WHETHER its bagging one of the nations 282 Munros or meandering along one of Scotland’s long-distance routes, walking tourists from other parts of the UK are worth up to £1.26 billion to the Scottish economy, according to new figures.

Research from VisitScotland found that in 2015 four million trips by visitors from the UK included walking as an activity, with figures broken down into short walks (up to two miles) and long walks (a minimum of two miles). The latter increased by almost a fifth (18 per cent) on the previous year.

From the West Highland Way to the Great Glen Way, the Hebridean Way to the John Muir Way, Scotland is famed for its long-distance walking routes, many of which pass through some of the country’s most beautiful landscapes.

The figures also showed that walking was most popular with those aged 55-64 and that millennials made up over a quarter (26 per cent) of visitors participating in long walks.

Cameron McNeish, an author and TV presenter known as an authority on hillwalking, said the reasons Scotland is such an attractive place for walkers are plentiful.

“The hills may not be high in terms of world standards, but they’re tough little hills,” he said.

“They are also little hills you can climb in a day and be back and be back in the pub by tea-time, and that’s attractive to a lot of people. That’s where a lot of the money is spent.

“If you go on to some of the big mountain ranges in the world you tend to go into the mountains where there’s not so much to spend money on. Here in Scotland people generally climb the mountain in a day they get back down, they go to the pub or they go to a hotel, or whatever, and spend their money.”

McNeish added that he was initially surprised at the £1.26bn figure, but then realised that walkers, and hillwalkers especially, spend a lot of money – even if his evidence doesn’t stretch beyond the fact that his local pub is usually full of hillwalkers.

Added to this is Scotland’s reputation – VisitScotland revealed that 93 per cent of those asked would likely recommend Scotland as a holiday or short break destination – and the fact that walkers are low-maintenance given that the facilities required for their jaunts are contained within nature itself.

Furthermore, Scotland’s ramblers are backed by legislation that provides strong access rights.

“It’s very encouraging because I think what is important to remember is that hillwalkers don’t ask for very much,” he said. “The hills are already there, we’ve got the best access legislation, possibly in the world, and that attracts people.

“Scotland has a reputation as a country where people can come and enjoy adventurous activities.

“There’s something quite attractive about our mountains in Scotland because of where Scotland is positioned. We are quite a northern country so the weather conditions we get tend to be Arctic as opposed to alpine and sunny and balmy,” he added.

“That attracts an awful lot of people who want to come to the hills for adventure.”

VisitScotland believe walking tourism is only likely to grow in future, especially given growth being identified in the health and wellbeing tourism sector. Their chief executive Malcolm Roughead, thinks this means walking as part of a holiday could become more and more popular.

“The growing interest in health and wellbeing presents a fantastic opportunity for Scotland to promote itself, not only through its inspiring landscapes but also through the health benefits of walking and being outdoors,” he said.

“VisitScotland continues to work with communities to showcase the rich assets, hidden gems and local stories in every region in Scotland.”

Meanwhile, as Scotland’s deer stalking season gets into full swing, Mountaineering Scotland has launched a web-based service to avoid conflict between walkers and stalkers.