for almost eight years now, i have wanted to hike the west highland way, in scotland. it’s all mapped out. i want to start in glasgow, take the train up to milngavie and then start walking. i have it down to ten days, but every time i think i might be able to do it, something comes up.
when i read wild, by cheryl strayed, i wanted to hike the pacific crest trail. unfortunately, it takes up to six to seven months. when i read a walk in the woods, i wanted to hike the appalachian trail; it takes a long time as well. there are so many awesome trails across the world that only take a few days up to two to three weeks, here are my top five picks for a short hike (in no particular order).
the west highland way, scotland:
starting in milngavie, a suburb of glasgow, and ending in fort william, this hike takes between ten to fourteen days, although you can push yourself and do it in seven days if you want or need to. by starting in glasgow, you get accustomed to the trails before ascending to the devils staircase outside of kinlochleven (near ben nevis) and then descending into fort william. the trail is 96 miles long, and i definitely recommend hiking in june to september, otherwise you’ll walk mostly in the rain. there’s also the scottsh national trail, which takes you end to end in scotland, but it’s 470 miles and takes almost two months. not on my list of “short” hikes 😉
the inca trail, peru:
obviously the highlight of this trail is machu picchu at the end, but don’t discount the rest of the trail. taking you through ruins, jungles and intense up and downs. it’s 26 miles long, and takes about four to five days to complete. the best times to hike the inca trail are may to september.
kilimanjaro, tanzania:
apparently this trail is becoming quite popular, but still one of the most amazing hikes in the world. kilimanjaro is over 19,000 feet high and most people travel with a guide. there are multiple trails to the top, but it’s roughly 35 miles in distance and takes over 7 days to complete. highly recommended!
routeburn track, new zealand:
there are several hikes in milford sound, but the routeburn is less popular so you’ll encounter fewer people but still see the same dramatic scenery. new zealand is amazing – it’s obviously one of my favourite countries, and the south island is simply stunning. the routeurn takes 2-4 days and is only 20 miles long, so think of it as a long weekend hike!
trek to petra, jordan:
i would *love* to do this hike. it’s approximately 50 miles long and can take anywhere from five to ten days. but you end the hike at the architectural wonder of petra, and i’m dying to go there. otherwise, the trail is rocky terrain and gorges.