Welcome to Scotland ~ I hiked a bit in Oz; the Flinders Ranges, Mount McKinley Bluff near Lake Frome, and up in the Snow Mountains at Mount Kosciouskou. Hillwalking here in Scotland is quite different in that you are seldom more than a few hours away from a human settlement or at least a road. You can travel from East to West coasts in an hour or three and from Southern border to Northern coast in a few hours, certainly in the same day. It is a small country but we cram a lot into it. We lack crocodiles, though a cornored badger might give you a nip. The weather is what would kill you; the cold, wind and sleet combination is astonishing to those who have not experienced it. You may want to invest in a good quality waterproof coat, thick nylon fleece top, thinner fleece top/shirt and nylon baselayer. Also invest in longjohns - long underwear for under your trousers. And a hat, gloves and scarf/snood. Hiking boots should be off waterproof stuff, I prefer waxed leather but opinions vary and others will argue for Goretex boots. They are of course wrong!
This can all be very expensive but cheaper shops exist - Decathlon are good, Go Outdoors have some good stuff, Mountain Warehouse not so much...
- Scottish wildlife - ferocious predators.
- Badgers - they'll have your arm off...
- Australian newts - too big!
- Shame the weather is so cold this year
- Sometimes the sun shines in Scotland
- We have quaint old stuff too