindfulness. A true slow adventure. By the time you get back home, Friday will seem an eon away. Aim to travel up on Friday in plenty of time to relax, meet the rest of the group and even head out for an aperitif before dinner at 7.30 or so (depending on arrival times of the whole group).
After dinner, over tea and coffee, Andy will chat through the itinerary and a few pointers about how to make the most of your stay and enjoy the hiking.
dependent on size of group and available accommodation
Why choose Scotland for your next walking holiday?
Gearing up for Scotland’s autumn mountains
A rewarding view during a group hiking tour.
Take the opportunity to refresh and rejuvenate on a mountain walking weekend staying in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park. The weekend is fully catered with guiding and accommodation provided in one inclusive package. Saturday is a challenging day tackling one of Britain’s highest peaks while on the Sunday it’s an early start to do a shorter mountain route before you head back home in good time to get organised for your return to the working week.
Sat: Carn Ban Mor & Sgorr Goaith rear up from wooded slopes to form the western flank of the high Cairngorm Massif. Rising from delightful Glen Feshie, with ever expanding views you’re suddenly faced with the astonishing view of Glen Einich & its loch 2000ft directly below. Huge cliffs skirt around its edge to the massive bulk of Braeriach, creating one of the Cairngorms most impressive features.
Sun: Isolated from the main mass of Cairngorm peaks, Ben Rinnes dominates the views across to the Moray Firth coast. We climb along the spine of this bold peak to reach its airy summit and panoramic views of distant peaks. We descend pass rocky tors to complete this circuit in wild and open country. If time allows and the group wants we’ll also try to visit a distillery like The Glenlivet or make a visit to the Whisky Castle to see the World’s Largest Bottle of Whisky.
NB This will mean a late finish to the day and you may want to stay on at Fraoch Lodge for the night
An activity for all whisky lovers when visiting Scotland.
A hiking holiday in Scotland is an experience hard to beat. Empty of people maybe, but not of hillwalking interest. This is the very distinctive wilderness of Assynt & NW Sutherland, where the superlatives really start to flow – ‘island mountains’ rising abruptly from a vast loch-pitted tableland. The sense of space is superb. These are the most eye-catching of mountains with fantastic walking.
Hiking holiday in Scotland (Assynt, the Highlands of Scotland)
Arrive: Fraoch Lodge on day of arrival, preferably before 7pm so that you have time to settle in and meet the rest of the group before dinner.
Day 1: We head Northwest for the dramatic looking peak of Quinag. The array of rocky features belies a relatively easy but exhilarating tramp in typical Assynt splendour. We return from the mountain to our accommodation nearby.
Route info: distance – 14km / 8.75 miles; walking time, excluding breaks – 7.5 – 8.5 hours; ascent – 1130m
NB stats shown are for the whole horseshoe walk including all 3 Corbetts of Quinag. We may well be doing a shorter version of this route.
Spectacular Quinag dominates the view from Kylesku.
Day 2: We climb Cul Mor. Standing head and shoulders above its neighbours it’s a formidable peak. From its plinth, its craggy south, west and northern slopes sweep up at great angles to its summit plateau. Fortress like, it dominates the view across the loch strewn wilderness to the Atlantic beyond.
Route info: distance – 13.5km / 8.5 miles; walking time, excluding breaks – 4 – 5.5 hours; ascent – 808m
Day 3: With Ben Mor Coigach you couldn’t ask for more from a hill. It has complex landforms, a nice ridge, and several tops. The biggest advantage of BMC is that you can see Suilven, Stac Pollaidh, Cul Mor and Beg all in one view from here, with the Summer Isles and An Teallach, Beinn Dearg and Fannichs, and Western Isles filling the remaining quarters.
Route info: distance – 10.5km / 6.5 miles; walking time, excluding breaks – 5 – 7 hours; ascent – 870m
Day 4: From breakfast onwards this is a day off. It’s a chance to explore Ullapool a little more, or go for a gentle walk along the shore. The day is rounded of with us all going out to dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 5: Suilven – the area’s most depicted mountain – its western prow stands defiant ahead of this fin of a mountain. The approach is a wonderful gander leading to an enthralling ascent of this incredible peak.
Route info: distance – 19.5km / 12.25 miles; walking time, excluding breaks – 7 – 9 hours; ascent – 834m
Spectacular views abound in Assynt even though the mountains are not the grandest in height.
Day 6: We head up to Stac Pollaidh before heading back to Fraoch Lodge. This modest but striking mountain gives a superb viewpoint to view the week’s routes.
Route info: distance – 4.5km / 2.75 miles; walking time, excluding breaks – 2 – 4 hours; ascent – 510m
Depart: morning after walking finishes.
What more could you ask for from a hiking holiday in Scotland?
We have achieved Gold Star Awards from the world’s most highly respected green accreditation scheme, Green Tourism, and were awarded Highly Commended in their Green Star Awards 2013 for both Scot Mountain Holidays and Fraoch Lodge. We offer a Green Travel Discount of £15 to any guests who travel to us by public transport. Our primary aim is to minimise the carbon footprint of our holidays, and to this end we donate 1% of the price of our tours to the RSPB’s Abernethy Reforestation project.
