“And now, Harry, let us step out into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure.” – Albus Dumbledore
I knew that some filming in Harry Potter movies had taken place in Scotland, but I didn’t realize how much of an influence this country had on the series’ setting!
Soon after our scouting trip to Norway, Amanda and I set off for Scotland to walk through our summer 2025 itinerary. Before we left, I was unsure what to expect. I had grown up with stories about the Highlands and lochs and munros from my mom, as she had lived there for a year after college. Prior to our arrival, all I could picture was black lakes with a lurking monster, a few sea cliffs, haggis, and bagpipe players everywhere. (Not very imaginative, I know.)
The reality could not be further from the truth! Scotland has a STUNNINGLY diverse and beautiful landscape, with lofty, windswept peaks; quiet, mysterious lochs; rugged coastlines… and even “Caribbean” beaches! We were constantly greeted with a warm “Hiya!” by friendly locals, continuously impressed by delicious food, and regularly in awe at the rolling hills stretching as far as the eye could see. (Sadly, we did not hear the bagpipes until our last day in Scotland.)
Just a few minutes outside Edinburgh and Glasgow, the countryside beckons: Sheep being herded by Border collies, shaggy Heilan’ Coos (Highland cows) peacefully grazing, castles and ruins peeking out from the birch forests, and hillwalking* trailheads in every town (hillwalking is one of Scotland’s most popular pastimes).
The day we arrived, we climbed to a small summit in Loch* Lomond and The Trossachs National Park that overlooked the loch itself and Ben Lomond, and which also sat on top of the Highland Boundary Fault. Superb views of the loch, lots of islands, and rolling green fields awaited at the top (as did a herd of friendly cows munching on grass).
The next day, we hiked the last stage of the West Highland Way, Scotland’s first long-distance hiking route at 96 miles long. Compared to the Appalachian or Pacific Crest trails, it’s not that long. But what it lacks in length, it makes up for in history and beauty. That day, we walked for 15.5 miles from Kinlochleven to Fort William, winding through the Mamores range of the Grampian Mountains. Ben Nevis (Beinn Nibheis), the United Kingdom’s highest peak, calls the Grampians home, and the 4,413-foot mountain is on full display as you descend into Fort William. Civilization quickly falls away as pink orchids and violet bluebells dot the fields on either side. We even saw pine martens darting across the trail! We happily topped off our day with some gelato in town.
We also hiked to Steall Falls, one of the country’s tallest cascades at about 390 feet and right next to Ben Nevis. The discerning eye might recognize this famous waterfall from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (when Harry is being chased by the Hungarian Horntail during the Triwizard Tournament).
The next few days took us along the Great Glen Way canoe trail, Scotland’s famous water route from Fort William to Inverness via the Caledonian Canal. (We paddle southwest to northeast so that the prevailing winds are at our backs.) Not only is this a unique and beautiful way to see Scotland, but it’s also really neat to see the route’s 29 lock* gates, including Neptune’s Staircase. (We were lucky enough to pull up just in time to see this lock in operation.) Students will paddle the waters of Loch Lochy and Loch Ness for five days, camping on the “river” banks each night. Bonus: There are lots of opportunities to grab ice cream and other fun treats when we portage our boats! We’ll also get to paddle right up to a castle and explore it. (Unfortunately, there was no sign of Nessie as we explored Loch Ness.)
Our last big adventure included a hike up Scotland’s second-highest peak, Ben* Macdui in the rugged Cairngorms. This particular range in the Highlands lends itself to endless rock climbing, skiing, and even ice climbing adventures, as there are many large rock formations and snow patches lingering in this arctic-tundra environment. It’s also home to Britain’s only herd of reindeer. This 10-mile round-trip boasts 2,000 feet of elevation gain (so a little easier than our Mt. St. Helens summit hike). However, it’s no easy walk in the park, especially for our October visit, when weather is famously finicky—we were blown over a few times by the wind, while getting pelted with sideways rain. Luckily for our students, June, July, and August typically see many more blue skies! We celebrated with a cappucino and caramel shortbread in the lodge at the trailhead.
For our final day, we headed back to Edinburgh, but not before stopping by the River Tay to see our rafting and canyoning location. We also fed some Heilan’ Coos, watched a sheep dog and shearing demonstration at a working farm (and fed some baby lambs!), and walked around downtown Edinburgh, including the picturesque street that inspired Diagon Alley in Harry Potter. We met with our in-country partner, Tom, to go through our itinerary and finalize a few of the smaller details, including trailheads, lodging, and the moments of WOW that make an AT trip so special.
We loved how deeply Scotland reveres outdoor recreation, and how its people have worked so hard to maintain incredible trails all over its mountains. We’ll be able to top off so many of our adventures with fun treats in old villages or tours of historic ruins, turning a classic adventure into something unique and unforgettable. Scotland is the PERFECT international location for an AT trip!
Needless to say, Scotland was extraordinary. From how friendly everyone was, the incredible food, imposing landscapes, and history blending into the modern world, Scotland should absolutely be on your bucket list!
*For simplicity’s sake:
- Hillwalking = hiking
- Loch = lake
- Lock = device for lowering and raising watercraft in canals between waterways
- Ben = mountain or high hill