Hiking is a great way to stay fit and see what Scotland’s outdoors has to offer. The weather is as varied as the landscapes, but clothes dry, and the sense of achievement always remains.
There are so many mountains just an hour or so outside of Glasgow that offer dramatic views and the ability to get in contact with nature whether it be deer, dragonflies or just getting your boot stuck in a bog (always a joyful experience).
Whether you’re looking to bag some Munros, interested in exploring, or just want to show your dog some new scenery, here’s a list of options to suit all skill levels.
Happy hiking!
Beginner – Hikes that will take a few hours
These hills will get you into the highlands and let you know what to expect with some of the taller and more difficult hills if you’ve never been on a hike before.
Conic Hill
This route can really get you acquainted with the incredible scenery of the Loch Lomond area. Sitting on the eastern side of the loch and near the southern end means you get great views of the islands of Loch Lomond as well as the beautiful surrounding area. It’s also a really easy way to get used to walking on a wild path and seeing what the great outdoors has to offer.
This is a fantastic walk to get you out of the city and away from the stresses of uni and work while offering fantastic photo opportunities on a clear day. At 361 metres high it’s not a gruelling walk either and can be completed in a couple of hours.
This short walk that can be completed at any time of year and is a great way to tire out a hyper active dog.
Location: Loch Lomond
Height: 361 metres
Ascent: 350 metres
Route: Conic Hill, Balmaha
Public Transport: Train to Balloch from Queen street, or, the 1/1A bus from Ingram Street, then the 309 bus from Balloch goes to the car park.
Dumgoyne
Sitting at the western edge of the Campsies, this prominent hill is a great way to get into hiking without taking a whole day to complete.
Accessible by car or the number 10 from Buchanan Bus station, (just ask the driver to stop at the Glengoyne Distillery), this walk is short and steep but can be supplemented by a ramble up to the Earl’s Seat. This walk is great for anyone who might be thinking about doing longer hikes as the steep ascent can give you an idea of what a bigger hill is like, but with the ability to get to a peak in a short time.
This hike is great for beginners and getting the bus means you can take a trip into the distillery for a victory drink!
Location: Killearn
Height: 390 metres
Ascent: 359 metres
Route: Dumgoyne and Earl’s Seat
Public Transport: The B10 from Buchanan Bus Station goes past the starting point
Ben Ledi
Positioned at the edge of the Highlands, near Callander, this hill is less accessible than the other two in this section but can introduce you to the rigours of a more involved hike while not taking all day to complete.
The route is a popular one and there is a clear path on the ascent. You will encounter some false peaks on this walk, but the actual peak is defined by a metal cross. This walk can be made more challenging by taking the Stank Glen descent which goes northwest from the summit to circle down to your original starting point. This route can be boggy so it’s advisable to take a trekking pole or use a long stick to judge where to put your feet.
If you’re not taking the Stank Glen descent, then this walk should only take about four hours maximum by retracing your steps down the path up.
This mountain is quite a bit tall er than the others in this section which makes for some great views: on a clear day you can see across to Ben Lomond in the west and as far as Stirling Castle in the east.
Location: Callander
Height: 879 metres
Ascent: 760 metres
Route: Ben Ledi from Callander
Public Transport: There is no direct link to the start of this hike and being three miles from Callander means it’s best to take a car or find a friend with one.
Intermediate – Getting into Munros
A Munro is any hill in Scotland over 3000 feet (914m) in height. There are 282 all across Scotland and these are some of the easiest to get to the peak while only being a couple of hours away from Glasgow.
Schiehallion
With its fine, conical peak, Schiehallion is picturesque and surprisingly easy to climb. It is the farthest away from Glasgow on this list but could be a great activity for a weekend’s camping or escape up north.
This walk allows you to get deep into the heart of Scotland while not completely tiring yourself out on the way up. A path goes most of the way up the hill and the higher starting point means that you’re climbing less that 750 metres to the summit, very easy going for a Munro.
The view at the top is vast and gives a great opportunity to take in the superb natural beauty of Scotland.
Location: Perthshire
Height: 1083 metres
Ascent: 731 metres
Route: Schiehallion from Braes of Foss
Public Transport: None to start
Ben Vorlich (Perth and Kinross)
If you’re looking for a hike that can take an afternoon or all day, Ben Vorlich, beside Loch Earn (not to be confused with its namesake next to Loch Lomond), is an excellent option.
The route starts by the beautiful Loch Earn – a great place for a cool down at the end of the day – and climbs gradually along a well-structured path that can have people climbing two abreast for most of the ascent. Apart from the steep final ascent, this Munro isn’t too taxing and can be summited in a good amount of time for climbers of any ability. At the peak you can see for miles across the central belt.