It is a holistic approach we have to the care of the environment. Andy your adventure guide has a passion for the natural world – whether it’s the flora, fauna or fungi. He has a background in geology and a lifelong interest in natural history, as well as being a keen gardener. He knows a Golden Plover from a Dotterel, a Green Shank and a Dunlin. He also makes no apologies to being very excitable upon spying a Golden Eagle!
For further information, please don’t hesitate to check out our Environmental Responsibility page, or contact us directly at info@scotmountainholidays.com.
On this trip there is plenty of walking in the Highlands. There is a fine balance between seeing the sites made popular on Instagram while also getting off the beaten track for some more unusual experiences.
Enjoy hiking on the Isle of Skye and in the Cairngorms National Park. See Loch Ness, visit Eilean Donan Castle and take in a whole whisky experience.
Hiking on the Isle of Skye and the Cairngorms National Park.
GROUP DETAILS
Min number 4
Max number 8
Many parts of the Scottish Highlands are spectacular, but few compare to the awesome mountain scenery of the Glencoe Area. This dramatic glaciated landscape of high peaks deep glens has drawn mountaineers and hillwalkers for centuries. Here we do some of the more “off the beaten track” peaks.
Bag some Munros in Glencoe this summer under the expert guidance or a qualified, local guide.
The dramatic history of Glencoe, the rivalry of the opposing clans of Macdonald and Campbell, is not as evident to the naked eye as it once was, but the scenery is still imposing and rivals Skye in beauty. When you gaze up at the mountains surrounding you here, it brings home to you how hardy the native Scots must have been to derive a living from the land. To think that people used to walk this terrain with their cattle in kilts/plaid while we need gortex and sturdy hiking boots!
At the end of the day, we’ll also have a cosy, comfortable cottage to retreat to and a hot shower. There’ll be homemade cake on the table and a hot brew to keep you going until the evening meal.
It’s still a simple formula for our trips – walk, eat sleep, not so different from the Highlanders of old, with a few modern comforts thrown in.
PROPOSED ACCOMMODATION: in twin or double rooms in a holiday property in the Glencoe area. Your guide and his/her team will provide all meals at the accommodation and eat with you in the evenings.
GROUP SIZE: 2 – 8 people
PRICE GUIDE: please enquire, depending on group size and available accommodation
Why does everyone want to go to Skye?
Why choose Scotland for your walking holiday?
BESPOKE ITINERARY – PRIVATE BOOKINGS ONLY – MIN 2: MAX 8 PEOPLE
Guided walking Scotland: explore Royal Deeside and Lochnagar along the footpaths which have been graced by royal feet. Royal Deeside is our destination. Queen Victoria’s estate surrounds us on this trip. We’ll visit the Muir of Dinnet NNR, Lochnagar (also ascended by Queen Victoria) and many of the surrounding peaks.
HIGHLIGHTS
ROUTES INCLUDE
Price from: please enquire
The ultimate personal Outlander Adventure where you get to experience the atmosphere and countryside of Outlander. Our region formed the background for the whole of the Outlander story set in Scotland. You’ll see the houses Jamie’s clan would have lived in; visit the forest where scenes in the opening sequence of the show were filmed; go to the battlefield at Culloden to immerse yourself in the story of the battle and you’ll uncover the secret story of a real life Jacobite hero who actually hid in a cave in the Cairngorms
Walk in the footsteps of our Jacobite ancestors, visit a Jacobite hideout high on the side of a local hill and imagine what it would have been like to actually live there in hiding from the redcoat army. Hike through the magnificent scenery which is the backdrop to the “Outlander” opening sequence and experience the unique atmosphere and fresh air which still permeates the area. You’ll also visit the site of the famous Culloden battle along with the standing stones, which form such a focus for the “Outlander” story. This is a full-on Outlander adventure experience like no other.
Please enquire.
Outlander inspiration in the Cairngorms
Jacobite walk in the Highlands
Explode into summer with this Munro bagging itinerary. All Munros listed are accessible from your home base of Fraoch Lodge. Crowds will not be a feature of this trip. We’re avoiding all the popular peaks and choosing to go remote.
This trip has been designed around some of our “frequent flier” guests, but they are very friendly and would welcome any additional hikers who’d like to join the craic. These will all be new Munro walks to these particular hikers. We can do this for any other group/family of walkers, so long as the selection of Munros is accessible from Fraoch Lodge or if you are prepared to use our luxury Tentipi as your base.
Some of the Munros are quite inaccessible and by nature self-isolating.
There are additional safety measures in place for the duration of this trip in accordance with our COVID-19 risk assessment.
Munro bagging proposed:
Please enquire for tailor made dates.
These 4 days of walking the Highlands (plus a rest day) take you off the beaten track to explore some of the best but most overlooked parts of the Cairngorms National Park. On all 4 days we are very likely to have the mountain completely to ourselves with each route affording a grandstand view of the peaks around. Each day visits mountain scenery of quite different character. As well as seeing the more common species of plants, animals and fungi, by reaching these quieter backwaters of course increases the chance of seeing the rarer wildlife of the national park.
The remoter parts of the Cairngorms National Park full of fascinating views and also more history than you would think. The Highlands used to be much more populated than they are now. You can see the ruins of settlements throughout the park, if you know what you’re looking at. You might also see ancient hideouts used by Jacobites fleeing from the government soldiers; the sites of hidden illicit stills (whisky hasn’t always been legal) or glacial evidence.
Low level walking in the Cairngorms National Park
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