Use our ultimate Scotland Highlands Packing List as a guide for what to bring along while you’re hiking Scotland’s highest peaks! We’ve packed this list with our trail tested favorites and recommendations, plus lots of useful info on the best gear for adventuring in the conditions of this region.

Our biggest piece of advice is to pack light and smart, and bring durable, multi use items that you can layer as temperatures and weather changes (because they will)! Test and break in all your gear beforehand and use common sense and your own best judgement and discretion when choosing exactly what you pack. After all, no one knows you better than you! If you tend to run cold, pack an extra layer or two. If you have a finicky stomach, bring extras of your go-to snacks.

We’re firm believers that there’s no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate gear! Stocking up on quality gear from brands who are doing it right will make all the difference for enjoying all your adventures in the great outdoors!

1-2 THERMAL BASE LAYERs

A thin, snug fitting top and bottom set that you can wear underneath everything. These are great for layering and will regulate your body temperature when you’re hiking. We recommend a sport synthetic fabric, like recycled polyester, or merino wool. We love these Smartwool tops and bottoms.

HIKING SOCKS

Bring several pairs of wool socks in a range of different weights from light to heavy. We love Darn Tough’s Hiker Boot Sock in full cushion. A couple pairs of sock liners are great for preventing blisters when your feet are sweaty (or wet). Injini toe sock liners are also great if you tend to get blisters between your toes.

SPORTS BRAS + UNDERWEAR

Bring as many pairs as you know you’ll want! Check out REI’s Merino Hipster Underwear which are comfy and great for adventuring!

DAYPACK

You’ll need a lightweight hiking backpack to wear every day to carry your water, layers, rain gear, and all the other daily essentials. We recommend getting a 28 L+ pack with a hip belt that is compatible with a water bladder/hose. While some packs come with a pack cover in case of rain, not all of them do, so make sure you get a rain cover. Osprey and Gregory make great packs!

Pro Tip: Bring a fanny pack to keep your snacks, phone, and sunscreen in for easy access.

WATER BLADDER

Staying hydrated is so important while hiking! We highly recommend having a 3 L water bladder. It’s the easiest way to carry and drink water while trekking.

WATER BOTTLE

A 1 L wide mouth BPA free Nalgene is a must-have and great alternative to single use plastics!

TREKKING POLES (HIGHLY RECOMENDED)

These are a life (and knee) saver on tricky terrain. Make sure they are collapsible, for easy stashing, and simple to adjust for up and downhill. Check out our favs at Leki.

BONUS: You get 15% off Leki poles for being a part of the WHOA family! Just use this special link to see our fav poles and save!

RAIN PONCHO

It’s normal to have rain or mist at some point during the day, so be prepared with a poncho (in addition to the pack cover mentioned above)! Please bring a durable, reusable poncho rather than single-use plastic.

BUFF OR BANDANA

An all around great item to always have with you. You can use it as a neck gaiter, head band, sweat rag…the possibilities are endless! Plus, there are so many different fun designs to choose from!

HEADLAMP + EXTRA BATTERIES

While it’s unlikely we’ll need it, this is important if you’re hiking before or after the sun sets. Be sure to have fresh batteries (and bring a spare set just in case). We love Black Diamond for headlamps.

POLARIZED SUNGLASSES

You have to protect your eyes from the sun. Make sure they are UV-blocking and polarized. Goodr makes some that are great (and cute) for hiking. 

CAMERA + EXTRA BATTERIES

There are so many amazing photo ops! We highly recommend bringing a camera that is compact and durable. Most smartphones have great cameras, and we’ve found DSLRs can be cumbersome while trekking, so think twice before bringing anything too heavy or fancy. Remember to always pack your electronics in waterproof bags or cases!

portable battery charger

Whatever electronics you choose to bring, make sure you have a way to recharge your batteries. We always have a portable battery charger on hand so our devices are charged and ready for spontaneous dance parties!

PASSPORT

Make sure it’s valid for 6 months after your adventure dates. Bring a waterproof bag to keep it dry while you’re trekking.

DRY BAGS

When preparing your gear, pack everything in dry bags (or silicone bags for smaller items), we’ll be in the elements so we want to make sure our gear is always protected! We recommend bringing along different shapes and sizes of these to help organize and separate dirty clothing and gear.

For waterproofing your phone/passport/money, we recommend using a dry pouch.

SHOPPING BAG + PAPER BAGS

Having a stash of brown paper lunch bags, sanitary bags, or any form of biodegradable bag is great for collecting and carrying out trash on the trails and when we’re on the go. You’ll also want to bring a small reusable shopping bag to eliminate the need to use a single-use plastic bag for snacks or souvenir stops. They’re also handy to have in case you need another bag to take on the plane. Just another way to make Mother Earth proud!

FIRST AID + MEDS

We’ll have all this stuff on hand, but make sure you have a compact kit with blister supplies (including items like band-aids, moleskin, duct tape, Compeed), antiseptic, pain relievers, antihistamines, antidiarrheals, eye drops, bug spray, etc. We like this one because it’s lightweight, waterproof, and has most of the things you might need!

SWIMSUIT

So you’re ready to wild swim and sauna when the opportunity presents itself.

QUICK DRY TOWEL or PONCHO

This will be clutch for after wild swimming. This camp towel from Cocoon is great.

SUNSCREEN + LIPSCREEN

This is a must have for being outside all day. Just because it’s foggy doesn’t mean you don’t need it! Bring a new, full tube with an SPF rating of 30+. We love Raw Elements Natural Sunscreen because it works great, is reef friendly, and plastic free!

Luggage Lock

Always lock your luggage when traveling…better safe than sorry!

TOILETRIES

Don’t forget the travel essentials like travel sized deodorant, hair ties, hair brush, tampons, contact solution, toothbrush, toothpaste, face masks, hand sanitizer, and ear plugs. Remember our pledge to keep single-use plastics out of the places we love, so bring reusable bottles, bar soaps and biodegradable products! Pack it all in this amazing upcycled toiletry bag!

universal adapter

Ensure your universal adapter will work for the G type plugs they have in the UK.

SNACKS

There’s plenty of hearty food options at meal time, but be sure to bring extra snacks! You need to keep your energy up, and nothing beats comfort food when you're on the trails! Some of our favorite morale boosters are Cheez-Its and gummy worms. 

Packing extra snacks is especially important for those with dietary restrictions. While we can accommodate all dietary restrictions, due to the remote nature of our adventures, there might not be as much variety as you’d find at home, so packing the snacks you know you love is definitely advised. If you have questions about what to expect on your adventure when it comes to food, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team.

Exploring the charming winding streets and pub culture is a must while you’re in the region, so make sure you bring plenty of street clothes for the evenings and when you’re not on the trails. In general, the region is casual and relaxed, so pack sneakers, jeans, sweaters, and layers for cozying up by the fire with a pint (and hopefully some live local music)! If you have any specific packing related questions, feel free to reach out to our team!