Scotland's most remote wilderness area?! | 4 Days Solo Hiking in the Letterewe Wilderness

In May of 2024, I did something new for me: I hiked without Otto for the first time in years!! In preparation for the TGO Challenge, I explored one of Scotland's most remote wilderness areas, often referred to as the "Great Wilderness", situated in the Northwest Highlands near Kinlochewe.
Come join me for a 50mile hiking and wildcamping adventure in the Letterewe and Fisherfield Wilderness. I've had a bit of everything: Beautiful views, heavy rain, bogs and a famous bothy :)
🧭 Route:
Corrieshalloch Gorge-Loch a'Bhraoin
Loch a'Bhraoin-Shenavall Bothy (via Loch an Nid)
Shenavall Bothy-Carnmore Bothy (via Loch na Sealga)
Carnmore Bothy-Kinlochewe (via Bealach Mhèinnidh and Letterewe)
Lots of love and happy hiking,
Elli and Otto 🐕‍🦺
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Time stamps:
00:00 Intro
01:03 36hrs of travelling
07:37 Hiking plans
11:14 Day 2: Hiking to Shenavall Bothy
19:20 Day 3: Shenavall Bothy to Carnmore Bothy
31:09 Day 4: Carnmore Bothy to Kinlochewe
38:36 The End

[@mikePNW]

The emotional ups and downs of solo hiking. More crappy weather, but you always push through 💪 Very inspired by you, Otto would be so proud 😊 Keep it up Elli!

[@TalesFromAbroad-SJ]

What an incredible solo adventure through the Letterewe Wilderness! It sounds like you experienced the full spectrum of what the Scottish Highlands have to offer, from stunning views to challenging weather and terrain. Thanks for sharing the detailed route and highlights from your journey. The bothies along the way seem like fascinating stops in such a remote area. Can’t wait to see more from your adventures! 😊

[@ricardoherrera7252]

Thank you Elli, for transporting us to your amazing adventures, we really enjoy all your hikes, we missed otto on this one.

[@finlaymcewan]

I was in one of the tents camping outside Shenavall bothy that night! I remember poking my head in the bothy and immediately realising it was completely full! I imagine it would be much quieter during the week, regardless still a lovely area!

[@fuoridalsentiero]

Such an incredible adventure exploring Scotland's remote Letterewe Wilderness! The landscapes are simply breathtaking, and your solo hiking journey is truly inspiring. Thank you for taking us along on this unforgettable experience! New sub🏞⛺🚶‍♂

[@DemiGod..]

Lovely accent. Nice personality, Infectious enthusiasm.

[@outingwithme1581]

Amazing episode it was , views are god level 🎉🎉. Love from India . Keep it up 👍🏼👍🏼💪🏼👍🏼

[@user-ez5jj2hq3k]

Elli - sehr schönes Video, Otto hab ich vermisst, landschaftlich wieder reizvoll.😊🎉

[@ResonatorProductions]

I enjoyed this, thanks for sharing 👍

[@scotbotvideos]

Wow, Elli. You've seen more of Scotland than I have, and I'm born and bred Scottish.

[@ellihikes]

😅😍 I just can't help myself and always keep coming back. I love it so much there 😍

[@RegEdmunds]

Over the winter and spring, I've become a real armchair hiker. I was gifted a 60" TV that is now in our conservatory (it's now my personal cinema room) and I've been happily following you hiking in the Northern Hemisphere, and following Lauren Roerick, who is hiking in the Southern Hemisphere, New Zealand. Such a contrast in hikes. It's now my morning routine as I have my first tea of the morning with my favourite muesli.

[@THE-RIVER-RAT]

Hello Elli and invisible Otto. So sad not to see Otto However, after watching your trial I can 100% understand why you had to leave him at home. Once again another great video that took you to some boggy spots (Shittttttttt) but still looked like a fantastic Hike. But that second Bothy did look like bad and that's being polite, no wonder you stayed in the tent. Elli, on hot days when I'm in my kayak I have some water shoes, you may want to pick some up for crossing rocky streams, you can get them that fold up small and would fit in your pocket, Just an idea. For anyone else who reads this comment, you should know that Elli cut about 16 hours out of this video Because she did not want us all to see her going mad because she couldn't find any Coffee shops Hehe lol 😜✌

[@user-it8hi5tm3r]

Goodness me - I did miss Otto but then I realised I was concentrating much more on your experiences during the walk and maybe you were too! I'll have to get up to see that area, one day on my 73 year old legs. Silence is golden in this day and age. All the best, Elli. M.

