Hikers Love The Thrill Of Scotland's Breathtaking, Albeit Dangerous, Trail In The Highlands

It might not have the dramatic landscapes of the Alps, the rugged peaks of the Carpathians, or the wildlife-filled wilderness of Finland's Wild Taiga, but the U.K. still manages to offer some of the best hiking trails in Europe. From the lochs, mountains, and windswept moors of the West Highland Way to the exciting challenge of walking from coast to coast or taking on all three of Britain's tallest mountains in a single go, hiking in the U.K. is a treat. There are excellent routes all over, but some of the most impressive can be found in the Scottish Highlands.

Veteran hikers love a challenge. If you are an experienced hill walker, chances are you will look for iconic routes that test your limits and take you to places you otherwise couldn't reach. While it might not be the deadliest trail in the U.K., the Aonach Eagach ridge is one of the most famous and most treacherous hikes around. This breathtaking Grade 2 scramble is legendary among the European hiking community. It's a perilous, razor-sharp ridge that takes you up into the clouds and offers beautiful views of the Scottish Highlands. 

Aonach Eagach is a long mountain ridge running along the northern edge of Glen Coe, located in the Highlands on the west coast of Scotland. The ridge takes in two "Munros" (Scottish peaks over 3,000 feet), Sgòrr nam Fiannaidh and Meall Dearg. Most hikes start from a car park on the A82 road, roughly 6 miles from the village of Glencoe. Glencoe itself can be reached in around half an hour by car from Fort William, which is reachable by train direct from Glasgow. The nearest airport is Glasgow International, 90 miles away and about 2 hours by car.

There might be harder climbs in the Scottish Highlands, but for sheer drama, Aonach Eagach (Gaelic for "notched ridge") is hard to beat. This is hiking on a knife edge, a 6-mile route through truly stunning landscapes, with steep, exciting scrambles, sheer drops on either side, hard pinnacles and chimneys to overcome, and no exit routes. Once you set off, you either turn back or complete the hike!

Aonach Eagach has two distinct personalities, one for summer and one for winter. In the summer, this is a tough, exciting, and popular hike, achievable for most serious walkers without too much extra equipment or preparation, and even undertaken by trail runners. In the winter, however, when the freezing winds scream over the peaks and summits and the trail is covered in snow and ice, this route is a full alpine-style day and one of the most adrenaline–packed but dangerous hiking adventures in Britain. 

It is easy to underestimate the risks of taking on this jagged ridge. It isn't technically rated as a climbing route, so underprepared hikers may find themselves confronted with something of a shock when they face the scrambling maneuvers required to move up, down, and forward, particularly given the plunging drops on either side. It is important to pay attention to the weather and practice the skills needed to execute the climb. In the summer, with good weather, experienced hikers can generally manage it without ropes, crampons, or special kits. But a little bad weather (especially rain) can make it tricky, even during the warmer months, and during the winter it is a serious mountaineering prospect, so understanding how to scramble with ropes is vital. And whenever you attempt Aonach Eagach, prepping your down-climbing skills is a good idea.

Set among the mindblowing beauty of the Scottish Highlands, Aonach Eagach and Glen Coe are exquisite, but far from the only highlights of this amazing part of the world. It is a wonderful base for hikers, adventurers, and wildlife lovers, with some of the world's most extraordinary scenery right on your doorstep. 

For walkers, once you've taken on the challenge of Aonach Eagach, there are plenty of other trails that are worth exploring. The Three Sisters of Glencoe are three picturesque ridges of the Bidean nam Bian Mountain, including Gearr Aonach (Short Ridge), Aonach Dubh (Black Ridge), and Beinn Fhada (Long Hill). Hiking all three offers exceptional views of some of the most famous views in Scotland, having been featured in films like the James Bond movie Skyfall. Newbie hikers can get a taste of this wonderful mountainous scenery without the challenge of taking on towering peaks by hiking the Glencoe Lochan trails, while the eye-catching pyramid of Buachaille Etive Mòr is one of Scotland's most photographed Munros. 

It is also worth exploring the fabulous lochs (lakes) and islands of the Scottish Highlands while you are in the area. Loch Lomond is on the way to Glencoe from Glasgow and one of the most iconic spots in the country, but Loch Linnhe, Loch Awe, and Loch Leven are also well worth a look. For an even more exciting experience, head to Port Appin to catch a ferry over to Lismore, or to Oban to head out to Mull, and then there are the stunning islands of the Hebrides.