Gore-Tex Scottish National Trail
HAD an excellent meeting during the week with Scottish Natural Heritage about the Gore-Tex Scottish National Trail we’ll be launching later in the year.
I would emphasise that this is not a new trail we are developing but a route that uses existing trails and paths as much as possible between Kirk Yetholm in the Scottish Borders and Cape Wrath in the far North-West highlands. Inevitably there will be areas where there are currently no recognised paths so SNH have been really helpful in offering advice, plus details for all the trail managers and local authority contacts.
We’ve already started filming the project for two television programmes to be broadcast over Christmas and New Year later this year and I’ll shortly being going into purdah to try and write the book. Could be a long summer…
For anyone interested I’ve written out the route below but I should say that it is not cast in stone just yet. There are one or two other options war are looking at and some of the points have to be checked out with landowners, local authorities and the various trail managers but this route will give you a rough idea of the line we are taking.
Gore-Tex Scottish National Trail
Section 1
The South Scotland section: 81 miles
Kirk Yetholm – Morebattle – Newton St Boswells – Melrose (via The Eildons) – Galashiels – Yair – Three Brethren – The Minchmoor – Traquair – Cardona – Peebles – Stewarton – Cloich – Noblehouse – West Linton – Carlops – Bore Stane – Listonshiels – Marchbank – Balerno – Water of Leith Walkway – Edinburgh Toon.
Section 2
The Canals section: 51 miles
Water of Leith walk – Slateford – Union Canal – Ratho – Broxburn – Linlithgow – Forth and Clyde canal – Polmont – Falkirk Wheel – Kilsyth – Kirkintilloch – Bishopbriggs – Bearsden – Milngavie
Section 3
Central Scotland section: 125 miles
Milngavie – Mugdock – Carbeth – Strathblane – Drymen – Garadhban Forest – Drymen Road Cottage – Clashmore – Kirkton – Aberfoyle – Menteith Hills – East Lodge – Callander – Callander Craigs – Braeleny – Arivurichardich – Glenartney Lodge – Comrie – Glen Lednock – Invergeldie – Glen Almond – Dalreich – Achnafree – Glen Lochan – Loch Freuchie – Garrow – A’Chois – Urlar Burn – Urlar – Birks of Aberfeldy – Aberfeldy – Weem – Boltachan – Brae of Cluny – Loch Derdulich – Beinn Eagagach – Netherton – River Tummel – Bonskeid House – Glen Fincastle – Tomanraid – Blair Atholl – Glen Tilt – White Bridge – Lairig Ghru – Rothiemurchus – Aviemore – Loch an Eilean – Inshriach – Glen Feshie – Drumguish – Kingussie – Newtonmore
Section 4
North of Scotland section: 118 miles
Newtonmore - Laggan – Corrieyarack – Fort Augustus – Glengarry – Tomdoun – Mam na Seilg – Glen Loyne – Cluanie Lodge – Cluanie Inn – An Caorann Mor – Alltbeithe – Gleann Gniomhaidh – Loch a’ Bhealaidh – Bealach an Sgairne – Gleann Choinneachain – Bealach na Sroine – Falls of Glomach – Gleann Leitreach – Iron Lodge – Loch na Maorie Buidhe – Maol-bhuidhe – Loch Calavie – Bendronaig Lodge – BearneasBothy – Baobh-bhacan Dubha – Lair – Achnashellach Station – Drochaid Coire lair – Easan Dorcha – Coulin – Loch Clair – Cromasaig – Kinlochewe – Incheril – Heights of Kinlochewe – Gleann na Muice – Bealach na Croise – Loch an Nid – Corrie Hallie – Loch an Tiompain – Croftown – Inverlael – Glensquaib – Glen Douchary – Strath Mulzie – Duag Bridge – Oykel Bridge – Salachy – Glen Oykel – Loch Ailsh – Benmore Lodge – River Oykel – Breabeg Tarsuinn – Gleann Dubh – Inchnadamph – Loch Fleodach Coiree – Eas a Chual Aluinn – Bealach a’ Bhuirich – Loch na Gainmhich – Unapool – Kylesku Bridge – Bealach nam Fiann – Achfary – Loch Stack – Loch Stack Lodge – Loch Airigh a’ Bhaird – Loch a’ Garbh-bhaid Mor – Rhiconich River – Rhiconich – Achriesgill – Badcall – Kinlochbervie – Oldshoremore – Sandwood Bay – Cape Wrath