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The Southern Upland Way is Scotland's Coast-to-Coast Walk and the longest of the National Trails north of the Border. It runs for 212 miles (341km) from picturesque Portpatrick on the west coast across the Galloway and Border Hills to finish on the east coast at Cockburnspath south of Dunbar. On the way, it passes through remote and romantic country and visits many of the locations associated with Scotland's often turbulent past. Dalry, Sanquhar, Wanlockhead (Britain's highest village), Moffat, Galashiels, Melrose and Lauder are all staging posts en route. The guidebook divides the walk into thirteen stages of varying length that will fill a two-week walking holiday in this relatively unknown area of Britain. The walk is at times a somewhat strenuous one, but advice is given on how all the longer stages may be broken down into shorter, more manageable sections. Possibilities for shorter walking holidays along the Way are also fully discussed. The guide is packed with information on the many places of interest passed en route and the historical connections are thoroughly discussed.
PART 1 - INTRODUCTION The Southern Upland Way Which way to go: West to East or East to West? What time of Year to walk the Trail? Ways of tackling the SUW Luggage transport and drop-off/pick-up services Accommodation along the SUW Getting to and from the SUW Planning: what to do before you leave home Equipment Maps Navigating along the SUW Access in Scotland SUW Information Leaflets and Boards The E2 Ticks Completion Certificates and SUW Badges A High Level Alternative Coast-to-Coast Notes on using this guidebook PART 2 - TRAIL GUIDE Stage 1 Portpatrick to Castle Kennedy Stage 2 Castle Kennedy to New Luce Stage 3 New Luce to Bargrennan Stage 4 Bargrennan to St John's Town of Dalry Stage 5 St John's Town of Dalry to Sanquhar Stage 6 Sanquhar to Wanlockhead Stage 7 Wanlockhead to Beattock (Moffat) Rest Day Moffat and environs Stage 8 Beattock (Moffat) to Tibbie Shiels (St Mary's Loch) Stage 9 Tibbie Shiels (St Mary's Loch) to Traquair (Innerleithen) Stage 10 Traquair (Innerleithen) to Melrose Stage 11 Melrose to Lauder Stage 12 Lauder across the Lammermuir Hills to Longformacus Stage 13 Longformacus to Cockburnspath APPENDICES Appendix 1 Bothies along the SUW Appendix 2 Bibliography Appendix 3 Useful Addresses, Telephone Numbers and Websites
Alan Castle is a writer and photographer specialising in the outdoors, walking, backpacking, mountain walking, trekking and travel in the UK, Europe and worldwide. His interests include UK and European long distance trails, challenge walking, Munros and peak bagging, and adventure travel - he leads several walking holidays throughout Europe each year. He is an occasional contributor to a number of walking magazines and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and a member of the Austrian Alpine Club.
