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Southern Upland Way

Longformacus to Cockburnspath

Walking Route  -
Challenge

This route is one of 12 sections of the Southern Upland Way. At first you will be following the path through a mixture of farmland and woodland.

height
18.5mi
29.5km
trending_flat
2,230ft
680m
trending_flat
2,657ft
810m
Towns along route: Longformacus, Cockburnspath

Lauder to Longformacus

Walking Route  -
Challenge

This route is one of 12 sections of the Southern Upland Way. Leaving Lauder and passing by the dramatic Thirlestane Castle you will start to gain height.

height
15mi
24km
trending_flat
1,870ft
570m
trending_flat
1,771ft
540m
Towns along route: Lauder, Longformacus

Melrose to Lauder

Walking Route  -
Hard

This route is one of 12 sections of the Southern Upland Way. Starting in the historic town of Melrose you will start by crossing the River Tweed on the Gattonside suspension bridge.

height
9.5mi
15.5km
trending_flat
1,148ft
350m
trending_flat
853ft
260m
Towns along route: Melrose, Lauder

Traquair to Melrose

Walking Route  -
Hard

This route is one of 12 sections of the Southern Upland Way. The two halves of this section have very different landscapes.

height
17.5mi
28.5km
trending_flat
2,952ft
900m
trending_flat
3,214ft
980m
Towns along route: Traquair, Melrose

St Mary’s Loch to Traquair

Walking Route  -
Hard

This route is one of 12 sections of the Southern Upland Way. After passing sculptures, a historic tower and remote moorland you will end up at a small village with a country house.

height
10mi
16km
trending_flat
1,378ft
420m
trending_flat
1,640ft
500m
Towns along route: Traquair

Beattock to St Mary’s Loch

Walking Route  -
Challenge

This route is one of 12 sections of the Southern Upland Way. At Beattock the route safely crosses under the M74 motorway and out into farmland.

height
22.5mi
36.5km
trending_flat
3,739ft
1,140m
trending_flat
3,313ft
1,010m
Towns along route: Beattock

Wanlockhead to Beattock

Walking Route  -
Challenge

This route is one of 12 sections of the Southern Upland Way. You will have seen the golf ball on the top of Lowther Hill as you came in to Wanlockhead the day before and now you will be climbing up to it.

height
19.5mi
31.5km
trending_flat
3,050ft
930m
trending_flat
4,034ft
1,230m
Towns along route: Wanlockhead, Beattock

Sanquhar to Wanlockhead

Walking Route  -
Hard

This route is one of 12 sections of the Southern Upland Way. From the ruins of Sanquhar castle, the incredible landscape art of the Crawick Multiverse to the industrial heritage of Wanlockhead this section gives an opportunity to explore the history and culture of the area.

height
7.5mi
12km
trending_flat
1,902ft
580m
trending_flat
1,017ft
310m
Towns along route: Sanquhar, Wanlockhead

St John’s Town of Dalry to Sanquhar

Walking Route  -
Challenge

This route is one of 12 sections of the Southern Upland Way. The start of the section goes through farmland, getting higher and wilder as you pass around Ardoch Hill and start climbing Culmark Hill.

height
26.5mi
42.5km
trending_flat
3,575ft
1,090m
trending_flat
3,411ft
1,040m
Towns along route: St. Johns Town of Dalry, Sanquhar

Bargrennan to St John’s Town of Dalry

Walking Route  -
Challenge

This route is one of 12 sections of the Southern Upland Way. If you have stayed the night in the campsite or in Glentrool it is well worth retracing your steps to do the riverside section along the Water of Minnoch.

height
25mi
40.5km
trending_flat
3,083ft
940m
trending_flat
2,985ft
910m
Towns along route: Bargrennan, St. Johns Town of Dalry

Castle Kennedy to Bargrennan

Walking Route  -
Challenge

This route is one of 12 sections of the Southern Upland Way. After leaving the tranquil grounds of Castle Kennedy Gardens you soon start to climb up towards the wild landscape of Glenwhan Moor.

height
26.5mi
42.5km
trending_flat
2,427ft
740m
trending_flat
2,329ft
710m
Towns along route: Castle Kennedy, Bargrennan

Portpatrick to Castle Kennedy

Walking Route  -
Hard

This route is one of 12 sections of the Southern Upland Way Your starting point is Portpatrick, a fishing village popular with tourists.

height
13.5mi
21.5km
trending_flat
1,115ft
340m
trending_flat
1,082ft
330m
Towns along route: Portpatrick, Castle Kennedy

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