Walking Holidays in Scotland

Macs Adventure is a Scottish company. The first trip we made available to the public was the West Highland Way, back in 2003 and ever since we have worked hard to get our style of trip in every beautiful corner of the country that we can.  

From humble beginnings, we now send over 6000 hikers every year into the wilds of Scotland, each experiencing this glorious country in exactly the way they want. We provide the freedom to choose your route, itinerary and travel companions and to discover Scotland at your own pace. 

We know how daunting it can be, setting off on an adventure like this and we quickly realised how important it was to have amazing partners on the ground to deal locally with any issues that you might come across.  We were the first company many accommodation owners had ever met, and we extensively toured around Scotland, making friends, drinking many cups of tea and reassuring everyone that Macs Adventure were going to be a great company to work with. 

We offer a flexible hiking experience that gets you in comfortable, friendly overnight accommodation in local B&Bs and guesthouses. We carry your bags to lighten your load so you can concentrate on simply putting one foot in front of the other and enjoying the unique culture, food and scenery of the less-travelled parts of Scotland. No hostels, no leaky tents, no heavy bags on your back, just a well planned holiday you can book with confidence that we have it all covered for you. 

We want to showcase our expertise, by giving you all the resources you will ever need.  In the planning stage, we have free guides, comprehensive videos and a host of staff with their own Scottish walking experience, waiting to answer your questions. On the routes, we use high-quality digital mapping as well as the best maps and guidebooks to make sure you find your way.  

We love Scotland with a passion and our main aim is to make sure that you do too.  

1. The Isle of Skye - This otherworldly, mysterious island on Scotland's west coast is a hiking wonderland.  With amazing natural geographic features like the Quiraing, the Storr and the Fairy Pools, not to mention the stunning trip up Loch Coruisk (by foot or by boat) and through Glen Sligachan. We have tried to create trips to cover every beautiful inch of this island and you can check them all out here. 

2. Glen Affric - Fighting off stiff competition from Glencoe, Glen Etive and Glentrool, to name but a few, Glen Affric is often cited as the most beautiful Glen in all of Scotland. It's mix of dramatic mountainous scenery, relative isolation and (thanks to being the heart of Scotland's rewilding project) native rainforest make it the perfect place to hike.  Take yourself off to the Glen Affric Trail today. 

3. Outer Hebrides - Scotland's Western Isles are an archipelago of interconnected islands that shelter the North of Scotland from the Atlantic Ocean. Such is the stark beauty of these islands that the Thai tourist board used one of the beaches on their ad campaign, masquerading as one in Thailand. The walking here is full of history, wide-open expanses and beaches that stretch forever.  Have a look at the walking holidays in the Outer Hebrides we offer. 

4. Ben Nevis - The highest peak in the UK is an obvious draw. People flock from around the country to summit the mighty Ben Nevis and soak in the spectacular views (unless the clouds have decided to hang around. Being at the end of the West Highland Way and the beginning of the Great Glen Way, Ben Nevis is easy to add into any itinerary. We also offer spectacular walks in Glen Nevis on our Highlands, Isle of Skye & Edinburgh Drive and Hike. 

5. Loch Lomond National Park - Even when you live in Glasgow, Scotland's biggest city, you can immerse yourself in nature very quickly, by heading up to the spectacular Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park. This getaway is full of walking potential, with Ben Lomond (for amazing views) Conic hill (for just as amazing views with less effort) the Trossachs Trail and of course, the West Highland Way runs up the Bonnie Bonnie banks of Loch Lomond. 

Whether you are stealing a long weekend away in the Highlands, or looking to include an active element in a longer trip to the UK we have a variety of short 5 day & 4 night walking holidays to choose from. Exploring a little corner of Scotland, staying in cosy, hand-picked accommodations, feasting on the local fare and discovering some outstanding scenery is what these trips are all about. 

West Highland Escape: Walk the northern highlights of Scotland's most famous long-distance trail, the West Highland Way, from Bridge of Orchy to Fort William.  

Great Glen Escape: Take in the best of the Great Glen Way from Fort William to Inverness. Want to experience the highlights of the West Highland Way and the Great Glen Way in a limited time-frame, why not combine the Great Glen Escape and the West Highland Escape as part of a longer trip?

Skye Highs Short Break: From Fort William the Isle of Skye is just a steam train and short ferry ride away (if you take the scenic route, which we do). On arrival on Skye you'll enjoy hand-picked hikes from cosy B&B's. 

Best of Skye In Style: With travel from Glasgow included this trip allows you to maximise on time. Overnight in 4 star hotels with mouth-watering menus, easy access to some of the best short walks on the island, and a private guided day tour of the island thrown in for good measure.

