GROUP WALKS, GUIDED WALKS, SELF GUIDED WALKS
Walking in Scotland is one of the best ways to discover the rich heritage, history and culture of this wonderful country. And that's true whether you want to climb the UK's highest mountain, Ben Nevis, or have in mind less strenuous walking to visit places with connections to your clan family history or to wider historical events.
You can expect a wonderful Scottish experience whatever the reason for walking in Scotland - family holiday, short romantic break or much needed escape into fresh air and wild countryside. But different types of walking will meet different needs.
Self-guided walks are intended for those of us who want to head off into rural Scotland under our own steam. Tourism outlets, outdoor activity shops, information centres and increasing numbers of websites offer details about many themed and non-themed walk routes of varying difficulty.
Group walking tours typically offer a good introduction to walking in Scotland for people with a basic level of fitness. Usually such tours follow quiet roads, paths or tracks, and you might expect to walk for no more than 10 kilometres (6 miles) and/or 4 hours in a day. Group walking or hiking holidays however are more likely to cover 18 or 20 km (11 to 12 miles) per day and are intended for those whose fitness is sufficient to walk all day and cope with a fair amount of ascent and descent, including on pathless terrain.
Guided walks offer much to those with an interest in rural, historical, wildlife and heritage aspects of Scotland, and in some cases they may include visits to museums and other places of interest.
Because walking is such a well developed outdoor activity in Scotland, you can be confident that whether you are walking with a guide, in a group or on a self-guided basis, walk routes available will be tried and tested. There are increasing numbers of themed and waymarked routes too, making it easier to plan and enjoy a walking holiday break to remember. The availability of good accommodation helps too - bed and breakfasts, guest houses, hotels, hostels and bunkhouses are usually there where you need them, offering a friendly Scottish welcome and the chance to sample fine Scottish food made with excellent Scottish ingredients.
Why not visit Crieff in Perthshire and join in the walks of the Drovers' Tryst -
