With the latest round of restrictions limiting what we can do for fun, it’s time to get wholesome.
Autumn is the perfect time to get out and explore Scotland on foot.
And while there is no shortage of wonderful walks in the countryside, towns and cities also have some great options for smaller children, buggies, wheelchairs.
Around Scotland, a maximum of six people from two households can meet outdoors.
So walking is a great way of socialising safely. Check the forecast, wear comfy shoes and get out there.
AYR GORGE
This Scottish Wildlife Trust reserve is in a steep ravine on the River Ayr, with magnificent oak, ash and beech trees.
Now is a great time to catch some autumn colour. There is a looping path through the wood, along the river and then returning via the edge of the reserve.
DISTANCE Six miles but cut it in half by turning back at the bridge.
START POINT Car park off the B743 at Failford
COFFEE STOP Castle Cafe, 3 Kilmarnock Rd, Mauchline
WEB scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/reserve/ayr-gorge-woodlands/
CRATHES CASTLE, BANCHORY
When you can’t go to Disneyland there’s always this picture perfect Scottish keep, whose pink walls and towers are said to have inspired the castle in Cinderella. It’s surrounded by rolling hills and woodlands, which are crisscrossed by trails.
The longest, Ley Way, combines great views with a good woodland stomp.
DISTANCE Four miles
START POINT Crathes Castle car park
COFFEE STOP Cafe 1702, in Crathes Castle
WEB www.walk highlands.co.uk/aberdeenshire/ crathes-castle.shtml
THE HERMITAGE, DUNKELD
This National Trust for Scotland property is a great choice for an autumnal walk. The path cuts through towering Douglas firs and follows the ebb and flow of the River Braan. It leads to Ossian’s Hall, an odd little folly, which overlooks the roaring Black Linn Falls which are in full flow. Watch out for red squirrels. Keep going for Ossian’s Cave and the path back.
Distance: The full circuit is 7 miles
Start point: The Hermitage car park, two miles west of Dunkeld
Coffee stop: Aran Bakery, 2 Atholl Street, Dunkeld
EDINBURGH NEW TOWN
The magnificent Georgian streets of Edinburgh’s New Town are a Unesco World Heritage site for a reason. It looks particularly delicious at the moment, with red climbing creepers and bright trees in the crescents and private gardens.
The Royal Geographic Society’s excellent walk takes in all the best bits, with bite-sized histories of all the key buildings and monuments.
Or just enjoy the grand architecture and wonder who lives behind the Farrow & Ball-painted doors.
This is an easy city walk with the option of climbing Calton Hill at the end for some of the best views in the capital.
DISTANCE 2.5 miles
START POINT Waverley Bridge
COFFEE STOP Lowdown, 40 George Street
WEB www.discoveringbritain.org/activities/scotland/walks/edinburgh-new-town.html
ABERDEEN SCULPTURE TRAIL
The city council has several well-researched walks highlighting different aspects that even long-term residents might never have noticed.
This one looks at statues, architectural details and historical buildings. It’s wonderfully varied - William Wallace, Greek goddess Ceres and a 5m leopard are all in there. The leaflet is tricky to read from a phone so a printout might be a good idea.
DISTANCE Two miles but easy to shorten
START POINT Castle Street
COFFEE STOP Grub, 59 Schoolhill
WEB www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2019-04/Sculpture%20and%20Curios%20Trail.pdf
BRODIE CASTLE, FORRES
Its famous daffodils mean this lovely National Trust property is mobbed in spring. But it’s worth an autumnal visit as well.
Walkhighlands.co.uk has this easy walk that goes around the pond (with a hide for birdwatchers) and some great views of the castle from the track where visitors on horseback would once have approached. There is also a 1200-year-old Pictish stone to put our current world problems into perspective.
DISTANCE: Two miles STARTING POINT: car park beside Brodie Castle pond
COFFEE STOP: The cafe in the castle is open Wednesday-Saturday for takeaways
WEB www.walkhighlands.co.uk/moray/brodie-castle.shtml
FIFE COASTAL PATH
This mega-walk is handily split into eight manageable chunks.
It’s a straight walk so needs a bit of organisation to do without using public transport. (The Scottish Government’s advice not to use public transport if possible does not apply in Fife.)
The first section of the path, Kincardine to Limekilns, is a long but flat and accessible hike, taking in nature reserves, bridges, industrial heritage and historical villages.
DISTANCE 11 miles
START POINT Walker Street, Kincardine
COFFEE STOP Biscuit Cafe, Culross
WEB www.fifecoastandcountryside trust.co.uk/walks/fife-coastal-path/
GLASGOW MURALS TRAIL
Teenagers who roll their eyes at the idea of views of lochs might enjoy the gable end artworks that have transformed so many Glasgow streets. Especially when they realise how great they look on Instagram. Glasgow City Council offers a map and guide.
DISTANCE One to four miles, depends how many murals you want to see.
STARTING POINT St Mungo, on the High Street, then head into town.
COFFEE STOP Singl-end, 236 Renfield Street or 15 John Street.
WEB www.citycentremuraltrail.co.uk
BARON’S HAUGH, MOTHERWELL
This RSPB reserve is not just for dedicated bird watchers. Although, if that’s your thing, there are four hides dotted around the water’s edge. But even non-experts will enjoy watching waders such as lapwing and snipe and seeing the migrating thrushes eating berries to fuel them on the next stage of their long flight south. There are also two signposted routes.
DISTANCE 0.5 miles or two miles. START POINT Manse Road, Motherwell
COFFEE STOP Windmills, 92 Brandon Parade East, Motherwell
