Here are some ideas for quieter routes.
The Scotland Off The Beaten Track website has a number of less frequented routes throughout Scotland and is independent of any business or area.
The South West of Scotland has some stunning landscape as is usually much quieter than the central belt. A good place to plan routes is the South West Scotland Hill Walking Routes Page.
Heritage Paths
ScotWays’ Heritage Paths describes and maps all types of traditional routes across Scotland, from herring roads to coffin roads.
Scottish Hill Tracks first published in 1947 and still going strong, has got details of 344 routes across the hill of Scotland.
Community Paths Groups
Many local communities have worked together to create and promote their own local path network. Here’s a few to get you started!
Lumphanan Paths group received funding from ScotWays and have produced a great website and walks leaflets.
Walks Around St Andrews – prepared by St Andrews & NE Fife Ramblers, 10 walks around St Andrews.
Cupar Walks – prepared by St Andrews & NE Fife Ramblers, 14 walks around Cupar designed to help you explore Fife’s farming heritage.
Glasgow’s Clyde Bridges – produced by the Institution of Civil Engineers, a stravaig along the banks of the Clyde looking at the history of the bridges across the River Clyde.
Forgotten Hills
ScotWays has produced maps to highlight the heritage paths across the beautiful, but not so much visited, Lammermuir Hills and the Campsie Fells
Other Route Suggestions
Have a look at these websites and look for the routes you haven’t heard of before?
Fife Coast and Countryside Trust
Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust
Local Authorities also have information about walks and places to visit on their websites. Check out your local authority’s website and search out the local hidden gems.
There are some ideas here:
Highland Council Countryside Rangers
Core Path Plans
Each local authority and national park authority are required to create and publish a plan of core paths in their area. Here’s the Dumfries and Galloway Core Paths one. You should be able to find the one for your local authority or national park authority on their website. Some are interactive and some not. You can get an overview of all the core paths in Scotland on the NatureScot website.
National Parks
If you want to visit the National Parks, they have guidance about where to go, and more importantly, where not to go. They also have the latest information online, including live updates on car parks and toilet facilities.
