The Scotland Trail

Welcome to Scotland 

The first day of your trip is the date shown on your booking. (For example, for a trip from 7 to 14 May, the first day is 7 May)

Today, you can choose between 2 meeting points:

• Meet at Edinburgh Airport at 1 pm and our shuttle will take you to base camp (paid option)
• Meet at Kyleside Car Park at 5:30 pm, directly on the Isle of Skye (free option). The shuttle will stop here to pick up participants who would like to join us by car.

Make sure you arrive at the meeting points with plenty of time to spare so you don't miss the shuttle.

This first journey will immerse you in the Scottish atmosphere straight away. Get ready to be amazed by the beauty of the landscapes!

When you arrive at base camp, you'll meet your guides and attend the very first briefing, followed by the distribution of your rental equipment.

Get ready for an incredible adventure!

On your first day of hiking, you’ll wake up at the Elgol base camp. The day starts early, as the hike ahead is a challenging one.

The first part takes you along the vast Loch Scavaig, with impressive mountain ranges across the water. You’ll continue through Camasunary, where you’ll see several abandoned hikers’ huts, then follow the shores of Loch na Creitheach.

You’ll continue through the Scottish mountains to Sligachan, where you’ll set up your tent at the campsite. If you like, you can end the day with a good Scotch whisky at the nearby bar !

On this second day of hiking, you’ll leave Sligachan and continue towards Portree. Today, the trail follows much of the Isle of Skye’s coastline. In the morning, you’ll walk along the shores of Loch Sligachan, then continue north along the coast. The second half of the trail is mostly paved. It’s the only road to Portree, but it offers spectacular sea views! Along the way, you’ll pass typical Scottish cottages overlooking the Isle of Raasay.

You’ll finish your hike in Portree, a charming fishing village with plenty of typically Scottish bars and restaurants. After a quick visit to Portree, you’ll head to the campsite where you’ll spend the night.

Distance : 21.5 km
Elevation gain : 210 m
Elevation loss : 139 m
Hiking time: 5-6 hours without breaks

After admiring the Scottish peaks from the valley, today you’ll gain some altitude. You’ll start climbing as soon as you leave Portree. Once you reach the summit, you’ll enjoy incredible views over Loch Leathan and the sea. Take in the many cliffs along the coast, alongside countless Scottish sheep. You may also catch a glimpse of part of the Trotternish Ridge, tomorrow’s challenge. It’s one of the best viewpoints of the week.

At the end of the hike, your driver will take you back to Portree for a second night at the same campsite.

Distance: 13 km
Elevation gain: 600 m
Elevation loss: 550 m
Walking time: 4 hours without breaks

Today, you’ll be dropped off at Storr early in the morning.

The first part of the hike takes you to the famous Old Man of Storr. You’ll have time to admire the impressive, rugged rock formations up close.

From there, there are 2 possible routes, depending on the weather. Only your guides can make the final decision:

• Continue hiking along the Trotternish Ridge, a beautiful but challenging route along the mountainside. In bad weather or strong winds, this hike becomes impossible. At the end of the ridge, your driver will be waiting to take you to Staffin.
• Take a loop around the Old Man of Storr before being transferred to the foot of the Quiraing for a second ascent. This alternative lets you discover Skye’s must-see sights without taking unnecessary risks.

Please note that this day depends on the weather conditions. Your local guides will choose the most suitable option for your group and the weather. Whichever route you take, this will probably be the most memorable day of your week.

Once the day’s hike is over, you’ll have the option to swap your tent for more comfortable accommodation. Whether you sleep in a tent or accommodation, you can also enjoy a good takeaway meal (optional).

For the initial hike:

Distance: 22 km
Elevation gain : 1 432 m
Elevation loss : 1 345 m
Hiking time: 7-8 hours, excluding breaks

If you still have the energy, you can take a beautiful 16-kilometre day hike on your last day on the island. You’ll walk from Flodigarry to Rubha Hunish, the highest point on the island. The trail ends at the hiker’s hut, one of the area’s defining features. It’s an easy hike with little elevation gain, while still offering impressive views of the island’s northern coast.

Since you’ll be staying in the same place for two nights (camping or accommodation), you can choose not to join this hike, although we highly recommend it.

Distance : 16 km
Elevation gain : 434 m
Elevation loss : 439 m
Walking time: 3-4 hours without breaks

The return shuttle will pick you up in Staffin in the morning and take you to one of two possible destinations:

• Edinburgh city centre (paid option), with arrival expected between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.
• Kyleside Car Park (free option), with arrival expected between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

As Staffin is connected to Edinburgh by only a few roads, we can't give you a more precise estimate of the arrival time at the car park or in Edinburgh.

On the way back, you'll once again discover Scotland's lochs and its unique landscapes.

For your final evening in Scotland, you can book a night in Edinburgh through us (optional), or continue your Scottish adventure independently.

Your trip has now come to an end.

You’ll head home with your mind full of memories (and maybe a few sore muscles)!!!