How to Prepare for a Week Long Hike in Scotland

Scotland is a country full of rolling green hills and expansive landscapes. Unfortunately, Scotland is a very wet country as it rains quite frequently and makes for muddy hikes. These factors must be considered when planning for a hike, especially a week long hike, in Scotland. Listed here are the necessities that you must consider when preparing for a week long hike.

1. Hiking socks. Blisters can be quite painful and can make for a very painful hike. Fortunately, they can be prevented by choosing the correct footwear. Sock liners are important as they wick away moisture from your foot to prevent blisters from forming. When looking for hiking socks, you should never choose the sock that has the most padding. You should always choose the sock that allows your foot enough room in your hiking boot so that circulation to your foot is not compromised.

2. Hiking boots. Choosing hiking boots depends on where you are hiking to. If you are going to be hiking up rugged terrain, then a hiking boot that supports your ankles is going to be important in preventing your ankle from rolling. If you are hiking flat trails, then a hiking shoe that does not restrict your ankles will be important so that you have full range of motion in your foot.

3. Rucksack selection. There are many factors involved in choosing the correct rucksack. Comfort is the first. You need to take into consideration that you will be wearing this rucksack for a week. Also keep in mind that you will be adding 40-60lbs of weight into it. Make sure the rucksack rests firmly on your hips and does not pull down on your back. Size of the rucksack is very important. A 65 liter rucksack is average for a long hike and will fit most of what you require.

4. Food selection. If you are an inexperienced hiker, you might think that packing sandwiches and cans of food is a good idea. Unfortunately, these food items tend to add to the weight of your rucksack quickly. When packing food for a week, you should choose food that is light in weight. There are many camping/hiking stores that you can go to and purchase dehydrated food packages and snacks. Dehydrated food is the best as it is lightweight and all you have to do is add boiling water to the package of food. Beef jerky is another great snack option as it is lightweight and packs a lot of protein.

5. Tent and Sleeping bag. As Scotland is known for its rain, you should purchase a tent that is rain proof and provides a good shelter from wind especially. Your sleeping bag should be able to keep you warm at low outdoor temperatures and should be lightweight as well to help keep your rucksack as light as possible.

6. Spare clothing. Pack several pairs of socks and sock liners so that you can alternate socks each day to help prevent against blister formation. Pack an additional shirt, pair of light pants/shorts and two pair of boxer briefs.

7. Emergency kit. Ensure that you have a proper emergency kit with bandage material, suture material, antibiotic ointment, emergency blanket and matches.


Although these are just a few things to consider, they are amongst the most important when planning for a week long hike in Scotland. Remember that it is most important to keep your rucksack as light as you can while still packing the essential supplies that you need.