Backpacking/hiking Scotland, need input

[Jock Scot]

I'd love to hike the West Highland Way someday. Given that it's only 100 miles it would be a nice quick hike to do on a bit of a holiday (remember, I'm used to 2,000+ mile hikes!).

Andrew.

Good lord,Andrew!2,000 miles,phew.

[GSArcher]

Thunderbolt,

Myself and about 60 of my closest Internet Aquanteces (sp?) will be in Scotland in July of 2009. We are all from the Karne Marie Moning (a romance author) Fan Forum. We are planning on being at the Gathering. Our tour will start in Glasgow. Then go to Oban, hitting the Isles of Mull, Iona, and Staffa. Then to Ullapool, Iverness (hitting Loch Ness and Cullidan), Aberdeeshire, and Edinburgh. We will then fly out of Glasgow.

Maybe, I'll cross paths with at least one of you wonderful folks...LOL.

[seanboy]

I would look at spending some time in hostels it should work ut well if there is a groups of you. I think their are hostels in the highlands.
I would Not recommend camping for over two nights at a time. I have used heavy tents camping in glencoe and water has seep through. The rain in scotland can sometimes b torrential to the point most tents will just get wet inside.

camping is a great way to get in touch with scotland but really consider how long you want to be camping for at a time.

[Thunderbolt]

I would look at spending some time in hostels it should work ut well if there is a groups of you. I think their are hostels in the highlands.
I would Not recommend camping for over two nights at a time. I have used heavy tents camping in glencoe and water has seep through. The rain in scotland can sometimes b torrential to the point most tents will just get wet inside.

camping is a great way to get in touch with scotland but really consider how long you want to be camping for at a time.

Thanks for the info...and welcome to the forum!

T.

[Thunderbolt]

By the way, does anyone know where to get good topo maps of Scotland?

T.

[Woodsman]

Thunderbolt:
I purchased some topographical maps of Ireland from Omni that I was quite happy with.
http://www.omnimap.com/base/Catalog.html

[Woodsman]

I was happy with the topographical maps of Ireland that I bought from Omni.
http://www.omnimap.com/base/Catalog.html

[Jock Scot]

By the way, does anyone know where to get good topo maps of Scotland?

T.

Ordnance Survey maps (a national government agency) can be obtained from post offices,local shops,tourist information shops.I use OS EXPLORER maps with a scale of two and a half inches to the mile.Plenty of detail.The OS have a website:www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/leisure .If all else fails let me know and I can get them for you.

[fluter]

Ordnance Survey maps (a national government agency) can be obtained from post offices,local shops,tourist information shops.

For planning purposes, I'd look for the road-atlas version of the OS maps, which used to be called Ordnance Survey Superscale Atlas of Great Britain. I imagine it's still around in some form, mine dates to 1990. It was about 11 pounds, a big spiral bound set of maps for all of Britain.

Searching W.H. Smith, I find this
and this. Can someone in the know give us more info? Edit: Now that I look closely, I see that second link is a 1996 edition.

[Jock Scot]

For planning purposes, I'd look for the road-atlas version of the OS maps, which used to be called Ordnance Survey Superscale Atlas of Great Britain. I imagine it's still around in some form, mine dates to 1990. It was about 11 pounds, a big spiral bound set of maps for all of Britain.

Searching W.H. Smith, I find this
and this. Can someone in the know give us more info?

Yes ,for planning purposes that would be a good idea, although I am not too sure how much detail of the terrain is given.Perhaps enough, I don't know,worth checking out though.