Highland Fling: Hotels for Hiking in the Scottish Highlands

“Boots, poles and maps at the ready – it’s Munro-bagging time! The Scottish Highlands are the UK’s great wilderness, with some of the most beautiful, rugged and dramatic scenery in Europe. If you enjoy natural beauty and outdoor challenge, there are few places more rewarding. Here are five hotels perfectly placed for hiking in the Highlands.

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For Ben Nevis: Nevis Bank Inn, Fort William
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Nevis Bank Inn is a smart four-star a short distance from the centre of Fort William and the town’s train station. It’s one of several hotels in Fort William perfectly placed for hikers, right at the entrance to Glen Nevis. Fort William is synonymous with the UK’s highest peak, but Ben Nevis isn’t the only adventure you can set out on from here – Fort William is also at the end of the West Highland Way and the Great Glen Way, which traverses Scotland to Inverness.

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For Loch Ness on the Great Glen Way: Darroch View B and B
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The Great Glen Way’s full 79 miles generally take around five to six days packed full of everything you’d expect of the Highlands. Crossing the country from Fort William to Inverness, the route passes alongside Lochs Lochy and Ness, with shoreline, open glen and ascents through thick forest and optional detours to bag a few Munros along the way. Invermoriston makes a convenient stop, with superb views of the wild country surrounding Loch Ness at Darroch View B and B.

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For conquering Beinn Alligin: The Torridon
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The Highlands might be as rugged as it gets, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get luxury. The Torridon blends old-fashioned Highland hospitality with modern luxury touches; most hotels in the Highlands come with a view, but this one is in its own 59-acre expanse of parkland with some outstanding scenery. Best of all, it’s ideally placed for a huge range of hikes, including the classic mountain, Beinn Alligin, which has two Munro peaks and some fun scrambling opportunities.

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For coastal scenery: Norland Bed & Breakfast
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The Moray Coast Trail just east of Inverness shows off the region’s windswept coastal scenery in beautiful and dramatic contrast with the mountains inland. Spanning a section of mostly clifftop path from Forres to Cullen, the Moray Coast Trail gives you 45 miles of spectacular seaside walking, handily broken into four stages that each take around three to six hours to complete, so you can walk the whole thing in two days if you’re keen. You can stop off halfway in Lossiemouth at Norland Bed & Breakfast.

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For the West Highland Way: Inverardran Guest House
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A few towns claim to be ‘the gateway to the Highlands’. However, little Crianlarich lays as strong a claim as any; in the northwest of the Trossachs and halfway along the West Highland Way – the one for walkers – it’s a jumping-off point for any number of great outdoor adventures, including Munros Cruach Ardrain and Ben More. You can start the hike up the latter from nearby Inverardran Guest House if you’re feeling energetic.

Want to see more Scottish Highland hotels? Visit our Scottish Highland hotel guide page.“