Long-distance walk · Scotland
Southern Upland Way
Scotland's coast-to-coast across the Southern Uplands: long, remote and quiet.
- Distance
- 345 km
- 214 miles
- Stages
- 13
- 12–16 days for most people
- Total ascent
- 7,468 m
- over the whole trail
- Highest point
- 708 m
About the Southern Upland Way
The Southern Upland Way crosses southern Scotland from Portpatrick on the Irish Sea to Cockburnspath on the North Sea. It's the longest and toughest of Scotland's Great Trails, over moorland, forest and the rounded hills of Galloway, the Lowthers and the Borders.
Some stages are long and very remote, with no shops or shelter between the stage ends, so plan accommodation and food carefully. You'll often have the trail to yourself.
Stages
The usual stages, ending where there's somewhere to stay. Times are by Naismith's rule, without stops.
| Stage | Route | Distance | Ascent | Time | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portpatrick to Castle Kennedy | 21.2 km | 290 m | 4½ h | GPX for stage 1 |
| 2 | Castle Kennedy to New Luce | 15.0 km | 207 m | 3½ h | GPX for stage 2 |
| 3 | New Luce to Bargrennan | 28.2 km | 359 m | 6 h | GPX for stage 3 |
| 4 | Bargrennan to St John's Town of Dalry | 40.5 km | 676 m | 9 h | GPX for stage 4 |
| 5 | St John's Town of Dalry to Sanquhar | 42.5 km | 996 m | 10 h | GPX for stage 5 |
| 6 | Sanquhar to Wanlockhead | 16.4 km | 593 m | 4½ h | GPX for stage 6 |
| 7 | Wanlockhead to Beattock | 31.7 km | 996 m | 8 h | GPX for stage 7 |
| 8 | Beattock to St Mary's Loch | 35.5 km | 883 m | 8½ h | GPX for stage 8 |
| 9 | St Mary's Loch to Traquair | 17.2 km | 363 m | 4 h | GPX for stage 9 |
| 10 | Traquair to Melrose | 28.4 km | 808 m | 7 h | GPX for stage 10 |
| 11 | Melrose to Lauder | 15.4 km | 303 m | 3½ h | GPX for stage 11 |
| 12 | Lauder to Longformacus | 24.0 km | 476 m | 5½ h | GPX for stage 12 |
| 13 | Longformacus to Cockburnspath | 28.7 km | 514 m | 6½ h | GPX for stage 13 |
Walks along the way
Day walks that start near the trail, for a rest day or a detour.
