Southern Upland Way
Description
- Length of trail 341 km, 212 miles
- Length in days 17 days
- Traildino grading EW, Easy walk, nature trail
Long Distance Route in Scotland
Scotland's Coast to Coast route is long and lonely. The trail is located in the deserted area south of Glasgow and Edinburgh, far from the popular Scottish Highlands.
Count on a walk of about two weeks undulating heathland. This heather is not only feeding the sheep, but also grouse. Every year, bits of land are set to fire to promote the growth of young plants which feed these birds. Other birds that you will surely see are Raven. And on the west coast you may see Gannets, large black and white birds who spectacularly dive into the sea.
Another facet that will certainly fetch your attention, are the forests. After the war, these forests were created as stiff, dull, square plots of spruce. Perhaps you will appreciate forests like these one days. Most people hate them. The foresters have knocked the wheel, and are gradually creating a more playful forests to please us. The plantations remain artificial, but remember the moorlands and grasslands are not natural either.
The path is part of the E2 European Long Distance Trail.
Map
Links
Facts
- Southern Upland Way (pdf)
Brochure
- Southern Upland Way - The Official Website, Walking, Coast to Coast, South of Scotland, Hiking, Trekking, SUW
Official Home Page
- Ramblers | S | Southern Upland Way
- Southern Upland Way - LDWA Long Distance Paths
- Southern Upland Way Feature Page on Undiscovered Scotland
A description of the trail by Undiscovered Scotland
- Southern Upland Way on AboutBritain.com
Sectionwise description by AboutBritain.com
- Southern Upland Way, Scotland, walking : VisitBritain
Description of the trail, day by day, with a plan to start with.
Reports
- A blog of my travels » Southern Upland Way
This blog gives you a good idea of what to expect on this long coast to coast walk.
- Southern Upland Way Diary 2003 Part 1
George Tod's account of his hike, 15 days in 2003: “Every long distance walk has some tedious sections, but this one had more than I felt happy with”.
- Southern Upland Way | Scotland's Coast to Coast | Adventure Journal
An “Adventure Journal” of a hiking couple in 2007
- The Southern Upland Way, a long distance footpath in Scotland.
A report by Patrick van Noort, back in 1998.
- Walking the E2 - SUW
This is Andrew Stephenson excellent diary, on his walk on the UK E2.
- Appalachian Trail Hiker's guide to Scotland's Southern Upland way
Advice from a Keith Drury, an AT hiker.
- Four Days on the Southern Upland Way
A trip report by by Susan Reynolds.
- Southern Upland Way
This trail report, containing short characteristics of every single day, dates back from 1996.
- Report by George Tod (2003)
Guides and maps
Lodging
Organisations
Tour operators
GPS
Other
- The Southern Upland Way - An underused source for Southern Scotland? (pdf)
Survey, R.o.I. Of the Southern Upland way. Interesting to know that the mean value of the trail was estimated to be in the region of 423.087,20 Sterling, 2004.
Books

United Kingdom
2013
- The Southern Upland Way
- A handy pocket sized guidebook for anyone planning to walk the Southern Upland Way National Trail. The coast to coast walk runs for 212 miles (341km) from Portpatrick on the west coast to Cockburnspath on the east. The walk is described in 13 stages suitable for a two-week holiday. Possibilities for shorter walks along the Way are also described. Read more
- Also available from:
- eBooks.de, Germany
- The Book Depository, United Kingdom

Germany
2013
- Castle, Alan: The Southern Upland Way
- Scotland´s Coast to Coast Trail. 1st edition. Read more

United Kingdom
2013
- The Southern Upland Way
- Scotland's Coast to Coast Trail Read more

Netherlands
2011
- Wandelgids Speyside Way - Whisky Trail (Schotland) | Conrad Stein |
- Wandelgids met een routebeschrijving van de Speyside weg in Schotland met beperkt kaartmateriaal. Duitstalig. 4. Auflage 2011, 176 Seiten, 21 Karten, 42 farbige Abbildungen, 3 farbige Höhenprofile Der Speyside Way ist neben dem West Highland Way und dem Southern Upland Way der dritte im Bunde der klassischen schottischen Fernwanderwege. Er... Read more
- Also available from:
- Buch.de, Germany
- eBooks.de, Germany

Germany
2011
- Schottland: Speyside Way - Whisky Trail
- Der Speyside Way ist neben dem West Highland Way und dem Southern Upland Way der dritte im Bunde der klassischen schottischen Fernwanderwege. Er führt von Buckie erst an der Nordsee, dann am River Spey entlang durch das Zentrum der schottischen Whiskyherstellung bis in die mächtigen Grampian Mountains. Auf diesem Weg kommen Sie direkt an... Read more

Germany
2011
- Engel, Hartmut: Schottland: Speyside Way - Whisky Trail
- OutdoorHandbuch. 4.,. Auflage Read more

United Kingdom
2010
- Walking the Galloway Hills
- A Paddy Dillon guide to walking and trekking in the Galloway Hills, southwest Scotland, UK, including Merrick, Corserine, Millfore and the Rhinns of Kells, a 5-day tour and a brief description of the Southern Uplands Way. The 33 circular day walks and 7 longer expeditions in this guidebook explore an area of rocky, heathery wilderness. Read more
- Also available from:
- The Book Depository, United Kingdom

