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| Walking in Scotland |
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Walking is a wonderful way to introduce children to the great outdoors. What a better place to get them excited about walking than the Scottish countryside? Whether you are a long distance enthusiast, partial to peaks and ridges, an inn-to-inn walker or simply interested in an afternoon stroll, there are hundreds of paths to choose from and many are specifically graded for families. Thanks to a network of paths, designated as rights of way, you are likely to find walking trails no matter where you holiday in Scotland. For those looking for an additional incentive, a study by Edinburgh University has found that students who walk are more fit and active in school than those who are driven to class. So, start creating the habit during your holidays. Walking is fun and keeps the entire family healthy and relaxed. Here's to a walking holiday in Scotland. |
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| Plan |
| Getting started |
| Before you scour the web or wade through travel brochures, outline your trip priorities. Once you've established a budget, define the type of walking holiday you seek as well as the amount of time you would like to spend on the trail. Consider the age of the kids, their interests - Do they enjoy wildlife watching, dramatic scenery, or exploring a country's cultural heritage? - as well as their ability. Review the options with your partner as well as the kids. Be sure they know what to expect! And before you travel to Scotland on a walking holiday, take one or more similarly graded walks near home and introduce tykes, tweens and teens to your upcoming adventure.
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| The right trip |
| Unless you plan on carrying the kids, select a walk that is appropriate for the slowest and least skilled walker in your family. Kids can't walk as far as adults in a day or afternoon. Use grading systems to find appropriate walks. But don't conclude your research there. Determine the conditions and accessibility of the walking trail at the time of year you plan to walk. Research the weather and accommodation along the route; both will impact your hike as well as the weight and size of your pack. If your walking destination is noted for its flora or fauna, be sure your trip coincided with the peak viewing season.
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| Plotting your route |
| The best time of year to embark on a walking holiday in Scotland is from April to October. While some travel guides and tourism websites suggest a dry season in April and May, in reality you are likely to encounter rain no matter when you hit the trail. Check the weather again before you set out, conditions can change quickly. Ordnance Survey maps, produced by the Government mapping agency, cover the entire country and mark all rights of way with meticulous detail.
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| Selecting an outfitter |
| In Scotland, your choice isn't limited to adventure travel companies, group walks are also organized by a variety of entities such as independent walking clubs, local councils and conservation groups. Once you have established the type adventure you want to experience, determine the outfitters knowledge of the area as well as the walking trails. If the outfitter is not located in the walking destination, find out who will sort out any issues on the ground. In addition, find out what is included in the cost, determine the size of the group, length and difficulty of the walk and whether other families have registered for the tour. And before you book, seek advice from other family travelers. Ask friends, read reviews and pose questions on travel forums.
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| Travel gear |
| Walking doesn't require much in the way of specialist gear but there a few things to keep in mind when walking with kids. Little feet grow quickly. Have children try on their hiking boots and break in new walking shoes before you depart on a walking holiday. Not all child carriers are the same. Select a model with adequate suspension as well as a padded shoulder straps and waist belt. A rain / sun hood, an option on short walks around town, is essential on hikes and backcountry treks. If you are carrying a child in a kid carrier for the first time, try it out before you hit the trail. Families departing on a multi-day trip should consider comfortable and well made waking shoes as well as properly fitting and sufficient capacity backpacks. Trekking poles are both fashionable and fun but are hardly a necessity on short hikes with kids.
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| Packing tips |
| The walking gear you need depends on the type of walk you take. The basics for any walk include: map, compass, food, water, extra cloths and socks, sun protection (sunglasses, hat, sunscreen), whistle for each child, rain gear, first aid kit, waterproof matches, pocketknife and garbage bag, leave no trace applies to everyone. Particular attention should be paid to extra clothes and socks. Not only are children attracted to water and dirt, they are likely to get cold first. Layered clothing - cloths that can easily be put on and peeled off - works best. Families hiking with young children should also include the items they need for a day on the town (diapers, wipes, etc). Distribute the content according to age and ideal weight; kids can't carry as much as adults!
