We want you to help choose your favourite from 13 winter walks in Scotland, suggested by Visit Scotland.
What Makes a Truly Great Winter Walk in Scotland
Scotland in winter is stunning but demands respect. The same landscape that’s gentle in July becomes serious in January. Choosing the right winter walk makes the difference between an exhilarating day and a miserable one.
- Low-level loch and glen walks are the sweet spot in winter. You get the snow-capped mountain views without the mountain risks. Loch an Eilein in Rothiemurchus, Glen Nevis to Steall Falls, and the Hermitage at Dunkeld are all spectacular in winter and safe for confident walkers.
- Start early because daylight is precious. In December and January, you have roughly 7 hours of daylight. Start by 9am, plan to finish by 3pm, and carry a head torch as insurance. There’s nothing worse than rushing the last mile in fading light.
- Waterproof boots and gaiters are non-negotiable. Winter trails are muddy, icy, and often waterlogged. Ankle-high waterproof boots with good grip are the minimum. Gaiters keep your legs dry when snow is deep or burns are high. Without them, you’ll be wet and cold within 30 minutes.
- Finish at a pub with a fire — it’s the Scottish way. The best winter walks end at a country pub. Plan your route around one. A bowl of soup, a pint, and warmth after hours in the cold is the reward that makes Scottish winter walking addictive. The Drovers Inn, the Clachaig, and the Kingshouse all deliver.
Want more honest Scotland travel advice? Join 43,000+ readers in our free Scotland newsletter.
In today’s email:
- We Are Looking For The Best Winter Walk In Scotland
- What is the Best Hotel in Edinburgh?
- Collect your gift! – A Free Digital Copy Of The Ultimate Scotland Travel Guide
- Scottish Pubs Around The World – The Caledonian, Canada
- Around the Web – Great white shark alert sent to locals in Scottish Highlands, Escape into the Enchanted Winter Wonderland at The Highlands, Discover the Best of Scotland: Road Trips Through Mountains, Castles and Coasts and more
- From Social Media – Did YOU know pineapples were grown in Scotland in the 18th century?
- Scottish Food You Will Love – How to make the best Scottish shortbread
- Coo Wee – Famous Scottish Accents in Media and Entertainment
Our Daily Newsletter is free and will remain free for our loyal followers forever.. (if you are not subscribed then just enter your email below) But as they say in the infomercials, that’s not all.. For less than the price of a wee dram, you can upgrade to our premium Newsletter which will give you access to our archive of travel deep dives, travel itineraries as well as special deals curated for our premium subscribers. So consider buying us a drink and upgrade to get all the goodies…
We Are Looking For The Best Winter Walk In Scotland
Here is a list of the 13 winter walks in Scotland suggested by Visit Scotland.
Let’s Vote! – Feel free to add your own walk to the list
What is the Best Hotel in Edinburgh?
Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital, is one of the most vibrant and attractive cities in the UK, attracting millions of travelers every year. Its beautiful mix of Georgian and medieval architecture and its lush green spaces make it a feast for the eyes.
The Old Town’s cobbled streets are amazingly lined with vintage shops, cozy cafes, and museums, while the New Town boasts art galleries, trendy bars, and stores.
If you are planning a trip to Scotland’s capital, the city is definitely going to amaze you with its rare old-world charm, majestic buildings and gardens, and countless fascinating museums.
Collect your gift!
Ready to plan your Scotland trip?
Start with our Planning Hub — itineraries, budgets, accommodation, and everything you need. Subscribe for weekly Scotland travel guides delivered free.
Get Your Free Digital Copy Of The Ultimate Scotland Travel Guide
Scottish Pubs Around The World
Scots Away – Scottish Pub Directory App
Around The Web
See the two Scottish towns ranked among the UK’s best places to visit for 2024
Scotland’s ‘happiest place to live’ inspired Robert Burns and has ‘amazing’ tourist attraction
Edinburgh gets ‘authentic cheesesteak’ restaurant with huge giveaway at opening
What to eat in Edinburgh: one of Europe’s best cities for foodies
The stunning farm near Edinburgh hosting an epic festive market this weekend
Glasgow Film Festival to celebrate 20th birthday
Glasgow Santa Dash 2023: Several Glasgow city centre streets set to close on Sunday
Great white shark alert sent to locals in Scottish Highlands
Escape into the Enchanted Winter Wonderland at The Highlands
Discover the Best of Scotland: Road Trips Through Mountains, Castles, and Coasts
‘Largest Hogmanay ceilidh in the world’ promised after tweaks to Red Hot Highland Fling in Inverness
The pretty seaside town in Scotland named among best for Christmas shopping
From Social Media
Did YOU know pineapples were grown in Scotland in the 18th century?
The Pineapple, Dunmore, near Falkirk
Credit: – Instagram.com/theweewhitedug
Scottish Food You Will Love
How to make the best Scottish shortbread
Coo Wee
Famous Scottish Accents in Media and Entertainment
Thank you for reading Love Scotland— your support allows us to keep doing this work.
If you enjoy Love Scotland, it would mean the world to us if you invited friends to subscribe and read with us. If you refer friends, you will receive benefits that give you special access to Love Scotland.
Our Daily Newsletter is free and will remain free for our loyal followers forever.. (if you are not subscribed then just enter your email below) But as they say in the infomercials, that’s not all.. For less than the price of a wee dram, you can upgrade to our premium Newsletter which will give you access to our archive of travel deep dives, travel itineraries as well as special deals curated for our premium subscribers. So consider buying us a drink and upgrade to get all the goodies….
Essentials you need to pack for your Scotland Trip
Need more inspiration?
43,000 Scotland lovers can’t be wrong.
Every week, our free newsletter delivers hidden Highland gems, seasonal travel guides, local stories, and practical tips — straight to your inbox. Join the community that loves Scotland as much as you do.
FREE GUIDE: 25 Hidden Gems of Scotland That Most Tourists Never Find (PDF)
Download our free Scotland Travel Guide (PDF)
🏴️ You Might Also Love
Love Scotland?
Get the best of Scotland delivered to your inbox every week — free.
Join 43,000+ readers. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
A Traveller’s Perspective
Scotland in winter is underrated for walking. The air is clear, the crowds are gone, and the low winter light turns familiar landscapes into something you have never seen before. You do not need to be a mountaineer — there are excellent low-level walks around lochs, through forests, and along coastal paths that are at their best when the temperature drops.
For winter walking, dress in layers and carry waterproofs, a flask of hot tea, and a headtorch — daylight hours are limited and you do not want to be caught out in the dark. Choose well-maintained paths for safety, especially if there has been snow or ice. Loch Morlich, Loch an Eilein, and the Hermitage near Dunkeld are all excellent winter options that do not require mountaineering experience. Walking poles are useful on icy paths. Check avalanche forecasts if heading to higher ground.
Walking through a pine forest on a Scottish winter morning, with frost on every surface and your breath forming clouds in front of you, the silence is absolute. The trees are still. The ground crunches under your boots. Sunlight filters through the branches and turns the frost crystals to gold. A red squirrel watches you from a branch. The air is so cold it stings the back of your throat, but it feels clean and sharp and alive. Winter in Scotland is not something to endure — it is something to seek out.
🏴️ Join 43,000+ Scotland Lovers
Every week, get Scotland’s hidden castles, whisky secrets, and Highland travel inspiration — the kind you won’t find in any guidebook.
Love more? Join 65,000 Ireland lovers → · Join 30,000 Italy lovers → · Join 7,000 France lovers →
Free forever · Fresh stories, Mon–Fri · Unsubscribe anytime
