Award-winning outdoor experiences provider Girls on Hills and Hostelling Scotland, a self-funded hostel accommodation charity, have launched a new initiative that aims to encourage more people to explore Scotland’s trails.
The Girls on Hills Door-to-Door Challenge is a collection of 16 accessible trail and hill route walking or running challenges in some of Scotland’s most iconic landscapes. Each leave directly from the doorsteps of eight of Hostelling Scotland’s Youth Hostels.
The collaborative project is the brainchild of Girls on Hills co-founder Keri Wallace, who is also the author of the guidebook Running Challenges. The routes have been designed to promote solo-friendly and small group travel and adventuring, alongside the benefits of hostelling.
Door-to-door challenges
The focus for the challenge is on accessibility. Simply pick up a Door-to-Door Challenge booklet from the youth hostel reception, choose the most suitable route, study the map and head out of the front door and straight into Scotland’s great outdoors for a stress-free and personal adventure.
Eight of Hostelling Scotland’s most popular hostels are participating, including Cairngorm Lodge, Crianlarich, Glen Nevis, Glencoe, Loch Ossian, Lochranza on the Isle of Arran, Torridon and Braemar.
Two accessible route options, a lowland trail and an upland hill route with distances and ascents to suit a mix of fitness and skill levels, have been designed by Girls on Hills for each hostel. The routes are drawn on to maps supplied by Harvey Maps, plus there are clear written directions.
The booklet also includes a brief overview of safety. Scotland’s fickle weather can make a walk or run in remote areas, even when following trails, potentially dangerous, so it’s important to be properly prepared for the conditions and carry a map and compass.
Lowland trail route distances range from the 5.5km (152m ascent) on the Lion’s Face Loop from Braemar Youth Hostel, to the 12.4km Three Glens route (408m ascent) from Lochranza Youth Hostel on the Isle of Arran.
Upland routes range from the 7.4km (689m ascent) Melantee route from Glen Nevis Youth Hostel to the 11.8km (363m ascent) Back of Liathach route from Torridon Youth Hostel.
The Girls on Hills Door-to-Door Challenge is not a race, rather the emphasis on the physical fitness and mental well-being benefits of venturing into the hills.
Challengers have the freedom to set their own route goals, running and/or walking solo or with friends, family or in a group, and completing each route at their own pace and in their own time.
When Challengers have completed one route at a participating Youth Hostel they can collect bragging rights with a Door-to-Door Challenge hostel stamp in their booklet.
When they have received a stamp from all eight hostels they will be rewarded with a very special Door-to-Door Challenge completion certificate.
Six of the participating hostels are WoofHostels, so challengers can bring their dogs with them.
Keri Wallace from Girls on Hills, said: “The Door-to-Door Challenge is a great way to combine the many advantages of hostelling in some great locations with an opportunity to explore some of Scotland’s most fantastic landscapes on foot, with the added reward of achieving a personal goal.”
Margo Paterson, CEO of Hostelling Scotland, said: “Hostelling has long been at the heart of sustainable travel and outdoor adventure. This collaborative project is a fantastic way to help promote the natural benefits of the great outdoors and is the perfect lead into our 95th anniversary celebrations in 2026.”
There is an on-line Door-to-door challenge booklet.