Explore the best of Scotland on foot with the Girls on Hills Door to Door Challenge

Girls on Hills, the award-winning outdoor experiences provider, and Hostelling Scotland, the self-funded hostel accommodation charity, are delighted to announce, today (Thursday 10 July 2025), the launch of The Girls on Hills Door-to-Door Challenge, a collection of 16 accessible trail and hill route walking or running challenges in some of Scotland’s most iconic landscapes, direct from the doorsteps of eight of Hostelling Scotland’s Youth Hostels.

The collaborative project, the brainchild of Girls on Hills co-founder Keri Wallace (author of guidebook Running Challenges), has been designed to encourage solo-friendly and small group travel and adventuring, promote the benefits of hostelling and encourage visitors to easily explore the best of Scotland’s great outdoors on foot direct from their accommodation.

Pap of Glencoe route from Glencoe Youth Hostel – Credit Keri Wallace – Girls on Hills

The focus for the challenge is very much on accessibility. Pick up a Door-to-Door Challenge booklet from the Youth Hostel reception, pick the most suitable route, study the map and head out of the front door and straight into Scotland’s great outdoors for a totally stress-free and personal adventure.

Liathach Loop, from Torridon Youth Hostel – Credit Keri Wallace – Girls on Hills

Eight of Hostelling Scotland’s most popular hostels are participating: Cairngorm Lodge, Crianlarich, Glen Nevis, Glencoe, Loch Ossian, Lochranza on the Isle of Arran, Torridon and Braemar. Two accessible route options, a lowland trail and an upland hill route with distances and ascents to suit a mix of fitness and skill levels, have been designed by Girls on Hills for each hostel, each with a route marked map supplied by Harvey Maps, and clear directions in the Door-to-Door Challenge booklet.

Cairngorm Lodge Youth Hostel 1 – Credit Ailidh Beaton Ridgeline Prints

Lowland trail route distances range from the 5.5km (152m ascent) Lion’s Face Loop from Braemar Youth Hostel to the 12.4km Three Glens route (408m ascent) from Lochranza Youth Hostel on the Isle of Arran. The upland routes range from the 7.4km (689m ascent) Melantee route from Glen Nevis Youth Hostel to the 11.8km (363m ascent) Back of Liathach route from Torridon Youth Hostel.

Youth Hostel	Route	Distance (km)	Ascent (m)
Torridon	Back of Liathach (one way)	11.8	363
	Tom na Gruagaich (out and back)	6.3	884
Cairngorm Lodge	Meall a’Bhuachaille	9.0	554
	Loch Morlich loop	6.3	16
Glen Nevis	Melantee (out and back)	7.4	689
	Vitrified Fort (out and back)	9.5	326
Braemar	Morrone (out and back)	8.9	531
	Lion’s Face loop	5.5	152
Ossian	Beinn na Lap (out and back)	8.0	557
	Loch Ossian loop	12.1	23
Glencoe	Pap of Glencoe (out and back)	7.5	748
	Glencoe Lochan trails	7.6	124
Lochranza, Isle of Arran	Cock of Arran hill	13	280
	The three glens (one way)	12.4	408
Crianlarich	Ben More	9.7	1011
	Ben More (extend to Stob Binnien)	11.4	1303
	Tyndrum WHW (one way)	10.8	173

The Girls on Hills Door-to-Door Challenge is not a race, with more of the emphasis on the physical fitness and mental well-being benefits of venturing into the hills. Challengers have the freedom to set their own route goals, running and/or walking solo or with friends, family or in a group, and completing each route at their own pace and in their own time. When Challengers have completed one route at a participating Youth Hostel they can collect bragging rights with a Door-to-Door Challenge hostel stamp in their booklet. When they have received a stamp from all eight hostels, they will be rewarded with a very special Door-to-Door Challenge completion certificate for maximum kudos.

A Glencoe Youth Hostel route map completion stamp – Credit Keri Wallace _ Girls on Hills

Six of the participating Youth Hostels are WoofHostels, which are dog-friendly, allowing Challengers to bring their four-legged furry friends with them when completing most of the routes.

The Door-to-Door Challenge initiative sits at the confluence of several key travel trends, including the rise of slow tourism, authentic travel experiences and regenerative/sustainable practices. It also links in with scientific support for and growing use of ‘nature prescriptions’ to improve physical and mental health and wellbeing, in a population that is increasingly screen-addicted and disconnected from nature.

Scientific research also reveals that the concept of ‘challenge’ is a fundamental tool in positive psychology (the scientific study of what makes life worth living), helping to foster happiness and emotional wellbeing.

Keri Wallace from Girls on Hills, said: “I’m excited to see people tackling the Door-to-Door Challenge. We have chosen eight of our favourite hostels and some classic hills and trails to challenge everyone and showcase the very best that Scotland has to offer.

“I am a big fan of personal challenges as a way of adding some extra purpose and structure when visiting new places. The Door-to-Door Challenge is a great way to combine the many advantages of Hostelling in some great locations with an opportunity to explore some of Scotland’s most fantastic landscapes on foot, with the added reward of achieving a personal goal.”

Margo Paterson, CEO of Hostelling Scotland, said: “Hostelling has long been at the heart of sustainable travel and outdoor adventure. For nearly 95 years we have provided a warm welcome, comfy beds and fantastic hospitality for anyone looking to explore and enjoy Scotland. This collaborative project is a fantastic way to help promote the natural benefits of the great outdoors and is the perfect lead into our 95th anniversary celebrations in 2026.”

