r/OutdoorScotland • u/Current_Collection48 • 3d ago
Solo 1-2 week Trekking trip recommendations
Hi everybody, im am currently planning a trekking trip in Scotland. I've got moderate experience with camping and would like to spend anywhere from 1-2 weeks hiking and camping. I've seen some solid recommendations with Cairngorms and the likes. However I'm also intrigued by the Scottish coastlines so I was wondering if you guys could give me some headers as the trip will fall into mid- to late November.
Thanks in advance!
EDIT: as some people have already commented on the weather being unpleasant that time of year - I really don't mind
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u/herbie_doc 3d ago
Walk Highlands (https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk) is a very useful site to use when looking for places to walk. You don’t have to stick to those routes but it gives you an idea, and you can look at coastal areas. Look at some of the island walks for the ultimate in coastal routes (isle of Arran, outer Hebrides) or the Kintyre way for a mainland walk with plenty of coastal views (https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/long-distance-routes.shtml)
Also, have a look at where the bothies are, and plan some of your routes around those locations. They are emergency shelters which may be useful to use if it doesn’t stop raining for several days. There are also some very basic hostels that may be open in November.
https://www.mountainbothies.org.uk
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u/Current_Collection48 3d ago
Yes I've already gotten the Bothy Bible book, which I can only recommend
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u/HighlandTyke 3d ago
I would not rely on the bothy bible and I like it more than many people do. It's great as a coffee table book to inspire you, but has inaccurate information, bothies which are no longer open, and just by the nature of it is not live. MBA website is best for info on accessing the bothies and they make clear if any are closed for maintenance etc.
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u/LukeyHear 3d ago
Weather is likely to be unpleasant. Wind rain and gales, good chance of snow end of November.
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u/dickybeau01 3d ago
Moray Coastal Trail and the Speyside Way might be worth looking at. Relatively sheltered walking on parts of the latter and the former might be drier. Daylight hours begin to fall to around 10-11 at that time of year and some facilities will not be open. Another coastal trail to consider is the Fife Coastal Path. A bit closer to civilisation and the possibility of finding good facilities still open
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u/LukeyHear 3d ago
3 nights in a tent is plenty for me, Two weeks of scottish Late november sounds horrendous. I'd do West highland way for the facilities.
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u/Current_Collection48 3d ago
West highland way looks really good!
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u/Specialist_Zebra4687 3d ago
Alter, Schottland Ende November ist wirklich keine gute Idee.
You'll be wet, cold and miserable. Late autumn up here is not the same as in Germany.
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u/Matthewgardner86 3d ago
I would suggest that the east coast might give you slightly better weather that time of the year so perhaps look in that direction.
You've got the Fife coast and the Lothian coast. If you venture further north then, frankly, that's on you 😁
Just to point out as well that in mid to late November the days will be around 7 to 8 hours long. You'll need to be prepared for that.
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u/Current_Collection48 3d ago
Thanks for the advice I'll check them out!
As for the short days - I'm prepared and have already experienced them trekking in northern Norway in January.
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u/LukeyHear 3d ago
How was the weather for camping that time?
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u/Current_Collection48 3d ago edited 3d ago
That depends, I was near Skibotn and at the start it was freezing cold, but not as bad as it could have been (-20 to -10) but relatively sunny most of the time. By mid-February the weather turned a little warmer but also way darker (clouds).
All in all really cool but its a challenge to keep your clothes and equipment from becoming solid blocks of ice.Visually it was a winter-wonderland 85% of the time. Also it was northernlight heaven.
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u/PuzzleheadedBadger63 3d ago
Temps hovering in the low single digits combined with heavy rain and wind is what the difference is here. Minus ten you don’t get soaked as easily. These are completely different situations.
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u/Current_Collection48 3d ago
Depends tbf. Yes initially you‘re correct, however when using skis and 25+kg backpack plus all the elevation you pass you get very moist very fast. But again that clothing will - in the worst case freeze over and you can just put on different clothing and then dry both when you set up camp. So i guess when it comes to end result both suck.
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u/LukeyHear 3d ago
Did you dry your gear on a big bonfire every night?
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u/Current_Collection48 2d ago
For outer layers that's the only option really, but if you don't want to sit next to a fire for hours each day you have to live with frozen pants, shoes and jacket. But you can live with that. For inner layers you can put on a say dry shirt and put on the moist shirt over that which, with time will dry that as well.
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u/WannaBeeUltra 3d ago
I know that you don’t mind the weather. Just to flag that a late November storm or cold/windy period could turn hiking and camping in the Cairngorms into quite a serious proposition.
You could maybe check out the long distance walks section on Walk Highlands. Something like the Great Glen Way or the Rob Roy Way would likely be OK even in fairly bad conditions. Both of them pass towns and villages fairly regularly so you would have options to stay somewhere to dry your clothes every few days.
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u/Current_Collection48 3d ago
I wasn't aware of that site, but I checked them out and it's just what I was looking for, thanks!
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u/Current_Collection48 3d ago
I've just read through a couple reports of people that did some of those walks in November and I found this guy who did the Cape Wrath Trail solo in mid-late November and the weather actually doesn't sound and look that harsh. I might try that one.
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u/WannaBeeUltra 3d ago
I don’t know your level of experience but I’d caution that the Cape Wrath Trail is exceptionally remote, unmarked and for much of the distance without a clear path over exceptionally rough terrain. The person who wrote that report is also very experienced.
I think if you had the skills and experience to be doing something like that, you probably wouldn’t be asking on Reddit for ideas.
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u/WannaBeeUltra 2d ago
As a suggestion, you could ask on the Walkhighlands forum for advice. You would probably get more informed advice than on here as it’s frequented by people with a lot of experience.
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u/Near_Fathom 3d ago
The downside of camping in November in the Highlands is that the ground will be completely wet and saturated. It’s like camping in a swamp. Within two days all your kit will be thoroughly wet. The days are short, it rains a lot and it’s windy. Apart from that, it’s great.
If I were you, I would stay within dry walls: bothies, hostels, guesthouses. At least you can dry your clothes and boots overnight. West Highland Way is a good idea, but a lot of accommodation might be closed.
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u/Current_Collection48 3d ago
Great help, I appreciate it!
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u/sasquatch_seeker 1d ago
There are a number of Hostelling Scotland hostels that stay open all winter, and they are all great places to stay and budget friendly. With drying rooms for your gear, which you'll need at that time of year. The one in Torridon is well positioned for some epic hikes if the conditions aren't too icy.
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u/ds33m44 3d ago
Do sections of the Cape Wrath. There are good bothies between camping days, that will allow you to dry off, possibly with fire wood (or take some in). Weather can be rough, but interesting… Nae midgies and fewer people. Takes a bit of planning but well worth it. Just beware. Can get wild so plan accordingly. Take a map, and whisky, don’t forget the essentials.
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u/MotherConfusion3773 3d ago
My main advice would be forget camping. Book a few hostels, if they are even still open and do day walks via bus and train.
You might luck out with weather some of those days but 2 weeks camping late November sounds like a terrible way to spend a holiday