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Book review: Scottish Wild Country Backpacking

Written by Fiona

October 28 2022

Cicerone has published a new book, Scottish Wild Country Backpacking: 30 Weekend and Multi-day Routes in the Highlands and Islands by Peter Edwards, David Lintern and Stefan Durkacz.

It is a wonderful book. If you are an experienced and self-reliant backpacker, especially if you enjoy a night or two of wild camping, you will find many inspiring routes in the 200 or so pages.

Buy Scottish Wild Country Backpacking for £25. (I receive a small commission for sales through this website.)

Looking north to Bàgh Mhiùghalaigh and Cnoc Mhic-a’-Phi. © Peter Edwards, 2022
Foraging stag, north-east Jura. © Peter Edwards, 2022

My review: Scottish Wild Country Backpacking

What I really like about the book:

  • Great photography.
  • A variety of routes of different distances and challenges.
  • A good geographical spread across the Western Highlands and Inner Hebrides, Central and Eastern Highlands, North West Highlands, The Far North and the Outer Hebrides.
  • The map at the start of the book makes it easy to see where the routes are.
  • I really like the “route summary table”. Here, at a glance, you can see each route. start, finish, distance, total ascent and total descent.
  • A comprehensive introductory section that will equip the reader with a wealth of knowledge for a backpacking trip in Scotland.
  • Lots of adventures, from two to four days, that will suit keen walkers and campers.
By the Scavaig River – the outflow of Loch Coruisk. © Peter Edwards, 2022
Summit of Lurg Mhòr. © David Lintern, 2022

More to like in Scottish Wild Country Backpacking book

Each of the 30 routes in the guidebook is beautifully laid out for easy reading and understanding.

As well as start/finish, distance, total ascent, time, terrain, key summits, there are useful extra notes, a map overview and photos.

A route overview is then followed by details of each day so backpackers know exactly what to expect.

While many routes rely on wild camping options, if there are are bothies on the routes, these are also detailed.

Some of the routes I already know, a few I have completed, but there are many more that I am keen to do.

On my list are:

  • Around the coast of Rùm.
  • Blair Atholl to Kingussie.
  • The Postie’s Path and the Coigach Group.
  • Ben Kilbreck and Ben Armine Forest.
  • Cape Wrath, Sandwood Bay and the Parph.
The Linn of Avon. © Stefan Durkacz, 2022

If you are looking for new ideas for adventures in Scotland, this is a must-have book. Anyone gathering ideas for a gift for an outdoors enthusiast, this has to be one of this year’s best buys.

Buy Scottish Wild Country Backpacking for £25.

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