[@ukhikermarv]

Not been scotland for a fewyears. But looked a lovely walk. I at times jst last minute to decide to go away to the Peak District on my own ans just escape for a few days x

[@Earlofmar1]

Some people can go their whole hiking life and never leave the path. Such great experience, you can conquer anything after this.

[@martinforrester8249]

I love that area Elli, i stayed in a bunkhouse in Kinlochewe in 2017. A pal and i did the long walk in to climb Slioch, that was ok... but ...the long walk out was v tiring. I was 73, my pall was 70. Happy days. Another great story Elli, thankyou.

[@michaelatkinson8291]

Hi Elli. I know those feelings of fear & unease with walks like that. It's a strange thing because you love what you're doing so much & yet you can't help but be anxious about the isolation & things that could go wrong. That's the essence of adventure I guess. I'm so glad you enjoyed it xx

[@산림치유]

야생화 하이킹을 좋아하는 저에게는 매우 흥미롭고 즐거운 영상입니다. 늘 건강 챙기시면서 활동하시고 다음 영상도 기대하겠습니다. 감사합니다.

[@paulhuggan-cammack2928]

I stayed at Shenavall, when I did the CWT. Unfortunately, due to the close proximity of a road, it was in quite a state. Very dirty and a lot of waste food and rubbish 😠 I really enjoy your adventures, more power to you Ellie 👍

[@DemiGod..]

Waste food and rubbish says alot about city folks who visit the country. Worked for the parks department one summer, people would just dump their rubbish even if right next to a bucket. After a football match in a medow, when they left, they would leave loads of of rubbish behind. Recently caught some guy tossing a supper into a bush in hospital grounds whilst visiting, shamed him getting him to go and pick it up.

[@Peter-MH]

Seeing this terrain in the mist and fog really reminds me of hiking on Dartmoor! Looks like it was an incredible hike!

[@wandering_not_lost]

Another very entertaining video Elli thank you. It can be very slow going over difficult ground in parts of Scotland. You did really well. Good luck for the TGO Challenge.

[@ianpadley3334]

Wow! I’ve been wanting to do this exact hike for a while and now I want to do it even more. But like your other fans, we so miss Otto! Must have been tough. Good luck with the TGOC.

[@stephenvicary9243]

Once again Elli, a great video with some spectacular scenery superbly photographed & edited. (Was a bit odd without Otto but some of the terrain was challenging. A wise move to let him take a break 👍🏻) Always amazed at Scottish weather and dodgy paths you had to cope with. Very inspiring. Looking forward to the next adventure 😊

[@RegEdmunds]

You are certainly here, there and everywhere these days, and I always look forward to your videos. I'm off to hike the Pennine Way again (4th time) from Wednesday, but this time will start from Wooler and climb The Cheviot, never done it before, and will be camping at Forest View again.

[@Altol4085]

Great video Elli , always admire your willpower and determination , not easy trudging over them moors in that weather. Anyway great entertainment for us couch potatoes. Well done

[@RichardMathews-gv7lb]

Well that brought back memories. I have to say you do miserable in a very cheerful way! The road is called Destitution Road and was built by people put out of work in the Great Depression for wages. The old houses you see in the Glens are often the settlements and farms dating from the Highland Clearances. It is a spectacular area and my favourite part of Scotland along with the Torridon Giants just down the road from Kinlochewe. I seem to recall walking out like an extra out of the ‘living dead’ and then devouring two dinners in the hotel bar. Retrospectively happy days.

[@outdoorsincornwall2060]

Such a pleasure to see you've uploaded another adventure, though I have to say that I miss the obligatory shot in all your other vids of him rolling on his back :) This looks wonderful - well done on completing it even you didn't have your bestie

[@benwrong6855]

great stuff! can't be easy without the little guy, all the best! really enjoyed watching

[@Randolf4475]

Eine schöne Ecke hast du dir ausgesucht. Freue mich wieder den geheimen Star der Videos ;) Euch alles Gute.

