This region comprises Scotland south of the Firth of Clyde and of the Forth and Clyde Canal, and within postcode areas DG, G, KA, ML and PA. The dividing line between the south-eastern and south-western areas approximates to the watershed between the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea.
Neighbouring regions and areas are
Note also some of the most convenient hubs for multi-day walking on different routes.
Routes
Use the alphastrip below to jump to the appropriate initial letter for a selected route within the list. If there are no routes with a particular initial letter, the jump will have no effect.
0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Ayrshire Coastal Path
Length >60km
Max transport gap <20km
A walk of 146km between Wemyss Bay and Glenapp.
Forth and Clyde / Union Canal Walk
Length >60km
Max transport gap <10km
A walk of 102km between Bowling and Edinburgh.
John Muir Way
Length >60km
Max transport gap > 30km
A walk of 213km walk between Helensburgh and Dunbar.
Image: John Muir mural, Prestonpans
Kelvin Walkway
Length <20km
Max transport gap <10km
A 16km walk between Milngavie and the outflow of the River Kelvin into the Clyde at Partick.
Loch Lomond and Cowal Way
Length >60km
Max transport gap > 30km
A walk of 92km walk between Portavadie and Inveruglas.
Loch Ryan Coastal Path
Length <20km
Max transport gap <10km
A walk of 19km between Glenapp and Stranraer.
Mull of Galloway Trail
Length >60km
Max transport gap <20km
A walk of 57km between Glenapp and the Mull of Galloway.
Romans and Reivers Route
A walk of 84km from Ae to Hawick, this National Trail does not qualify as a Green Walk because public transport only connects at Beattock/Moffat, Eskdalemuir and Hawick (without any service at the Ae terminus).
Southern Upland Way
A walk of 344km between Portpatrick and Cockburnspath. Due to several great gaps in public transport services (two consecutive gaps of over 40km either side of Sanquhar and the 56km between Lauder and Cockburnspath), this route does not qualify as a Green Walk (though it remains an outstanding traverse).
Three Lochs Way
Length <60km
Max transport gap <20km
A 50km walk between Helensburgh and Inveruglas.
Image: Helensburgh
West Highland Way
Length >60km
Max transport gap <20km
A walk of 154km between Milngavie and Fort William.
Whithorn Way
Length >60km
Max transport gap > 30km
A walk of 240km between Glasgow and Isle of Whithorn.
Hubs
Some places lend themselves to being hubs, where you may pitch up for a few days’ car-free walking, fanning out on a different route (or part of a route) each day. The hub becomes a walking-place for recreation at walking pace. Hubs in this area include
| Ayr | Ayr is the obvious hub for the Clyde Coastal Path and the Ayrshire Coastal Path between Greenock and Girvan: the Arran Coastal Way and the West Island Way on Bute are also accessible. The River Ayr Way opens up the landward side, and there are local walks available. |
| Dumfries | Dumfries is the travel hub for the Galloway hills and coast, and brings the Annandale Way within reach. It may shock parochialists that Carlisle will present similar opportunities. |
| Glasgow | Glasgow is the pre-eminent hub in this area, and its unrivalled transport network within Scotland makes it a natural base to experience a wide variety of walks. |
| Hamilton | Hamilton may be relatively close to Glasgow, but offers a quicker link by bus to Clydesdale for the Clyde Walkway (and a less hectic base than Glasgow for points west on the Clyde Way routes) and the exploration of such areas as Tinto. |
| Kilmarnock | Kilmarnock has good links to the Ayrshire Coastal Path, but is also acts as a gateway to the northern slops of the Merrick massif. |
| Stranraer | Stranraer is a hub to explore the Ayrshire Coastal Path south of Girvan, the Loch Ryan Coastal Path, the Mull of Galloway Trail, and the westernmost parts of the Southern Upland Way, which is here accessible by bus. The coastal path on the west side of the Rhinns of Galloway is being pieced together slowly, and will offer an increasing number of options (which will be boosted by including local taxis — with regulated and relatively inexpensive fares) in the transport picture. |
Disclaimer and advisory notices
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