Guest Author - Deborah Crawford, BellaOnline’s Walking Editor

Walking is the most recommended exercise for many reasons, one of which is you can do it almost anywhere. Scotland has great places for walks of all kinds, including various distances suitable for a variety of ability and experience levels. You’ll find many, many opportunities to experience Scotland on foot, from morning walks of one mile to multi-day hikes in the mountains.

Landscapes

Scotland has some exquisite scenery. The natural landscapes include such great features as woodlands, highlands, rolling hills, rivers, lakes, lochs, waterfalls, mountains, coastlines, and moors. Autumn is a favorite time of year for seeing the changing colors of the leaves. Summer is also a great time for visiting, as days are very long, with the sun setting as late as 10 pm.

Wildlife

Scotland is also home to various species of wildlife, including seals, otters, minke and killer whales, badgers, wild goats, many species of birds, and other land, water and air creatures. The favored six species in Scotland include the puffin, Atlantic salmon, bottlenose dolphin, osprey, red deer and the striking and endangered red squirrel. If you want to see particular animals, check first for the times of year and locations best suited to see them.

Walking Events in Scotland

If you enjoy festivals, Scotland is the place to go. You’ll find various walking events listed here. Many of these festivals are centered around walking, with a variety of social events added. Festivals are held in various locations in Scotland at different times throughout the year. These events last from a weekend to a few weeks. One great benefit of attending a festival is the opportunity to have guides who can tell you about local history and culture, as well as meeting others who share your interests. Plus, most have evening entertainment which is sure to be fun.

Scotland has done a great job for walkers, and you will find it a very walker-friendly place to visit, with plenty of information on how to best enjoy yourself while respecting the privacy of locals. You can find more information on Walk in Scotland, which has almost 1,000 walks in their database, ranging from easy, short family-oriented walks to challenging mountain hikes. You’ll also find great information about the weather, what clothing and accessories you’ll need, as well as links to travel sites for planning your trip.

Learn more great places to walk on Deborah's Walking topic on BellaOnline.com.