Scotland hiking & whiskey trip advice

So I’m off to Scotland again on Monday for just over a week with a friend from Italy. I’ve been on several trips up there and it’s possibly my favourite country to visit (weather aside) so as this is my mate’s first time I want to make it special, without doing stuff I’ve already done

We’ll be taking my camper and previous experience tells me not to book in advance as the weather can vary and it’s good to be able to chase the sunshine (or lack of rain) with zero notice. It’s not exactly peak season so we should be able to find sites, and I have full toilet and bin facilities if we don’t

Taking bikes (he just got into riding this winter so just thinking a Glentress day and maybe one other trail centre, no point taking him to the Golfie) but the objective is hiking and whiskey distilleries so would love some suggestions

We’re both pretty fit and have our wits about us outdoors, I know how to navigate and when to turn back, always pack extra food & water, a tarp etc so we’re as prepared as we can be and are looking for something challenging. We’ve done multiple day wild treks through the alps together before and he’s always wanted to do Scotland

Anyway, all that excited waffle aside any suggestions for anywhere less known and particularly beautiful and challenging? We’re looking for tough climbs with awesome views at the top, did Beinn Eighe with the mrs a couple years ago which was the kind of thing we’re looking for. He’s keen for Ben Nevis which I haven’t done sine I was a kid, is that a good option or just a busy tourist trap nowadays? I’m also in love with Glencoe but have only ridden there not hiked so anything cool around there would be awesome

Also any distilleries particularly good? Ones we can visit, have a few drinks and sleep near ideally, like Talisker on Skye for example

Finally, abbandoned castles are another thing he’s fascinated with (we hiked through some WW1 trenches in the alps once and I’ve never seen him so happy :D), we have a few marked on the map we found on google but anything less known would be awesome

Thanks for any suggestions, been looking forward to this for a year now!

CMD arete is a nice way up the Ben much more fun than the usual walk up with everyone else. Take a bottle of Irish whiskey you’ll enjoy it more!

Oooh that looks awesome! Assuming that’s a fair weather route, or is it doable in most weather?

A week to do lots from the Borders and Galloway to Skye, Torridon and Glencoe is a road driving trip – you will spend more time driving than being out in nature.

There is fresh snow due this weekend. Please be cautious over the steeper places unless you are skilled and kitted – CMD for example is not great in ice or snow. Places all over the Highlands are likely to be a white or wet week underfoot. I spoke to a lady at the foot of Ben Lomond from Yorkshire who was properly shocked at the wind, ice and snow having been up the Dales the week before….

A lot of campsites are not open until Easter week. But there are campsites available. There are a growing number of Aires, many are superb.

Whisky – you will find lots of distilleries. My suggestion is to visit and sample what is local to where you are, rather than seeking a particular distillery. There are some real surprises this way – I have a bottle of a distillery only 12year old Scapa that I would not have discovered if I had not passed by on my bike…I would have joined the crowds and Highland Park.

I personally would look towards the better weather location for next week, and have an idea that west is often steep and craggy, with big but rounded generally East and far north.

IMO, you would not go wrong with a split week – half around Speyside and Cairngorms for a few days, then a few days at Fort William area / Glencoe / West Coast.

You could always try Aberdeenshire, Moray and Aviemore. Loads of big hills, castles and whisky. Biking trail centres at Tarland and Glenlivet. Too much quality off piste biking to mention. Ballater is a town worth basing yourself at and heading up to the beaches in Moray. All quality stuff that’s a bit less busy.

CMD is indeed awesome, but it and the Ben are in full winter condition so do not touch without full winter gear and relevant experience.

Jura? Paps and distillery?

Ballater – Heartbreak ridge on the bikes? Long walks into Cairngorms, again stay low unless you have winter gear etc.

Pick a distillery, look at a map park and wander – it’s all good.

CMD arete route to the Ben is a classic day out, weather and conditions permitting.

Glenlivet is a good distillery to visit, also there are some fascinating ruined castles in the area that go under the radar. Lot of distillery open times are limited in the winter, check in advance.

Some lovely biking on the aboyne area, MTB.

I agree with Matt, try and limit the driving by focussing on one area if you can. Everywhere is fabulous, so come back again

The eastern side of Scotland can be a fair bit drier and less windy than the west… or not! be prepared to be flexible but I’d be looking east first and would suggest get there, set up base and look around for those castles, forts etc.  Tap o Noth, for example.

…. And the Moray coast from Nairn to Banff is known as the Costa del Moray for good reason.  Especially in early spring, it can be a very pleasant place to be.

Second vote for trail centres of Tarland & Glenlivet.  Where you’ll be within bottle-lobbing range of several decent distilleries.

If you want good Whiskey then you need to head over the Irish Sea!

The more I reflect and looking at next weeks forecast of mixed and cool, just about freezing at glen level, and a Speyside and Royal Deeside trip would be ace….and what I would go for (and may be doing the week after…)

Start at Aviemore for Cairngorms walks and local rides, Speyside distilleries ahoy, then Glenlivet trails (cafe not open until week afterwards) and distillery, then over to Tarland trails, Royal Deeside distilleries (great overnight campsite with hot water & loos for free at the Muir of Dinnet), finishing with a southern Cairngorm hill or Glenshee hills based out of the campsite at Braemar which is both open and superb….totter back through Perthshire and Dunkeld for another walk or ride.

If you want good Whiskey then you need to head over the Irish Sea!

Come on then, I am there this summer and plan picking up a bottle….(Belfast – Dublin – Waterford – Mizzen Head to Dingle)

Thanks everyone! Tonnes of good stuff to look at, Glenlivet mentioned a lot I see so that goes straight to the top of the list

Fully aware it may involve lots of driving and I’m happy with that, but also point taken on the balance between fresh air and driving seat. I have been known to get carried away with trying to get too much in!

Been riding round Aviemore but never walking, and when people say Cairngorms it always looks amazing but it’s so huge I never know where to start! Much easier with riding, tend just go where the best trails are but walking gives me too many options I find

Any specific peaks to look at?

Glenlivet mentioned a lot I see so that goes straight to the top of the list

I mentioned it, I know the owners, but I preferred Tarland for the giggles a few weeks ago…

Any specific peaks to look at?

Have a nosey here – the walk reports are clear, and you can choose what suits you and weather. An account is free, the app is free and has good navigation on an OS map for free too. I find the map of where the hills are with peaks useful – you can work out what is close by etc.

https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/cairngorms/

wheelsonfire1
Full Member
If you want good Whiskey then you need to head over the Irish Sea!

Agreed and if Scotland ever runs out of whisky I’ll be first over

Cycle to the top of Beinn a Bhuird but it probably will be Snowbound due to the height and on a clear day enjoy the views west then the blast back down again

It will be 35 years since I did it on my Roberts White Spider with cantilever brakes and rigid pace forks so things like the track might be different

@gordimhor I thought my subtlety had been wasted!!

Apologies on the whisky spelling, always get that the wrong way round!

Ballater and Heartbreak Ridge would be amazing but matey is not up to that, it wouldn’t be fun for him. Would be cool to hike to the bothy shack thingy though

Will check out walkhighlands as well, thanks for that

Arran. 2 distilleries there now with Lagg having opened.