Autumn is often the favourite season for outdoor enthusiasts, as the heat and midges of summer have passed, but the more challenging icy conditions are still ahead. Nature is often at its most stunning at this time of year as the heather blooms and the foliage glows red and amber.
If you are inspired to lace up your hiking boots and pull on your haversack, here are some of the seasonal wonders of hiking in Glencoe and the surrounding areas.
The beauty of autumn foliage
Those with an artistic eye will take particular delight in the Highlands at this time of year, as the forests and mountains become a rich tapestry of colour. The autumnal mists over the glens and lochs can be as equally beautiful as a crisp blue sky, so if you are a keen photographer or painter, inspiration will be all around you.
For a relatively undemanding hike, try Ben A’an in the Trossachs National Park. It’s a modest peak of just 1,512 ft and is ideal if you want to break yourself into hillwalking gently, or are just feeling rather unfit after a summer of lazy holidays and barbeques. Despite its small stature, you will have panoramic views with vibrant autumn colours all around.
The best time for wildlife spotters
The Highlands are one of best places to spot wildlife that is rare in most other regions of the UK. Autumn is the breeding season for the famous red deer, known as the ‘rutting season’ as the stags clash antlers in a display for dominance over the herd.
If you are walking through woodland, keep an eye out for red squirrels as they forage on the ground in preparation for winter. High up into the mountains, you may catch a glimpse of the mountain hare, which turns white for camouflage during the winter.
Keen birdwatchers may be rewarded with the sight of a soaring golden eagle, or a magnificent sea eagle if you are near to lochs or the coast.
Glowing autumnal sunsets
One of many charms of a day in the mountains in autumn is that you will be making your descent just as the sun sets, so if you are lucky in clear conditions, you will be treated to a spectacular sunset and the landscape is bathed in a warm soft light. Maybe if you are energetic enough you can be out to catch the sunrise at the other end!
Comfortable temperatures and uncrowded paths
Many people love walking in autumn because the climate can be at its least challenging. The spring can bring intense downpours and winter throwbacks, and the summer can be humid with crowded routes along the most popular hikes. Winter often requires a whole new skill set, but autumn can often be a peaceful and benign time to walk.
Of course, the British climate is never predictable and it’s wrong to tempt fate! Always pack waterproofs and spare warm clothes, no matter how optimistic the forecast may be.
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