Long Distance Foot Paths
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Click on the picture for an article by Jacquetta Megarry of Rucksack Readers: Guides to long-distance paths |
There are only 4 'official' long-distance paths: those that are recognised by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and designated as Long Distance Routes (LDRs). These routes are all way-marked with distinctive marker posts (a thistle in a hexagon) and they are managed and maintained, usually by the local authorities through which they travel, and ranger services are on hand to help.
However, there are many more long-distance paths across Scotland; some are maintained by local authorities with ranger services and indicated on the ground with waymarks but many are only decsribed in books. There are dedicated websites and/or books for each path.
Summary details can be found below with active links to websites.
Official Long Distance Routes (LDRs)
The following officially recognised Long Distance Routes offer a variety of different walking experiences.
Southern Upland Way 341km (212m)
The Southern Upland Way runs coast to coast from Portpatrick on the south-west coast of Scotland in Galloway to Cockburnspath on the North Sea coast north of Berwick. Mainly covering lower hill areas and glens it does have sections over moorland.
http://www.southernuplandway.com
The West Highland Way 153km (95m)
Starting at Milngavie, on the northern edge of Glasgow, the West Highland Way travels north to the foot of Britain's highest mountain, Ben Nevis. It is a superb walk through some of Scotland’s finest scenery of the Highlands as it follows the shores of Scotland largest loch, Loch Lomond in its lower reaches (walking that is in pleasant and relaxing) and then crosses the edge of Rannoch Moor and over the Devils Staircase providing strenuous rough and more remote walking.
http://www.west-highland-way.co.uk/
The Great Glen Way 118km (73m)
The Great Glen Way travels from Fort William at the northern end of the West Highland Way to Inverness following the Great Glen Fault. The route follows the line of the Caledonian Canal for almost its entire way, linking Loch Lochy, Loch Oich and the famous Loch Ness (home to ‘Nessie’). The way departs to the west of Loch Ness shortly after Drumnadrochit and takes a moor and farmland route before finally entering Inverness.
http://www.greatglenway.com/
The Speyside Way 68km (42m)
Starting at the Spey Bay on the Moray Firth the Speyside Way follows the river valley southwards along riverside tracks and quiet country lanes to Craigellachie in Morayshire. From here, the Way follows the former Strathspey railway line to Ballindalloch, close by the confluence of the Spey and the River Avon. The main route follows the Spey to Grantown and Nethy Bridge to finish at Aviemore, but there is a separate spur from Ballindalloch that crosses the shoulder of Ben Rinnes to Glenlivet (of whisky fame) and then to Tomintoul, one of the highest villages in Scotland.
http://www.moray.org/area/speyway/webpages/swhome.htm
Unofficial Long-distance Paths
The following routes have been recorded and written about, but are not officially designated as Long Distance Routes. Some are maintained by the local authority ranger services and others are not. Those not recognised officially, nor maintained, are serious expeditions, usually with long stretches of remote land with no habitation where self-sufficiency is a necessity.
Borders Abbeys Way 109km (68m)
A circular walk around the towns and villages of the Borders which starts and finishes in Jedbburgh.
http://www.bordersabbeyway.co.uk/
St Cuthbert’s Way 100km (63m)
St. Cuthbert's Way extends from Melrose in the Scottish borders to the island of Lindisfarne just off the coast of Northumberland in north-east England, linking places associated with St Cuthbert. It covers a variety mainly low level areas including the Tweed valley, the small but beautifully formed Eildon Hills, the rolling Cheviot Hills and the Northumberland coast.
http://www.stcuthbertsway.fsnet.co.uk/
The Kintyre Way 140km (87m)
The route takes a southerly line from Tarbert in the north (the entry-point to this long distinctive peninsular) to Dunaverty Bay in the south. It has superb beaches, surprisingly remote hinterland of moors and small hills and always amazing views to the islands of Islay, Jura and Arran.
http://kintyreway.com
Ayrshire Coastal Path 161km (100m)
A tour round the famous Ayrshire historic sites including Burn's heritage Park and Dundonald Castle. Starting in Glenapp north of Stranraer and finishing in Skelmorlie near Largs.
