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Scottish Wild Country Backpacking

30 weekend and multi-day routes in the Highlands and Islands

30 wild and challenging backpacking routes in Scotland. Aimed at experienced and self-reliant backpackers, routes are between 2 and 4 days long and traverse the remotest, wildest and most spectacular landscapes the Highlands and Islands have to offer. The book also covers equipment, access, weather, safety and first aid.

Seasons

Most of these routes are great for walking year-round, though of course seasonal adjustments need to be made in terms of equipment and difficulties encountered. Snow, ice, very wet ground and high winds can be issues in winter, autumn and early spring, while midges, deer ticks and dense bracken feature from late-spring through to autumn.

Centres

Centres include Fort William, Kingussie, Achnashellach, Dalwhinnie, Amhuinnsuidhe, Kinlochbervie, Kylesku, Killilan, Tomintoul, Blair Atholl, Brèinis, Kinuachdrachd, Kinloch, Sligachan, Morvich and Crask.

Difficulty

The routes included here are best-suited to seasoned walkers with some experience of walking in the Scottish Highlands. A good degree of fitness, navigational competence and self-reliance are required. Many of the routes traverse high mountains and otherwise rugged, often pathless terrain. Walkers should be suitably equipped for the terrain and Highland weather. A few of the routes include small amounts of grade 1 scrambling.

Must See

Ben Alder, Ben Avon, Mòine Mhòr, Harris Hills, Ardgour, Glen Etive, Killilan, Glen Sligachan and Loch Coruisk, west coast of Jura, Glen Coul and Gleann Dubh, Coulin Forest, Fisherfield Six, Ben Klibreck and Ben Armine, Streap, Ben Mhòr and Hecla, Affric Haute Route, Rùm, Uig Hills
ISBN
9781852849047
Availability
Published
Published
30 Sept 2022
Reprinted
24 Jan 2024
Edition
First
Pages
208
Size
24.00 x 22.00 x 1.70cm
Weight
890g
Overview

A large-format guidebook to 29 short backpacking excursions of 2–4 days, plus one single-day route, in the Scottish Highlands and Islands. Perfect for a long weekend or short break, the routes cross rugged remote terrain, calling for good fitness, navigational skill and self-reliance.

Covering the Inner and Outer Hebrides and the northern half of Scotland, the routes range from 13 to 94km (8–58 miles). Many offer the option to stay in a bothy, although the majority require at least one night’s wild camping.

  • Clear route description illustrated with 1:100,000 mapping
  • GPX files available for download
  • Practical information for planning your trip, plus notes on history, geology, plants and wildlife
  • A list of the Munros and Corbetts visited on the routes
  • Inspirational colour photography

Table of Contents
Updates
Reviews
Downloads
Peter Edwards Cicerone author EDWARDS

By Peter Edwards

Since moving to Scotland from the south of England in 2006, Peter has developed a passion for the Hebrides. He lives at Rhenigidale on the Isle of Harris with his wife, Fiona, and their Labradors, Dougal and Mara.

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By David Lintern

David Lintern is an award-winning photographer and writer, an average mountaineer and a below average runner. He has previously been a cinema projectionist, a sound engineer, a youth music worker and a university lecturer, founded a small refugee charity and fundraised for the John Muir Trust. After a lifetime spent in cities he now lives in the Cairngorms, writes about the uplands, and both guides and teaches outdoor photography. The Big Rounds is his first book and his website is www.davidlintern.com.

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Stefan Durkacz Cicerone author STEFANDURKACZ

By Stefan Durkacz

Stefan Durkacz cut his backpacking teeth at a young age in the Cairngorms. He continues to explore far and wide throughout the Scottish hills north and south of the central belt and has a special fascination with old hill tracks. He lives in Edinburgh with his wife, Gwenda, two daughters and a West Highland terrier.

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