Region: Europe >> Great Britain
Travel time: 2013, March 23rd to April 7th

Coming up in exactly 120 days, my next travel destination will be Scotland from March 23^rd to April07^th, 2013 and I just finished to plan my route. I will rent a car and sleep in my tent, stopping along several spots to do 1-2 day walks in one of Europe’s greatest landscapes. Check the rest of this post if you think you might be able to give me some advice / improvements for my tour!

I will fly from London to Edinburgh and have 16 days to explore the country, driving anti clock wise as seen in the picture on the right side. The flight (£74) and car (£300) are already booked and will use Couchsurfing and Hostels to shower and recharge batteries every third night. The rest will be spent in my tent somewhere in the mountains or at beautiful lakes 🙂

Here are some of the highlights I plan to see & hike. Since March/April will most likely bring some snow, I might have to skip one or the other mountain trips.

23 March, Day 1: Edinburgh

–          Edinburgh (Flight 12:00 Stansted EZY241, arrive at 13:15) £73.98

–          Old Town (WH, TA), Scott Monument (TA) & Edinburgh Castle (TA)

–          Arthur’s Seat & Holyrood Park (WH, TA)

–          buy water, food & cartridges

–          Sleep with Couchsurfing

24 March, Day 2: Cairngorm National Park

–          Get car at 12:00 (£301.96, VW Polo)

–          Drive to Perth (1h)

–          Hike to Kinnoull Tower (3h, WH)

–          Drive to Pitlochry (30m)

–          Climb Ben Vrackie, Part 1 (2h, WH)

–          Sleep at Loch a’ Choire

25 March, Day 3: Cairngorm National Park

–          Climb Ben Vrackie, Part 2 (2h, WH)

–          Drive to Aviemore (1h20m)

–          Climb Cairn Gorm (2h30m, WH)

–          Sleep at Shelter Stone crag, looking down on Loch Avon. (Map)

26 March, Day 4: Loch Ness & Inverness

–          Hike back to Car Park via Cairn Lochan (3h)

–          Drive to Urquhart Castle @Loch Ness (1h)

–          Drive to Inverness (30m)

–          Hike Around the River Ness (4h, WH)

–          See Castle / buy water, food & cartridges

–          Sleep with Couchsurfing

27 March, Day 5: Fyrish Monument & Sandwood Bay

–          Drive to Alness (30m)

–          Hike to Fyrish Monument (2h30m, WH)

–          Drive to Blairmore / Balchrick (2h)

–          Hike to Sandwood Bay (3h, WH)

–          Sleep at Sandwood Bay, looking at Am Buachaille

28 March, Day 6: Assynt and Coigach

–          Hike back to Car (2h)

–          Drive to Lochinver (1h,20m)

–          Cimb Suilven (4h, WH)

–          Sleep at Suilven or Hut Suileag Bothy

29 March, Day 7: Assynt and Coigach

–          Hike back to Car via Falls of Kirkaig (6h)

–          Drive to Stac Pollaidh car park (40m)

–          Climb Stac Pollaidh (2h, WH)

–          Sleep at Stac Pollaidh

30 March, Day 8: Ullapool & Torridon

–          Hike back to Car (2h)

–          Drive to Corrieshalloch Gorge (45m)

–          Corrieshalloch Gorge (1h, WH)

–          Drive to Gairloch (1h)

–          See beach/pier (WH) / buy water, food & cartridges

–          Drive to Torridon (45m)

–          Sleep in Hostel

31 March, Day 9: Torridon

–          Hike to the Triple Buttress of Coire Mhic Fhearchair (5h, WH)

–          Hike to Beinn Alligin (3h, WH)

–          Sleep at Beinn Alligin

1 April, Day 10: Applecross

–          Hike back to Car (3h)

–          Drive to Applecross (1h)

–          Hike to Sgurr a’ Chaorachain (3h, WH)

–          Drive to Uig (2h,30m)

–          Sleep with Tend close to Hostel. Or camp site close to Calmac-Piers.

2 April, Day 11: Isle of Skye

–          Drive to Duntulm Castle very early! (15m)

–          Hike parts of Rubha Hunish (3h, WH)

–          Drive to  Flodigarry, park car (10m)

–          Hike Part 1 of Trotternish Ridge (6h, WH)

–          Sleep at Trotternish Ridge

3 April, Day 12: Isle of Skye

–          Hike Part 2 of Trotternish Ridge (8h, WH)

–          Tramp/Bus back from Storr car park to Flodigarry

–          Drive to Portree (40m)

–          Sleep in Portree

4 April, Day 13: Isle of Skye

–          Climb Ben Tianavaig (4h, WH)

–          Drive to Eilean Donan Castle (1h)

–          Drive to Loch Laggan (1h,45m)

–          Hike to Coire Ardair, Creag Meagaidh (2h, WH)

–          Sleep at Lochan a’Choire

5 April, Day 14: Fort William and Glencoe

–          Hike back to car (2h)

–          Drive to Fort William (35m)

–          Drive to Achriabhach (15m)

–          Hike to Steall Falls and the Nevis Gorge (2h, WH)

–          Drive to Glencoe (40m)

–          Hike Glencoe Lochan trails (2h, WH)

–          Sleep next to Glencoe hostel

6 April, Day 15: Glencoe and Loch Lomond

–          Drive to Altnafeadh (15m)

–          Take Pictures from Buachaille Etive Mor!

–          Drive to Callander (1h,20m)

–          Climb Ben Ledi (6h, WH)

–          Drive to Loch Achray (15m)

–          Climb Ben A’an (2h, WH)

–          Sleep at Ben A’an

7 March, Day 16: Edinburgh

–          Hike back to car (2h)

–          Hike Loch Venachar (2h, WH)

–          Drive to Edinburgh (1h,30m)

–          Return car at 12:00

–          Meet up with same Couchsurfer (drinks, shower)

Leave Edinburgh (Flight 21:45 EZY814, arrive at 23:15 in Gatwick)