Netherlands
2005
- The Southern Upland Way: Official Guide - Wandelgids Schotland |
- Beschrijving van het lange afstand pad de Southern Upland Way in het zuiden van Schotland: een prachtige wandeling door onherbergzaam verlaten gebieden. Bijgevoegd een kaart met ingetekende route. Goede informatie. Opened in 1984, the Southern Upland Way was Britain´s first official coast-to-coast footpath. In its 212-mile route across... Read more
Maps

United Kingdom
- Girvan
- An all purpose map packed full of information to help you really get to know an area. The 204 Landranger maps cover the country. Each map covers an area of 40 km by 40 km (25 miles by 25 miles) and like other Ordnance Survey maps, National Grid squares are provided so that any feature can be given a unique reference number. Read more
- Also available from:
- Stanfords, United Kingdom
- De Zwerver, Netherlands

United Kingdom
- Girvan
- Map No. 76, Girvan, in the Ordnance Survey Landranger series at 1:50,000, including Maybole, Ballantrae, Barrhill, Heronsford, Pinwherry, Colmonell, Lendalfoot, Barr, Old Dailly, Dailly, Turnberry, Crosshill and Maidens, with Galloway Forest Park, Craigenreoch, Carrick, Penwhapple Reservoir, Loch Moan, Loch Dormal, Loch Ochiltree, Stab Hill,... Read more
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Netherlands
- Wandelkaart Schotland Landranger 076 Girvan, Ballantrae & Barrhill | Ordnance Survey |
- Zeer goede detailkaart met topografische ondergrond. Hierop zijn toeristische symbolen van bezienswaardigheden ingetekend, daarnaast staan bijvoorbeeld campings en jeugdherbergen vermeld en - voor wandelaars het belangrijkst - alle right of way paden en Lange afstands Wandelpaden zijn er op te vinden. De ideale kaart voor het wandelen in... Read more

United Kingdom
- Nithsdale and Annandale
- Map No. 78, Nithsdale and Annandale, in the Ordnance Survey Landranger series at 1:50,000, including Moffat, Sanquhar, Lockerbie, Wanlockhead, Leadhill, Elvanfoot, Ericstane, Beattock, Newton, Johnstonebridge, Parkgate, Durisdeer, Carronbridge, Thornhill, Tynron, Penpont, Moniaive, Dunscore, Holywood, Auldgirth, Ae, Closeburn, Locharbriggs and... Read more
- Also available from:
- De Zwerver, Netherlands
- Ordnance Survey , United Kingdom
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Netherlands
- Wandelkaart Schotland Landranger 078 Nithsdale & Annandale, Sanquhar & Moffat | Ordnance Survey |
- Zeer goede detailkaart met topografische ondergrond. Hierop zijn toeristische symbolen van bezienswaardigheden ingetekend, daarnaast staan bijvoorbeeld campings en jeugdherbergen vermeld en - voor wandelaars het belangrijkst - alle right of way paden en Lange afstands Wandelpaden zijn er op te vinden. De ideale kaart voor het wandelen in... Read more

United Kingdom
- Nithsdale & Ann&ale
- An all purpose map packed full of information to help you really get to know an area. The 204 Landranger maps cover the country. Each map covers an area of 40 km by 40 km (25 miles by 25 miles) and like other Ordnance Survey maps, National Grid squares are provided so that any feature can be given a unique reference number. Read more

United Kingdom
- Girvan OS ACTIVE Map
- Map No. 76, Girvan, in the waterproof and tear-resistant OS Active version of the Ordnance Survey Landranger series at 1:50,000, including Maybole, Ballantrae, Barrhill, Heronsford, Pinwherry, Colmonell, Lendalfoot, Barr, Old Dailly, Dailly, Turnberry, Crosshill and Maidens, with Galloway Forest Park, Craigenreoch, Carrick, Penwhapple... Read more
- Also available from:
- Ordnance Survey , United Kingdom

United Kingdom
- Girvan
- OS Landranger Map - Active is a new encapsulated product that is tough, durable and weatherproof. The maps are covered in a protective plastic coating that can be written on, so your favourite routes can be easily highlighted. They are also lightweight and compact; just right for the active map user. Read more

United Kingdom
- Nithsdale and AnnandaleOS ACTIVE Map
- Map No. 78, Nithsdale and Annandale, in the waterproof and tear-resistant OS Active version of the Ordnance Survey Landranger series at 1:50,000, including Moffat, Sanquhar, Lockerbie, Wanlockhead, Leadhill, Elvanfoot, Ericstane, Beattock, Newton, Johnstonebridge, Parkgate, Durisdeer, Carronbridge, Thornhill, Tynron, Penpont, Moniaive,... Read more
- Also available from:
- Ordnance Survey , United Kingdom

United Kingdom
- Nithsdale & Ann&ale
- OS Landranger Map - Active is a new encapsulated product that is tough, durable and weatherproof. The maps are covered in a protective plastic coating that can be written on, so your favourite routes can be easily highlighted. They are also lightweight and compact; just right for the active map user. Read more
Forum
- Patricia Brander 2012-10-12 17:30:58
Proposed windfarm right over the SUW
- People who have walked the Southern Upland Way will be concerned that Burcote Wind are planning a huge windfarm right on top of the path on the stretch between Dalry to Sanquhar. They call the development Longburn, but it is at Stroanfreggan.
www.Longburnwindfarm.com
You may wish to write to them.
Best regards
Patricia Brander