http://www.ayrshirecoastalpath.org
Arran Coastal Way 100km (63m)
The Coastal Way of the Isle of Arran provides a continuous low level walking routes around the coast of Arran passing through most of the villages on the island. The mountainous north of Arran is well known as a walkers paradise (Scotland in miniature) offering rugged terrain and scrambling ridges but now The Coastal Way offers a combination of the varied habitats including stretches of forest, rugged rocky coastlines, and gentle sandy beaches and pastoral farmland plus a little more mountainous terrain thrown in for good measure. The paths are all well walked and should be easily completed by the average walker.
http://www.coastalway.co.uk/
The Cowal Way 75km (47m)
A route running the length of Argyll's Cowal peninsula: starting in the south-west at Portavadie, beside Loch Fyne and finishing in the north-east at Ardgatan by Loch Long. The route is waymarked and involves walking on roads, along lochside, hill and woodland terrains and gains a maximum height of 1,540m (5,050ft). Some sections can involve steep and strenuous walking and there are fixed ropes on exposed parts of the Craig Lodge to Tighnabruich section to help those of a nervous disposition.
http://walking.visitscotland.com/walks/argyllisles/213669
http://www.cowalway.org.uk
The Fife Coast Path 150k (95m)
The Fife Coastal Path stretches from North Queensferry on the north side of the Firth of Forth in the south stretching to the Tay Bridge across to Dundee in the north. Relatively easy walking takes in some of the most beautiful fishing villages on Scotland’s coastline; encoutering historic castles, rugged sandstone sea caves, and stunning sandy beaches and including internationally important wildlife reserves. The definitive book is ‘Along the Fife Coast Path’ by Hamish Brown.
http://www.fifecoastalpath.co.uk/
The Rob Roy Way 148km (92m)
A stunning route from Drymen, north of Glasgow at the entrance to The Trossachs area, following low level paths and tracks through the glens of the Central Highlands that was the home of the historical hero of Rob Roy MacGreggor. It passes through Callander, Strathyre (near Rob Roy’s home and final resting place), Lochernhead and Killin on the shores of Loch Tay to then follow Tayside to Pitlochry.
http://www.robroyway.com/
The Cateran Trail 103km (64m)
This circular route starting in the Perthshire town of Blairgowrie, follows the old routes of the Caterans – cattle thieves who flourished in the more remote areas of the highlands until the 17th century. It heads up glen paths into the southern fringes of the Cairn Gorm Mountains with spectacular high mountain views whilst gaining considerable height when crossing mountain passes, before returning via the wooded and farmed slopes of Glenisla.
http://www.pkct.org/caterantrail/
The East Highland Trail 121km (75m)
A newly organised trail linking the West Highland Way to the Speyside way starting from Fort William it takes in some of the most stunning mountain lochs and castles on its way to Aviemore. http://easthighlandway.com
The Highland Drovers Walk 321km (200m)
An old cattle drover’s route from the Isle of Skye through the western Highlands taking some remote highland passes through the ‘Rough Bounds of Knoydart to Fort William, then through the Grampian mountains to the ancient market town of Crieff.
The Famous Highland Drover’s Walk by Irvine Butterfield
The Dava Way 36km
A trail across the ancient Celtic province of Morayshire linking the historic towns of Forres and Grantown-on-Spey. It links Strathspey and the Cairngorms National Park with the Moray Coast in North East Scotland. Almost all of the route follows the old Highland Railway line and is off road. It passes through a mix of farmland, woodland and moorland as you climb from the Spey Valley to cross Dava Moor before descending to the Moray Firth
www.davaway.org.uk
Cape Wrath Trail 326km (202m)
Possibly Scotland’s toughest long distance walk, this starts in Fort William and takes in as much of the North Western Highland’s finest scenery of Glen Shiel, Torridon, Fisherfield, Quinag, Sandwood bay and Cape Wrath. Rough walking, pathless in places, over remote ground makes this a delight for backpackers who seek solitude and a little adventure.
North to the Cape: A Trek from Fort William to Cape Wrath by Denis Brook & Phil Hinchcliff. Cicerone.
