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| Walking and cycling in Ross-shire and the Highlands from Big Sky Lodges | |||||
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The countryside on either side of Big Sky Lodges contrasts starkly. To the east is the Black Isle, one of the richest agricultural areas in Scotland, with many attractions for visitors. Cromarty, at its eastern edge, is a wonderful mix of old buildings, one of the most interesting villages in Scotland. This whole area is great for wildlife lovers, with the best dolphin-watching areas in the UK, as well as frequently seen and magnificent Red Kites. West of Dingwall the landscape is much more rugged, with fine woodland walks alongside the Blackwater river, with Rogie Falls only one example of the wondeful cascades in this area. Higher up the valley becomes hemmed in by ever higher mountains, with Ben Wyvis a true giant with magnificent views. This area also boasts Strathconon, one of the longest and most peaceful glens in Scotland - a great place to explore.
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In Scotland a hill is rarely just a hill. Depending on
where you are in the country, what it's shaped like and how high it is, a
hill might be a ben, a mount, a law, a pen, a brae or even a pap. Even more
confusing if you're keen on doing a bit of hillwalking are "Munros". These
are the hills in Scotland over 3000 feet in height, defined by a list first
drawn up by one Sir Hugh Munro in 1891. You "bag" a Munro by walking to the
top of it, and once you've bagged all 284 you can call yourself a Munroist
and let your chiropodist retire in peace. Of course, there's no need to do
them all: at heart, Munro-bagging is simply about appreciating the great
Scottish outdoors. It's advisable, however, not to get too obsessed by Sir
Hugh's challenge: after the Munros you might hear the call of the "Corbetts"
(hills between 2500 and 2999 feet) or even the "Donalds" (lowland hills
above 2000 feet).
Walking and climbing
The whole of Scotland offers superb opportunities for
hillwalking and the freedom to roam responsibly in wilder parts of
the countryside, with some of the finest Highland climbing areas in the
ownership of bodies such as the National Trust for Scotland and the John
Muir Trust (
 www.jmt.org);
both permit year-round access. Bear in mind, though, restrictions may be
in place during lambing and deerstalking seasons. It's worthwhile picking
up the booklet Hill Phones published by the Mountaineering Council
of Scotland (MCofS; www.mountaineering-scotland.org.uk),
which provides walkers with detailed information for hiking safely during
the stalking season. In addition, the green signposts of the Scottish
Rights of Way Society point to established paths and routes all over the
country.
There are several Long-Distance Footpaths (LDPs), such
as the well-known West Highland Way, which take between three and seven
days to walk, though you can, of course, just do a section of them. Paths
are generally well signposted and well supported, with a range of services
from bunkhouses to baggage-carrying services, and are a great way to
respond to the challenge of walking in Scotland without taking on the
dizzy heights.
The excellent and reliable
Ordnance Survey (OS) series are usually available from local
tourist offices, which can also supply other local maps, safety advice and
guidebooks/leaflets. A wide range of maps, are available from most of the
good outdoor stores scattered around the country (most notably Tiso),
which are normally staffed by experienced climbers and walkers, and are a
good source of candid advice about the equipment you'll need and favourite
hiking areas.
For relatively gentle walking in the company of
knowledgeable locals, look out for guided walks offered by rangers at many
National Trust for Scotland, Forest Enterprise and Scottish Natural
Heritage sites. These often focus on local wildlife, and the best
can lead to some special sightings, such as a badger's sett or a golden
eagle's eyrie.
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www.hillphones.info
Daily information for hill walkers about deerstalking activities (July–
Oct).
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