Walkwise Scottish Walking Week Gairloch The Far North West and Torridon

The Walking Programme: Gairloch lies on one of the most stunning stretches of coastline in the British Isles and inland lies some amazing and unique mountains. It is the combination of the coast and these mountains that creates arguably the finest landscape in the country, and by walking through it you are simply immersed amongst its mesmerizing beauty. The shorter walking routes are blessed with a smorgasbord or choices, from peaceful coastal bays, silver sand beaches, tumbling riverside walks and wild and remote Scottish glens. Where the narrow road ends in Gairloch the silver sands continue and the path makes its way along the empty beaches over low lying moorland and rocky torrs to the lonely peninsular beyond. With a back drop of high mountains and views over the water to the summer isles and beyond, some of these coastal walks are almost spiritual in their beauty. By contrast, there are many walks that explore the lower glens of Torridon and the wider Wester Ross wilderness region. Here shepherds’ tracks wend their way passed forgotten lochans and weave their way through lost foothills to reveal the rugged mountain panoramas beyond. Mini summits reward your efforts with stunning and uninterrupted panoramas. Further north there are isolated and remote rocky headlands home to the rare Sea Eagles and for the botanists amongst you there are limestone outcrops in the fairy glens home to many a wild orchids. 

For the hard walkers, should you fancy a bit more of a challenge there is a feast of choice with some dramatic mountain scenery. If you know Torridon, I need say no more, but for those that don’t this area has some of the finest mountains on the mainland UK! If you are interested google the classic names of Slioch, Beinn Eighe, Laithach, Beinn Alligin, and just a little further north the mighty An Teallach. Of course you don’t have climb a munro, the corbetts may be lower in height but many in this area are some of the very best hills in the UK. These huge towering masses simply dominate and overshadow the surrounding Glens. This is one of the greatest walking regions in Scotland, a mecca for hill walkers!

To allow you to choose a walk that suits you best, WalkWise UK will provide a minimum of two walks on each day, led by professional and knowledgeable walking guides. On your walling days there will be a harder walk of 9-12 miles with 3000+ft of ascent, and a gentler walk of 6-9 miles with less ascent. All walks are weather dependent and own transport may be taken to the walk starts.