Day 1 - Arrive in Portpatrick
Arrive at your accommodation in Portpatrick.
Day 2 – Portpatrick to Castle Kennedy
A gentle coastal path starts your adventure, you will meander along cliff tops, visit small coves and beaches before heading inland at the lighthouse of Killantringan. Soon the landscape starts to open up and you experience the wildness of Broad Moor. Bypassing Stranraer, narrow lanes and tracks take you into Castle Kennedy and your accommodation.
22km (14 miles), 350m (1200ft) of ascent
Day 3 – Castle Kennedy to New Luce
Leaving Castle Kennedy, you follow trails through woodland beside White Loch and Black Loch before coming to the edge of the stark Airyolland Moss. Crossing the Water of Luce, you come to the moorland of Kilhern Moss, which is just as barren. You leave the trail to descend into New Luce for tonight’s accommodation.
15km (9 miles), 300m (900ft) of ascent
Day 4 – New Luce to Bargrennan
Today will be a long walk with lots of interesting sights, to help you on the way. On leaving New Luce, look out for the Loups of Barnhangan waterfall on the Cross Water of Luce. You start to climb into the hills where you will see Beehive Bothy and the prehistoric standing stones of Laggangarn. You will cross the 1000ft (304.8m) contour line for the first time as you reach the summit of Craig Airie. You will get a magnificent view of the distant Galloway Hills which is where you are heading. Be warned, you won’t see a road for about 23km. (14.3 miles). Continue onwards to Bargrennan where you will find your accommodation.
29km (18 miles), 450m (1500ft) of ascent
Day 5 – Bargrennan to Craigenbay (Pick up point 1)
Lochs, woodland and open moorland await you today. You start in the woodland, following the River Cree, before turning to follow the Water of Minnoch and finally the Water of Trool. As you reach the end of Loch Trool, a mountainous vista welcomes you. Welcome to the Galloway Hills. A steep climb lies ahead up to Loch Dee. From here it is woodland trail walking to Craigenbay, passing the reservoir of Loch Clatteringshaws. You will then be collected and taken to your overnight stay.
29km (18 miles), 600m (2000ft) of ascent
Day 6 - Craigenbay to Stroanpatrick (Pick up point 2)
Your taxi will return you to where you finished your walk yesterday.
The climb over Low Benbrack is your starting point today, before heading out into the mountains and all their splendour. From Waterside Hill, you get a really good view of St John’s Town of Dalry, which you pass through before embarking on the last leg to Stroanpatrick, where you will be collected for your overnight stay.
25km (16 miles), 550m (1900ft) of ascent
Day 7 – Stroanpatrick to Sanquhar
Your taxi will return you to where you finished your walk yesterday.
Today will probably be the most challenging walk of the Southern Upland Way. Make sure you take extra provisions as the way ahead is very remote. You will summit Benbrack at 580m (1902ft) with the Striding Arch sculpture. Look out for more sculptures as you traverse this area. The paths are mainly good and there are lots of opportunities to take in the spectacular 360⁰ views. You are back to civilization as you reach the village of Ulzieside and on to Sanquhar where you will spend the evening.
29km (18 miles), 700m (2300ft) of ascent
Day 8 - Sanquhar to Overfingland, Dalveen Pass (Pick up point 3)
It’s a relatively easy start to your days walking with the Way taking you over the lower, rolling hills of the Lowther Range with steep sided valleys before descending Glengaber into the Wanlock valley and on to Wanlockhead, famous for its lead mining industry. From here it is a steep climb to the summit of Lowther Hill at 712m (2335ft), followed by Cold Moss 628m (2060ft), Comb Head 609m (1998ft) and on to Laght Hill 507m (1663ft) before dropping down onto the A702 at Overfingland. Your taxi will be here to take you to your overnight accommodation.
21km (13 miles), 1000m (3400ft) of ascent
Day 9 - Overfingland, Dalveen Pass to Beattock/Moffat
Your taxi will return you to where your walk finished yesterday.
After the exciting walk of yesterday, today’s walk might feel a bit ‘uninspiring’ but you will bag the summit of Sweetshaw Brae at 448m (1469ft), which overlooks the vast Daer Reservoir and witness some good views back to the Lowther Hills before trekking through the forestry plantations into Beattock, where you walk a further 2.1km into Moffat for a well-deserved rest day.
24km (15 miles) + Moffat 2.1km (1.3 miles), 550m (1900ft) of ascent
Day 10 - Rest Day
A well deserved rest day to explore Moffat and the surrounding area if you wish.
Day 11 - Beattock/Moffat to Scabcleuch, Ettrick Water (Pick up point 4)
You can pick up the trail from Moffat today but might feel that you have missed a bit, so you could backtrack to where you left the Way in Beattock and then continue. The walk today joins with the Romans and Reivers Route, meandering via Forestry Commission tracks, through the hills of Yadburgh Hill and Gateshaw Rig, where you leave the Romans and Reivers Way and continue north towards Ettrick Head. There is an alternative route via the summits of Gateshaw Rig and Croft Head, but this is weather dependent and a personal choice. Once you reach Over Phawhope, it is easy road walking to Scabcleuch, where you will be collected to go to your overnight stay.
26km (16 miles), 750m (2500ft) of ascent
Day 12 - Scabcleuch, Ettrick Water to Traquair
Your taxi will return you to where your walk finished yesterday.
Heading up the Scabcleuch Burn, you begin one of the classic hill walks in Southern Scotland. Today you are heading up past St Mary’s Loch, Tibbie Shiels Inn and the monument of James Hogg, a well known poet associated with Southern Scotland. It’ll be good ridge walking along good paths. You will also join the Cross Borders Drove Road to bring you into Traquair where you will find your accommodation for the evening.
28km (17 miles), 800m (2600ft) of ascent
Day 13 – Traquair to Melrose
Today you continue to walk along the Cross Borders Drove Road, incorporating a climb up to Minchmoor, keep a look out for the ‘land art’. Following a stunning ridge walk, you will reach the summit of the Three Brethren 463m (1522ft) for an amazing vista. You descend to the River Tweed, cross over to Galashiels and then a river walk into the historic town of Melrose, where the Border Abbey’s Walk and St Cuthbert’s Way walks converge and where you will stay tonight.
30km (18 miles), 850m (2800ft) of ascent
Day 14 – Melrose to Lauder
A shorter day today allows for time to explore Melrose before setting off to Lauder. Walking is pretty easy going, along the line of a Roman road, having crossed the suspension bridge over the River Tweed.
16km (10 miles), 350m (1200ft) of ascent
Day 15 – Lauder to Longformacus via the Lammermuir Hills
Today is spent traversing the ancient route over the Lammermiur Hills. It offers some spectacular views, especially from the summit of Twin Law 447m (1466ft) but a lot of the walking is across heathery upland moorland, so care needs to be taken especially in poor weather. The path descends to Watch Water reservoir, followed by a farm track into Longformacus, for a good night’s sleep before the embarking on the last day of your amazing trip.
23km (15 miles), 550m (1800ft) of ascent
Day 16 – Longformacus to Cockburnspath
Your final day of walking is fairly easy, through arable farmland and woodland. A quick visit to the little hamlet of Abbey St Bathans where you can see the historic church before the path heads to the fields and then crosses the A1 before joining up with the Berwickshire Coastal Path. As Pease Bay comes into sight, you know that you have achieved walking Scotland’s longest Great Trail. Just time to dip your toes into the North Sea before a celebratory drink! This is the end of your adventure, unless you have booked an extra night’s accommodation with us. Safe onward travel and well done!
30km (19 miles), 650m (2200ft)
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