If you haven’t had your fill by the peak of Ben Vorlich you can follow the ridge path west to Stuc a’Chroin. This is a much more technical route and not advisable if you have a fear of heights as it is steep and narrow as it zig-zags up the rocky buttress of a’Chroin. For those with some experience of scrambling and more technical routes, this ascent is a fun way to tick off two Munros.
Location: Loch Earn (Perth & Kinross)
Height: 985 metres
Ascent: 900 metres
Route: Ben Vorlich and Stuc a’Chroin
Public Transport: None to start of route, buses run to towns on either side of Loch Earn
Ben Lomond
One of the most accessible and popular Munros, the recognisable silhouette of Ben Lomond can be seen from miles around as it sits on its own and towers above anything beside it. The route up Ben Lomond is clear with an easy to follow path all the way and requires very little prior experience or equipment. On a good day in any season, the views of Loch Lomond and the surrounding peaks are stunning.
While the ascent is straightforward, you can spice up the descent by taking the rocky path to the north-west which is steep, boggy and rocky in parts, but much more of a challenge on the way down with some fresh views.
You can only really access Lomond from Rowardennan which has a large car park and a hotel close by for a celebratory meal or drink after the hike. This is a great hike for a group of people with mixed abilities.
Location: Loch Lomond
Height: 974 metres
Ascent: 974 metres
Route: Ben Lomond from Rowardennan
Public Transport: Ample parking, but no transport to start apart from a Summer ferry from Tarbet. 914 and 916 buses run through Tarbet.
Munro Bagger – Difficult Routes
These routes will test your endurance and make you question why you left the house to begin with. Not for the casual walker, these are some of the tougher walks available near Glasgow.
Ben Oss
This one is difficult due to the distance you must travel to get there. The only real route up means having to climb most of Beinn Dubhcraig, a long walk through a boggy, forested area before ascending the mountain. After that you have to descend about 200 metres to the bealach (Gaelic word for a narrow mountain pass), between the two hills and then ascend Ben Oss itself. This makes for a total ascent of about 1400 metres accounting for the return route as well and almost 11 miles total distance travelled.
If you want to conquer Ben Oss it’s not for the faint of heart but once up there you are rewarded for your efforts with stunning views of Ben Lui – which looks absolutely incredible – and down Loch Lomond to the south which snakes past its surrounding peaks like Jörmungandr.
Location: Tyndrum
Height: 1029 metres
Ascent: 1230 metres (to the peak) about 1400 metres overall
Route: Ben Oss and Beinn Dubhcraig
Public Transport: None to start. Citylink 914, 916 buses go to Tyndrum.
Beinn Chabhair
This Munro consists of three main sections: the initial steep ascent through bracken, the boggy section following this, then the final ascent which tricks you into thinking you’ve finished long before you do.
It’s a good idea to carry a map or use something like the Ordnance Survey app to track your location as you can get stuck on the wrong side of the burn in the middle of this walk on a wet day. It is deceptive because it seems straightforward to begin with, but the boggy middle tires your legs out making the final ascent a lot more taxing as it undulates over false peaks but arriving at the final peak is a relief and a great place for a sandwich and some photos.
This walk is recommended if you have some decent waterproof hiking boots and a set of gaiters and trekking poles are definitely advised.
Location: Loch lomond
Height: 933 metres
Ascent: 1010 metres
Route: Beinn Chabhair from Inverarnan
Public Transport: Citylink buses 914, 915 will usually stop at the Drovers Inn which also has a decent sized car park.
Ben Cruachan and Stob Daimh
A bit further away but still accessible by public transport, the Falls of Cruachan train station is right at the start of the route and you can get a bus to the Ben Cruachan Power Station visitor centre.
The walk starts in a wooded area which requires some concentration to avoid tripping over roots but soon gives way to the Cruachan reservoir area where you can see both peaks peering down on you. Hiking Cruachan is steep and rocky with a bit of scrambling and getting across to Stob Diamh means carefully walking across the ridge line that connects the two hills. This crossing can be tricky and confusing in low visibility as there are several points where you can go down the wrong ridge.
There’s a possibility to see some red deer in this area and you might be able to hear them if it’s during the rut which is late September to November.
Location: Loch Awe
Height: 1126m (Cruachan), 998 metres (Daimh)
Ascent: 1376 metres
Route: Ben Cruachan and Stob Daimh
Public Transport: Falls of Cruachan train station is right at the start of the route and you can get a bus to the Ben Cruachan Power Station visitor centre.