[@chrishiking8818]

Super video Elli so much information and honesty packed into it. I think the Scottish tourist broad should sponsor you after putting so many fantastic hikes on KZbin. Bet you really missed Otto and respect takes a lot to hike alone in Scotland due to as you know it throws so much at you . Take care 🌷

[@GAPTCHANNEL]

*_Hello Elli..... solo hiking and solo camping, I am amazed by your hiking and camping location Elli, this is a savanna which is also for herding livestock, I like your adventurous style Elli.... nice to meet you, I am Rudy from Indonesia...._*

[@Daytona2]

Serious West Coast Scotland, great to see, thanks Elli A comprehensive prep for the TGO with this being the final training. It was worth going back to Germany to get your hair done 👍😁 And you took the classic sleeper train! (although it was more luxurious in the 1930s ...but then only the rich could afford it)

[@cheekuenbird38]

Awwww, so strange without Otto 😕 Many years ago, we were on holiday there with our black labrador. What a shame with the weather. Thank you for sharing ❤

[@aswinsuierveld9308]

Inspiring again, Elli! Fisherfield forest is where I've planned to go next year.

[@stuartmacleod2177]

Awesome adventure, Elli! Think I need to get planning something similar. Good luck with the C2C!

[@johnbarnas879]

Way to go Elli, keep on keeping on!

[@myadventuro]

It's great to see, keep going

[@ilanakali1030]

Thank you for you post 🎉💚🙏

[@alangauld6079]

I really enjoyed this one. For one thing it's an area I've not visited apart from the first day to Shenavall, but I went north to Dundonnell, so Letterewe is still virgin territory for me. Very interesting to see what is in store. As for the trackless section, there is a lot of that in Scotland, even when the map says there is a path, it really just means the route is navigable, not that there is an actual trail on the ground! Carnmore bothy looks like most bothies did before the MBA got active in the 60s, I've many memories of staying in places like that as a teenager - you get used to the mouldy smell after the first hour! 🙂 BTW The same weekend you were doing that I was in Knoydart and the change in weather caught me out too with a bad case of trench-foot!

[@alexcrichton6864]

Well done elli,great work, thanks for sharing, take care 😊

[@MrBarneymcgrew]

Another great one Elli thank you. Very brave going into that desolate wilderness alone, without even Otto to help! Did you have a plan for getting out in an emergency? Re the ruined cottages, check out the Highland Clearances - quite unbelievable. Looking fwd to the next one

[@michaelburke248]

Well done, Ele . Good video, thanks.

[@solodagci]

Hey Elli, thanks for letting us experience the Scotland's nature at first hand. If you wanna hike in Türkiye, let me know, I can help with tracks.

[@jwwardward1670]

Excellent video Elli,sorry Otto couldn’t come with you, could you take a moment and tell how you traveled on the flight with your rucksack and poles thankyou

[@PHYSIZIST]

Boggy ground? Try a pair of polyethylene leg covers over your socks and under your shoes /gaiters. Plastic is way better than neoprene socks which takes ages to dry. Plus your legs/feet stay warm and cosy

[@martinmilks9691]

Hello! Nice views anyway. Are you thinking about coming to Canada?

[@kayakmaccaz9256]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻🇬🇧

[@VeritySnatch]

sorry about the weather. we dont always get a summer. dont let it put you off exploring though

[@tonywozere909]

Crossing the river, "Oh sh1t" made me laugh. What would you say are the top 2 places in Germany for hills and hiking?

[@ellihikes]

Hahahaha 😅🫣 thank you for watching! Wow, Top 2 in Germany are hard: for me it would be the Black Forest (anything near Freiburg/Lake Constance) - beautiful, biiig forests, mountains up to 1400m, a lot of great long-distance trails like the Westweg. And my personal all-time favorite would be the area around Berchtesgaden/Königsee/Watzmann. It's in no way a hidden gem but a classic for a reason in my opinion. Really in the Alps, beautiful mountains, higher summits it's very beautiful!!

[@tonywozere909]

@@ellihikes Top info! Thanks for that.. Just finishing watching your film, had to pause and clean my flat! My spring break in the Lake District was a complete washout, rained constantly, I went home. Started reading about Fisher field last year, thank you for your film, has given me a good impression of what to expect.

[@robertmackay3795]

So glad you decided not to bring Otto this time.

[@ellihikes]

Yes, I wouldn't have done it with him for sure. But as I was on my own for once, I decided to explore an area that I knew I couldn't do with him.

[@damedavidfrith55]

A lot of the empty cottages where from when the landlords of the areas threw out the people and put in sheep instead with out any welfare rights for there tenants 😢 A beautiful walk ❤

[@George-gg1ny]

Soon the Lord God comes for his bridegroom and those foreign billionaires will be removed permanently and eternity 🙏🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@WildPawOut]

Great video and beautiful view

[@bobcou1]

Very brave ! I solo hike and camp often but I think its easy for men.. Sorry if that sounds sexist : (