Kerri Wallace on Meall an t-Suidhe route from Glen Nevis Youth Hostel – Credit Keri Wallace : Girls on Hills

Margo Paterson, CEO Hostelling Scotland, outside Glen Nevis Youth Hostel – Credit Andy Taylor

Ends

Images – credit photographers as per filename: A selection of hi-res jpg images, including shots taken from the Door-to-Door Challenge routes, shots of Door-to-Door Challenge route map completion stamps, and shots of Margo Paterson (Hostelling Scotland) and Keri Wallace (Girls on Hills) can be downloaded from Dropbox using the URL: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/68x7fr1aj24kykd8mzf0x/AD1dLZhT1LOyh4dZ7e12wr0?rlkey=25jrbebkvkessvqgov50xlxjd&st=ersnvkj9&dl=0

Notes to Editors:

The Girls on Hills Door to Door Challenge in partnership with Hostelling Scotland – https://www.hostellingscotland.org.uk/inspiration/door-to-door-challenge/

Online version of the Door-to-Door Challenge booklet

https://issuu.com/hostellingscotland/docs/hostelling_scotland_-_girls_on_hills_door_to_door.

Door-to-Door Challenge Credits

Keri Wallace and Nancy Kennedy from Girls on Hills – Challenge concept and route planning and descriptions.

Hostelling Scotland – accommodation providers, marketing and project management.

Harvey Maps – route map supplier.

Hostelling Scotland

Sustainability and responsible tourism have been at the heart of Hostelling Scotland since 1931. The self-funded charity is committed to providing affordable accommodation in fantastic locations throughout Scotland; with exceptional service, expert local knowledge and a warm welcome to all those with an adventurous spirit wishing to explore and experience the real Scotland. Youth Hostels include:

private rooms (some en suite), shared dorms, well equipped self-catering kitchens and comfy, cosy, and welcoming lounge and dining room spaces.
a flexible, safe and relaxed base to create those special memories to cherish for a lifetime.
perfectly set up for curious travellers, and culture, heritage and adventure seekers with an environmental and sustainable focus.
an ideal choice for solo travellers, couples, families and groups.

Girls on Hills

Girls on Hills is an award-winning outdoor experiences provider, based in Glencoe, Scottish Highlands. Last year they were awarded both the TGO Reader Award for ‘Open Outdoors’ and the Highlands & Islands Thistle Award in ‘Inclusive Tourism’. Recently they featured in the Outdoor Recreation Network’s (ORN) annual conference on Regenerative Tourism and just last week, the Scottish Government’s Summer Reception showcase at Scotland House, Brussels.

Eight Youth Hostels are participating:

Cairngorm Lodge – https://www.hostellingscotland.org.uk/hostels/cairngorm-lodge/
Glen Nevis – https://www.hostellingscotland.org.uk/hostels/glen-nevis/
Torridon – https://www.hostellingscotland.org.uk/hostels/torridon
Braemar – https://www.hostellingscotland.org.uk/hostels/braemar/
Loch Ossian – https://www.hostellingscotland.org.uk/hostels/loch-ossian/
Glencoe – https://www.hostellingscotland.org.uk/hostels/glencoe/
Crianlarich – https://www.hostellingscotland.org.uk/hostels/crianlarich/
Lochranza, Isle of Arran – https://www.hostellingscotland.org.uk/hostels/lochranza/

Routes

All 16 routes have been designed by Girls on Hills, with maps supplied by Harvey Maps, together with clear route descriptions.
There are two accessible route options from every participating Youth Hostel, a lowland trail route and an upland hill route.
Most routes start direct from the hostel doorstep or close by, with a mix of distances and ascents to suit all Challengers:

Accessibility (all fitness and skill levels):

Open the Youth Hostel door and step straight into your adventure!
Choose the route that works for you – Quality map and directions supplied.
Challenge yourself at your own pace.
Have the freedom to complete the challenge in your own time.
Set your own goals – no pressure; a personal challenge and not a race.

Rewards:

Improve your physical fitness and mental well-being by exploring the best of Scotland great outdoors when taking on one or more challenge routes when hostelling.
Collect bragging rights for completing a route! Receive a Youth Hostel stamp in the Door-to-Door Challenge booklet for completing one of the two routes from every participating Youth Hostel.
Collect all eight Youth Hostel stamps and receive a special Door-to-Door Challenge Completion Certificate in recognition of your efforts.
First person to complete and register all eight routes will receive a complimentary copy of the guidebook Running Challenges by keri Wallace from Girls on Hills.

Take on the challenge with others

Enjoy the challenge solo or with a group, with family or with friends for moral support and camaraderie.

Take on the challenge with your fluffy friend

There are six WoofHostels (dog friendly Youth Hostels) on the list of participating Youth Hostels.
Bring your furry best friends to share in the fun and the adventure.

Female solo travel

This collaboration between Hostelling Scotland and Girls on Hills could not have come at a better time, with a recent study finding that search volume for the term ‘female solo travel’ across all search engines has increased by 62% in the past three years (Brittany Ferries). Remarkably, 84% of solo travellers today are women – a statistic that reflects an empowering trend toward autonomy and self-discovery.

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