The Southern Upland Way is Britain's first official coast to coast long distance foot-path. It runs 212 miles (340 km) from Portpatrick on the south-west coast of Scotland to Cockburnspath on the eastern seaboard. It offers superb and varied walking country, still undiscovered by many enthusiasts.
Photo Gallery
https://get.google.com/albumarchive/100408387173570597610/album/AF1QipNqNjv0QYWg_Lo5Agzf6u13HswLSrU9gNqoXJKF
Friday 16 May 2014 - Portpatrick to Knockquhassen Reservoir
The old man (my father) dropped us off at Portpatrick Harbour about half past 3. We took a few snaps before making our way up the cliffs. We walked along the coastal path for about two and a half hours before following the minor road for the rest of the way. It turned out to be a nice evening.
We continued walking late into the evening and eventually about 9pm we came across Knockquhassen Reservoir which turned out to be a good spot for some wild camping.
Saturday 17 May 2014 - Knockquhassen Reservoir to Beehive Bothy
We were up at the crack of dawn, the rain had appeared overnight, light showers mostly. We took down the tents and got everything packed away before making our way to the anglers hut to make Breakfast. We set off in the rain, returning to the Southern Upland route. The rain soon calmed down and it stayed dry for the rest of the day.
A couple of hours passed and we reached the outskirts of Stranraer, then it was minor roads and some woodland trails before arriving at Castle Kennedy.
Once at Castle Kennedy we stopped for supplies at the Petrol Station before making our way down to Castle Kennedy Gardens, where we had lunch.
We soon made a start on the long hike to Beehive Bothy, passing through some boggy fields, woodland and moorland. We saw some old farmhouse ruins. We eventually reached Beehive Bothy around 7.30pm, in plenty of time to get organised and have a bite to eat before dark. Nobody else was around.
It soon got dark and we attempted to get a small fire going.
Sunday 18 May 2014 - Beehive Bothy to Bargrennan
Up bright are early, we had a quick Coffee in the bothy before heading off on the next stretch towards Bargrennan. It had stayed dry through the night and for the remainder of the day. The path through the forest in the next section was difficult to follow due to missing waymarkers in the demolished forest.
Friday 16 May 2014
Southern Upland Way - Portpatrick to Bargrennan
Saturday 3 May 2014
The Three Lochs Way to the West Highland Way
Friday 2 May 2014
Four of us met at The Horse Shoe Bar in Glasgow on Friday afternoon.
We visited a couple more bars and had some food before catching the train to Balloch where the walk starts. Having no idea where we were going to camp on the first night, the best idea was simply to head into a bar in Balloch, get tanked up and forget that we were camping. The DogsHouse Bar seemed as good a place as any, as we ended up spending most of the night there before stumbling our way out with our rucksacks, having no clue where we were going to end up!
Balloch Country Park became our campsite for the night, two of us by the river where the ground was boggy and the other two, further into the woods where the ground was dryer and where we could be out of view from the public eye. (I am pleased to annouce that I was part of the latter two!) :D
It was mostly dry through the night with some light rain.
Saturday 3 May 2014
Up bright and early (and very hungover) we re-grouped and got some supplies at the local corner shop before heading down to the start of the walk by Loch Lomond Pier. My mate's buddy decided he'd had enough already and made his way back to the train station, leaving just three of us.
Leaving Balloch behind, we head for the Hills, towards our first port of call, Helensburgh. It stayed fairly dry in the morning with some light showers later on.
It was a trek over some open hills, across some moorland and through some woodland, including a steep muddy hill and a deforested area before a long dwindling descent down into Helensburgh, arriving in time for lunch.
After a well earned rest and an enjoyable lunch at Weatherspoons, we set off towards Gairlochhead, amid lots of Hills. The best way to deal with the hills is just to think about the amount of calories you're losing without having to go to the gym.
As we head away from Helensburgh we passed some Woods, farmland and moorland before following a minor road towards Gairlochhead, taking us onto the American Road which surrounds the MOD military training area.
Once arriving in Gairlochhead the next task was to find somewhere to camp, but not before a drink or two at The Anchor Inn. Also phone charging time before heading to camp.
A pint or two later and after speaking to Anchor Inn staff about suitable places to camp, (apparently none) we head over to the river at the other side of the loch, which was pretty much a perfect little location for a wild camp, although the local kids playing nearby could have been a little more welcoming instead of shouting "happy camping, hope you get p*ssed on!". Charming!
It was a peaceful night, it rained through most of it but I slept like a log since I never got much sleep the previous night. It wasn't long before first light and we got up and had some Breakfast (Porridge & Coffee) before packing up again, making our way about 9am and spotting a wild Bear across the river! It looked hungry.
Sunday 4 May 2014
We went to the village shop for supplies then made our way back up to the american road, we still had a good few miles to walk through the military training area, before our first views of Loch Long.
After a long hilly viewless walk in heavy rain and mist, we finally arrived at the village of Arrochar by Loch Long. We head to the Ben Arthur Bothy to put our feet up, certainly the most luxurious bothy I have ever encountered! We had a few drinks and a meal before deciding to retire for the day due to unforseen RAIN!! ...and pure laziness.
While in the bar, we got chatting to one of the local B & B owners who offered us beds for £25.00 per person. Having no idea where we were going to camp that night we decided some Bed & Breakfast would be in our best interest. We could dry our clothes, shower and just chill for the rest of the evening.
