All articles
100 articles across Scotland: route guides, gear reviews, skills articles and trip reports.
- Gear13 Jul 2026 · 12 min
Winter Mountaineering Kit: How to Choose Crampons and an Ice Axe
A Scottish hillwalker's buying guide to crampons and ice axes — the B/C boot-and-crampon rating system that stops your crampons falling off, and how to size a walking axe by height.
Read → - Safety13 Jul 2026 · 16 min
Winter Hill Walking Skills for Scotland: The Four That Keep You Alive
The four winter hill walking skills Scottish mountains actually demand — ice axe self-arrest, crampon technique, whiteout navigation and avalanche awareness — and the honest truth about learning them.
Read → - Hillwalking13 Jul 2026 · 13 min
Are There Wolves in Scotland? Predators, Past and Present
No wild wolves, bears or lynx live in Scotland today — all three were hunted to extinction centuries ago. What really lives here now, and where the lynx reintroduction debate stands in 2026.
Read → - Gear13 Jul 2026 · 15 min
Boots vs Trail Runners for Scottish Hills: An Honest Verdict
Do you need boots for Scottish Munros, or will trail runners do? An honest verdict on bog, granite, the ankle-support myth, the waterproof-vs-drains-fast trade-off, and why winter still means boots.
Read → - Long Distance12 Jul 2026 · 14 min
The West Highland Way Race 2027: How to Enter, Qualify and Finish
The definitive guide to the 96-mile West Highland Way Race. The confirmed 2027 date, the new qualifying rule, how the ballot works, the 35-hour cut-off and the crystal goblet.
Read → - Long Distance12 Jul 2026 · 13 min
The Cape Wrath Ultra 2027: What the Relaunch Means
The Cape Wrath Ultra is back for 2027, run by the Spine Race team as a non-stop expedition race called The Wrath. What's confirmed, what isn't, and who it's actually for.
Read → - Wild Swimming23 Jun 2026 · 8 min
Wild Swimming in Scotland: The Complete Guide
Scotland gives you the right to swim in almost any loch, river or sea. Where to go, when the water's worth it, and how to do it safely — from someone who swims here year-round.
Read → - Wild Swimming23 Jun 2026 · 8 min
Wild Swimming Kit for Scotland: What You Actually Need
Wetsuit or skins? Which changing robe, tow float and neoprene actually earn their place in cold Scottish water — an honest kit guide that tells you what to buy first and what you can skip.
Read → - Wild Swimming23 Jun 2026 · 9 min
Cold-Water Swimming Safety in Scotland
Scottish water is cold enough to kill the unprepared and good for the careful. Cold-water shock, after-drop, currents, algae and how to manage all of it — a plain-spoken safety guide for swimmers.
Read → - Gear20 Jun 2026 · 11 min
Best Walking Poles for Scotland: A Hillwalker's Buying Guide
Carbon or aluminium? Flick-lock or twist? One pole or two? A Scottish hillwalker's guide to choosing walking poles that survive bog, river crossings and 20-mile days — with our tested picks.
Read → - Wild Camping7 Jun 2026 · 10 min
Campervan & Motorhome Wild Camping in Scotland: The Rules and Where to Stay
Campervans and motorhomes are not covered by Scotland's right to roam. Here's what the law actually allows, where you can legally stay overnight, and how to do it responsibly.
Read → - Blog17 May 2026 · 15 min
What is the NC500? Scotland's North Coast 500, Honestly Explained
The North Coast 500 is a 516-mile (830 km) signposted scenic driving route around Scotland's north Highland coast, starting and finishing at Inverness Castle. Launched in 2015.
Read → - Blog17 May 2026 · 17 min
Wild Camping and Bothies on the NC500: Where, Legally
Wild camping on the NC500 is legal under the Scottish Outdoor Access Code — for tents, not motorhomes. Where to pitch responsibly, 7 bothies on or near the route, and the motorhome distinction that catches visitors out.
Read → - Blog17 May 2026 · 14 min
Cycling the NC500: Honest 9-Day Itinerary, Bike Choice, Wind & Bealach
Cycling the NC500 takes 5–14 days depending on pace. 9 is the sweet spot. Anticlockwise for tailwind. Gravel bike beats road. The Bealach na Bà is optional. Full itinerary, climbs, gear, accommodation.
Read → - Blog17 May 2026 · 14 min
The 12 Best Hill Walks on the NC500
Twelve hand-picked hills along the NC500 — ranked by character, not height. From Suilven's defining profile to An Teallach's pinnacle ridge. Walk-in times, difficulty, and which day of the route to climb each.
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