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| Travel health & child safety |
| Walking is a great way to introduce the kids to the outdoors. Yet it is important not to exaggerate. Select a trail that matches the interest and ability of the kids and pace the outing to the slowest walker or youngest child. Don't wait until you are tired to take a break; short legs will be fatigued first. Stop frequently for water and snacks. Check on children regularly. A sleeping child may be peaceful but can still be hot, cold, or uncomfortable. Apply sunscreen to all exposed areas before you take your first step. Check your first aid kit as part of your pre-trip planning. Teach the kids to walk safely and responsibly and make sure they know what to di if lost before you depart on walking holiday. Special precaution is warranted during the stag stalking (deer hunting) season.
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| Explore |
| Maps |
| Online maps are a great family travel planning resource and a great way to get the kids involved. Teach the kids to use online regional maps to find hiking trails and plot your route. Show them how to find their way with a map and compass as part of your next hiking vacation. Geocaching - gps treasure hunts - is popular with kids and may provide the needed incentive to get them walking.
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| Books |
| Books are a great way to introduce younger children to a new adventure and get teens and tweens ready for a family trip. Take a journey through Scottish literature and explore Scotland through tartan myths and books. Learn more about Scottish authors such as Alexander Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson. Get recommended reading lists for family travel to Scotland that are designed to spark the interest of adults and kids and go beyond Harry Potter and Peter Pan.
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| Music & Sound |
| A walking holiday is great opportunity to explore nature through sound. Listen to Peregrine, Black Grouse and more and learn to identify birdcalls before you depart on a walking trip. Listen to 'wild tunes', nature's equivalent to popular music, online. But don't forget to explore traditional Scottish music as well. Learn more about Scottish ballads, pipe, fiddle and accordion bands as well as strathspeys and reels. Find the words to Scottish songs.
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| News |
| Getting the latest hiking news will help prepare you and the kids for the family trip. Discover tips and tidbits about walking and find out what's happening outdoors before you depart on a walking trip. Read Scottish news online and brush up on Scottish current events from politics to economics and sports to entertainment. Discover what the Scots are reading.
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| Kids' stuff |
| There are a variety of online resources that make preparing for a walking trip in Scotland fun. Map reading is about more than finding your home. These map reading activities will help you learn to read a compass and plot longitude and latitude. Map games make finding the way an adventure. Do you know how a compass works? Fun experiments bring science to the trail. But don't stop there. Use online resources to learn about Scotland. From haunted castles to powering waves there's lots of neat stuff that is interesting and exciting. Find out whose ghost wanders the halls of the castles you plan to visit. Discover how wave power works and why this and other types of renewable energy are important.
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| Organizations |
| Associations and non-profit organizations can be a valuable resource as well as a means to get involved. Find out more about a few of the organizations involved in the conservation of nature and the environment as well as entities that promote access and work to improve conditions for walkers in Scotland.
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| Outfitter |
| Escape2Scotland |
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Edinburgh, Lothian EH10 5HT |
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 Escape2Scotland Website
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info@escape2scotland.co.uk |
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tel: 44 (0)131 447 2570 |
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Type of Organization: adventure travel company |
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Escape2Scotland, a long distance walking specialist, arranges self-guided walking holidays on 4 of Scotland's most noted tracks, the West Highland, Great Glen, Speyside and Rob Roy Ways. Given the length of the walks, a minimum age of 12 is rigorously imposed. |
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| Wilderness Scotland |
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Edinburgh, Lothian EH3 6SW |
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Wilderness Scotland Website
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info@wildernessscotland.com |
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tel: +44 (0)131 625 6635 |
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Type of Organization: adventure travel company |
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Wilderness Scotland offers guided and self-guided active holidays in the Scottish Highlands. Family adventure trips are multisport and geared to children aged 9 to 15. Individual family adventures are tailored to your family's ability. The minimum age on all other guided trips is 16. |
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Walking destinations in Scotland |
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Fun family vacation ideas |
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