Walks in Central Scotland

Some of Scotland’s Great Trails can be found in Perthshire, Fife, the Lothians, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs.     
These are waymarked routes which you can complete over several days or simply walk along the sections of your choice.

Stay with Scotland's Best B&Bs and explore some of Scotland's wonderful countryside which is perfect for walking holidays. Many of our B&Bs are part of the Walkers Welcome scheme by VisitScotland and they can offer places to dry out your kit if you get caught out in the rain. Some can also arrange drop off / pick up if you are needing transport to / from your chosen walking route.

If you are bringing your canine companions, our Dog Friendly B&Bs include Craighall Steading in Fife and Newton Farm Holidays in Angus.

Perthshire is famously known as Big Tree Country and there are plenty of shorter well-known walks such as Killiecrankie, The Birks of Aberfeldy, The Hermitage and Faskally Woods which are particularly stunning in the autumn. The Ochils are very popular with hill walkers. Favourite places for hikes in Angus include Glen Clova, Glen Esk, Glen Prosen and Glen Isla, as well as the Arbroath Cliff Trail.

Glen Isla in the Angus Glens near Newton Farm Holidays   
Photo by VisitScotland / Paul Tomkins

Long distance walking paths in Central Scotland

• Rob Roy Way - starting at Drymen (Loch Lomond) and finishing in Pitlochry (Perthshire), this scenic route follows the tracks and paths used by Rob Roy MacGregor (79 miles).    
  B&Bs nearby include Brae House B&B in Aberfeldy and Northlands B&B in Pitlochry
• The Cateran Trail - a fully waymarked circular route through Perthshire and the Angus glens which can be started at any point (64 miles). It follows old drove roads and ancient tracks, and is named after the cattle thieves who raided the area in days gone by.    
  B&Bs nearby include Craigellie House B&B

Cateran Trail - photo by Craigellie House B&B near Blairgowrie

• Fife Coastal Path - starting from Kincardine on the Firth of Forth and ending at Newburgh on the Firth of Tay (116 miles).    
  B&Bs nearby include Bayview B&B in Upper Largo, Craighall Steading in Ceres

Fife Coastal Path - West Wemyss from Blair Point near Dysart near Bayview B&B at Upper Largo   
Photo by Paul Tomkins / VisitScotland

• Fife Pilgrim Way - this new walking trail takes on historic routes used by medieval pilgrims and stretches from Culross or North Queensferry to St Andrews via Scotland's newest city - Dunfermline (64 miles).  
  B&Bs nearby include Bayview B&B in Upper Largo, Craighall Steading in Ceres

Fife Pilgrim Way at Ceres near Craighall Steading B&B  
Photo by Fife Council / Damian Shields / VisitScotland

• Wild South Esk Trail - from the Highlands to the Lowlands, this walk takes you from the Cairngorms to Montrose Basin and the North Sea with a huge range of landscapes (50 miles).  
  B&Bs nearby include Newton Farm Holidays near Inverarity
• Great Trossachs Path - a scenic route linking Inversnaid (Loch Lomond) to Callander via Loch Katrine and Loch Venachar (30 miles).
• Loch Lomond & Cowal Way - across the Cowal peninsula from Portavadie to Inveruglas in the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park (57 miles).  
  B&Bs nearby include Douglas Park Guest House in Dunoon
• John Muir Way - this waymarked trail stretches through varied landscapes from Helensburgh on the west coast to Dunbar in East Lothian which was the birthplace of John Muir (134 miles).
• Three Lochs Way - this trail from Balloch to Inveruglas features scenery around Loch Lomond, The Gareloch and Loch Long, and is described as the walking gateway to Argyll (34 miles).
• The West Highland Way - Scotland's most famous walking trail from Milngavie (near Glasgow) to Fort William in the Highlands (96 miles).

Walking Festivals and Events

There are lots of hill races, charity events, marathons and ultra marathons up and down the country throughout the year.

Scottish Ramblers Gathering 
25 - 28 April 2025 
The 35th gathering will be held in Rhu near Helensburgh.

Crieff & Strathearn Drovers’ Tryst Walking Festival   
9 - 12 May 2025, Perthshire   
Celebrating the people who made Crieff the cattle-droving crossroads of Scotland in the 1700s. Guided walks for all abilities to enjoy Perthshire's spring colours and stunning scenery. Known as Scotland’s Friendly Walking Festival.

CowalFest   
18 - 22 September 2025 
Lots of guided walks plus many family friendly events around Cowal in Argyll & Bute.

Please remember to follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and respect the environment you are visiting. Please be responsible as you travel through the landscape and local communities. It's also very important to be well prepared for any type of weather you may encounter and be able to navigate with a map and compass.  
#RespectProtectEnjoy #LeaveNoTrace

Photo credits: top of page Loch Lomond photo by VisitScotland / Kenny Lam

Walks in Scotland: 
Walks in South Scotland - Walks in North Scotland