Hiking Scotland's Torridon Region

GETTING THERE: From D.C., it costs about the same for the 12-hour flight to Glasgow or Edinburgh, both about 225 miles from Torridon. Northwest has a $544 flight to Glasgow, or $547 to Edinburgh, from Dulles via Amsterdam in late November through Travelocity. The Edinburgh flight dips to $494 in February. From BWI, flights in November are much pricier, at more than $900.

From Glasgow or Edinburgh, British Airways has a 45-minute flight to Inverness, which at 70 miles from Torridon is the closest place to rent a car. Flights run about $190 from either airport in late November. First ScotRail (011-44-845-601-5929, http://www.firstgroup.com/scotrail/index.php ) also goes to Inverness; a one-way ticket for the 3 1/2-hour train ride starts at $60.

WHERE TO STAY: The National Trust for Scotland (Wemyss House, 28 Charlotte Sq., Edinburgh; 011-44-131-243-9331, http://www.nts.org.uk/ ) can provide a catalogue with info on booking Stalker's Cottage and other accommodations, which range from $265 a week in the low season (January) to $3,100 in the high season (last week of June through August). The Torridon House Estate (011-44-1445-791-227, http://www.torridon-estate.co.uk/index2.html ) includes Stalker's Cottage and a "base camp" with three rooms.

Loch Torridon Country House Hotel (011-44-1445- 791-242, http://www.lochtorridonhotel.com/ ), an elegant shooting lodge built in 1887, sits on 58 acres on Upper Loch Torridon. Rates range from $240 per night for a double room (called a "single bedroom") in the low season (Nov. 1-March 31) to $620 for a "master" bedroom in the high season.

WHAT TO DO: The National Trust for Scotland operates regional Countryside Centres ; the one at Torridon off the A896 (011-44-1445-791-221) is open from Easter to the end of September, while the estate is open year-round. The center can advise on hiking routes in the mountains and along the coast. It also can provide info on wildlife at Torridon, such as the red deer, Highland cattle and golden eagles, and can point you to a spot to watch unobtrusively. In the off season, contact the trust's Seamus MacNally at 011-44-1445-791- 368 (office) or 011-44-1445-791-261 (home).

The Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve (011-44- 1445-760-254, http://www.nnr-scotland.org.uk/reserve.asp?NNRId=15 ; free) is 10 miles northeast of Torridon on the A832 near Loch Maree. Open year-round, it has trails to suit hikers of all abilities, parking, a bike rack and a picnic area.

INFO: Highlands of Scotland Tourist Board , http://www.visithighlands.com/ ; Gairloch and Loch Ewe Action Forum, http://www.highlandwelcome.co.uk/ ; or Visit Scotland , 800-462-2748 (Visit Britain), http://www.visitscotland.com/ .