Edinburgh to Inverness: Rail & Hike: Take in two of Scotland's bucket-list destinations, stopping en route in charming Perthshire - land of castles and peaceful forest trails - before arriving in Scotland's most northerly city of Inverness. 

Fife Coastal Path Short Break: Follow the Fife Coastal Path north alongside beaches, cliff-top paths and through quaint fishing villages. 

Speyside Whisky Trails Short Break: Walk sections of the well sign-posted and easy-going Speyside Way while detouring to visit Speyside's renowned whisky distilleries. 

Heart of Scotland: Overnight in the village of Blair Atholl, on the doorstep of Blair Castle, and enjoy optional walks before heading to the bustling town of Pitlochry. From here sample a dram in Scotland's smallest whisky distillery, Edradour, and hike Ben Vrackie for a great vantage point over the valley. 

Are you traveling to celebrate a special event, or do you simply prefer to adventure in style? At Macs Adventure we have a range of walking holidays that allow you to experience the Scottish Highlands & Islands in comfort while taking in the best walks. Overnight in renovated castles, country house hotels, upscale lodges and boutique B&B's and guesthouses. 

Luxury Highlands & Isle of Skye: Rail & Hike: Experience Scotland at its best on world-class rail journeys. Enjoy hand-picked walks by day and retire to fabulous accommodations in the evening - our favourite may be the luxurious 5 star Inverlochy Castle Hotel at the base of the UK's mountain, Ben Nevis. We also include 4 evening meals, and guided day tours of Skye and Loch Ness. 

Best of Skye In Style: With included outward travel on a world-class railway from Glasgow this 5 day short break is the perfect island escape. Stay in 4 star hotels, on the remote Sleat Peninsula and in the bustling harbour town of Portree. Soak up the island on our favourite hikes and a private guided day tour. 

Great Glen Way In Comfort: Walk the entire Great Glen Way from Fort William to Inverness, overnighting in the best 3-5 star accommodations near the route. 

Scotland, an ancient land in Britain's north, with landscapes so beautiful they verge on the mythical and with a tumultuous history to match the country has yielded many myths and legends. Some more fairy tale than fact, and tales of bravery and struggle that seem too incredible to be true. Why not visit this land steeped in storytelling and legend to decide for yourself?

Robert The Bruce King of Scots (1274-1329)

Widely regarded as Scotland's first successful monarch Robert The Bruce fought for decades to gain Scotland's independence from the English kings Edward I through to Edward III. Visit Inverness near the site of the 1314 Battle of Bannockburn, where Robert defeated the English army under Edward II. Take a trip to the Isle of Arran where he retreated before regaining faith in the independence campaign while hiding out in a cave, now called Bruce's Cave. Here he is said to have watched a spider try again and again to construct a web sturdy enough to withstand the Scottish weather. Or explore the charming town of Melrose with it's spectacular ruined abbey where Robert The Bruce's heart is interred in the Scottish Borders. 

Nessie

The Loch Ness Monster, also known as "Nessie", is perhaps Scotland's most well known myth. Many visit Loch Ness, not just for the beautiful scenery, but to try and spot the elusive creature for themselves. The first recorded sighting of a water beast in the loch was over 1500 years ago when St Columba is said to have stopped the "beast" from killing one of his followers. Many sightings followed in later years and the first supposedly credible photograph was taken in 1934, referred to as the surgeon's photograph, it was taken by a doctor who didn't wish to have his name associated with the image. Despite the image being proved a hoax you'll still find believers opposing naysayers. Why not walk the Great Glen Way, passing Loch Ness, between Fort William and Inverness and decide for yourself?

Rob Roy MacGregor (1671-1734)

A figure so steeped in folklore it is difficult to determine fact from fiction, but Rob Roy is said to be Scotland's take on Robin Hood. Branded an outlaw as a MacGregor cattleman, the MacGregor clan was the only one not pardoned after the Jacobite uprisings of 1715. Discover the truth and legends surrounding this iconic Scottish figure for yourself as you walk the Rob Roy Way through his homelands in the Trossachs National Park and beyond. 

Selkies

Creatures of ancient Scottish lore the Selkie gets its name from the old Scots words selkie/selch meaning "grey seal". However, the term was widely used to describe mermaid-like seals who could take the form of human women when they shed their seal dress (or seal skin). On the Orkney and Shetland isles it is said that some men stole the seal skins of selkies to make them their wives and have a family until the selkie, in its human form, found its skin and returned to the sea where it longed to be. Other similar stories can also be found in the Faroe Isles and Iceland.