SCOUTING SCOTLAND 

Starting on July 1st I have the privilege of traveling with a family for the fourth time. They are big time hikers so I have been scouting the country for the best hiking Scotland has to offer! The many gorgeous options will make it hard to choose. 

Here are some of the highlights from the past few days.  They are all truly spectacular!

What a hike to start my journey with! Cliffs along The Isle of Skye which is located off the West coast of Scotland.  

This hike near Portree (Skye's largest town) is like walking through a scene from The Lord of the Rings. To step on these grounds felt otherworldly!

 

 The Pinnacles are located on the north side of Skye in an area called Quiraing (in Gaelic it's Cuith-Raing). The area is a landslip, or landslide, that is still moving. Because of this ground movement the road nearby needs annual repair. 

My hike in Cairngorms National Park was surprising. Carved by a glacier, the Northern Corries area is more akin to the Arctic than the rest of Scotland's topography. Snow is typically present in this rugged terrain year round. The prevalent mounds of granite were moved by the last glacial period 11,000 years ago.