Running across the bottom of Scotland, the Southern Upland Way traverses 212 of one of the least populated areas of Britain. It's also Britain's only official coast to coast walking route.
Opened in 1984 the Southern Upland Way is a great challenge for walkers and is especially ideal for the walker who wants to wild camp or stay in remote bothies.
And in the summer of 2011, that's exactly how I did it.
The full story is available in my ebook, The Secret Coast to Coast, or you can read highlights from my journey, below.
Posted on 9 January 2012
It's probably fair to say that more people have a Great Aunt Mabel then have heard of Scotland's official Coast to Coast walking route.
Posted on 12 January 2012
Setting off on the first day for coastal walks, tarmac and a deer.
Posted on 16 January 2012
Ruined castles, sinister cows and homemade haggis all in abundance as the journey continues.
Posted on 19 January 2012
A good plan quickly falls apart when a bothy is reached at lunchtime, and no wild camping spots can be found as the Southern Upland Way heads in to the forest.
Posted on 23 January 2012
A trip through the largest forest park in Britain leads to a remote bothy with an alcohol problem.
Posted on 26 January 2012
The rain it does come down as I struggle on from White Laggan bothy to St John's Town of Dalry.
Posted on 30 January 2012
A wet and boggy traipse across the moors and through forests where I actually see other people walking the Southern Upland Way (gasp!)
Posted on 2 February 2012
Setting off from a remote bothy, I head to the town of Sanquhar and its closed museum.
Posted on 6 February 2012
The Southern Upland Way arrives at the highest village in Scotland; the former lead mining centre of Wanlockhead.
Posted on 9 February 2012
The Southern Upland Way takes me to both its highest point, and the half way point as it heads out of Wanlockhead.
Posted on 13 February 2012
From one remote bothy to another, via the town of Moffat.
Posted on 16 February 2012
Oh my goodness, there's actually someone else who walks in this part of the world!
Posted on 20 February 2012
Around the mist covered loch, up a tower and off in to town. It's just another day on the Southern Upland Way.
Posted on 23 February 2012
It was after nine when I set off, but I still managed to leave before a bickering French family of cyclists who'd been packing up since before seven. The lady at reception had told me that the path running...
Posted on 27 February 2012
The route gets rather urban as I complete the short stretch between the towns of Galashiels and Melrose.
Posted on 1 March 2012
The route now leaves civilisation behind and heads into another section past the Southern Upland Way's last pub.
Posted on 5 March 2012
Through tiny villages and past wind farms, the Southern Upland Way even has time for a cup of tea and some cake on the penultimate day.
Posted on 8 March 2012
On the final day of walking I head to the coast and the end of the trail.
From one side of the Scotland to another on the coast to coast route that cuts right across the Scottish Lowlands, but which few seem to have heard of.
If you saw the launch of my book about the Southern Upland Way last week and wondered, "Hey, what's all that about?", well this is the video for you.
The Southern Upland Way, a 212 mile walking route across the Scottish Lowlands, has six such bothies and in the summer of 2011 I visited each one. This video is about them.
Another coast to coast adventure - this one in the Scottish Borders.
A series of postcards drawn and sent from the Southern Upland Way.
If walking the Southern Upland Way is something you'd like to try, this guide is absolutely chock full of useful information for you.