Monday 5 May 2014
Went downstairs for a fantastic cooked Breakfast plus Cereal, Toast, Coffee, Orange Juice... the works! Great start to the day, and I must use this opportunity to give the [b]Rowantreebank[/b] a mention. It wasn't the best accommodation I have encountered, the bathroom light didn't work, the ceiling was stained, but it was still better than a wet tent. (and the breakfast made up for its faults)
[url]http://www.rowantreebank.co.uk[/url]
After breakfast we took a walk over to Arrochar & Tarbet station to see Pete off, he had to leave us, expecting to have completed the walk the day before. There were now just the two of us with the last 6 miles to Inveruglas to complete.
We head off from Arrochar & Tarbet station into the woods taking us round the outskirts of Arrochar with some fine views of Ben Arthur (The Cobbler) and the Arrochar Alps.
After our visit to Inveruglas Pier, we walked 6 miles back to Arrochar & Tarbet station, plus an extra 2 miles to Tarbet Pier where we camped by Loch Lomond. We waited for it to start getting darkish before pitching the tents so we didn't offend any locals.
In the morning my mate caught the train from Arrochar & Tarbet Station back to Glasgow while I caught the Waterbus across Loch Lomond to Rowardennan where my plan was to join the West Highland Way, where I would reach Fort William by the following Sunday and head home on the Monday. Unfortunately due to horrendous rain, I got as far as Tyndrum before calling it a day, catching the next bus and heading home on the Wednesday afternoon/evening.
photo gallery here>
https://get.google.com/albumarchive/100408387173570597610/album/AF1QipMyQHG2wYqNjOcIIPM-vlDN0pD1jPuIyKh6QqlU
Four of us met at The Horse Shoe Bar in Glasgow on Friday afternoon.
We visited a couple more bars and had some food before catching the train to Balloch where the walk starts. Having no idea where we were going to camp on the first night, the best idea was simply to head into a bar in Balloch, get tanked up and forget that we were camping. The DogsHouse Bar seemed as good a place as any, as we ended up spending most of the night there before stumbling our way out with our rucksacks, having no clue where we were going to end up!
Balloch Country Park became our campsite for the night, two of us by the river where the ground was boggy and the other two, further into the woods where the ground was dryer and where we could be out of view from the public eye. (I am pleased to annouce that I was part of the latter two!) :D
It was mostly dry through the night with some light rain.
Saturday 3 May 2014
Up bright and early (and very hungover) we re-grouped and got some supplies at the local corner shop before heading down to the start of the walk by Loch Lomond Pier. My mate's buddy decided he'd had enough already and made his way back to the train station, leaving just three of us.
Leaving Balloch behind, we head for the Hills, towards our first port of call, Helensburgh. It stayed fairly dry in the morning with some light showers later on.
It was a trek over some open hills, across some moorland and through some woodland, including a steep muddy hill and a deforested area before a long dwindling descent down into Helensburgh, arriving in time for lunch.
After a well earned rest and an enjoyable lunch at Weatherspoons, we set off towards Gairlochhead, amid lots of Hills. The best way to deal with the hills is just to think about the amount of calories you're losing without having to go to the gym.
As we head away from Helensburgh we passed some Woods, farmland and moorland before following a minor road towards Gairlochhead, taking us onto the American Road which surrounds the MOD military training area.
Once arriving in Gairlochhead the next task was to find somewhere to camp, but not before a drink or two at The Anchor Inn. Also phone charging time before heading to camp.
A pint or two later and after speaking to Anchor Inn staff about suitable places to camp, (apparently none) we head over to the river at the other side of the loch, which was pretty much a perfect little location for a wild camp, although the local kids playing nearby could have been a little more welcoming instead of shouting "happy camping, hope you get p*ssed on!". Charming!
It was a peaceful night, it rained through most of it but I slept like a log since I never got much sleep the previous night. It wasn't long before first light and we got up and had some Breakfast (Porridge & Coffee) before packing up again, making our way about 9am and spotting a wild Bear across the river! It looked hungry.
Sunday 4 May 2014
We went to the village shop for supplies then made our way back up to the american road, we still had a good few miles to walk through the military training area, before our first views of Loch Long.
After a long hilly viewless walk in heavy rain and mist, we finally arrived at the village of Arrochar by Loch Long. We head to the Ben Arthur Bothy to put our feet up, certainly the most luxurious bothy I have ever encountered! We had a few drinks and a meal before deciding to retire for the day due to unforseen RAIN!! ...and pure laziness.
While in the bar, we got chatting to one of the local B & B owners who offered us beds for £25.00 per person. Having no idea where we were going to camp that night we decided some Bed & Breakfast would be in our best interest. We could dry our clothes, shower and just chill for the rest of the evening.
Monday 5 May 2014
Went downstairs for a fantastic cooked Breakfast plus Cereal, Toast, Coffee, Orange Juice... the works! Great start to the day, and I must use this opportunity to give the [b]Rowantreebank[/b] a mention. It wasn't the best accommodation I have encountered, the bathroom light didn't work, the ceiling was stained, but it was still better than a wet tent. (and the breakfast made up for its faults)
[url]http://www.rowantreebank.co.uk[/url]
After breakfast we took a walk over to Arrochar & Tarbet station to see Pete off, he had to leave us, expecting to have completed the walk the day before. There were now just the two of us with the last 6 miles to Inveruglas to complete.
We head off from Arrochar & Tarbet station into the woods taking us round the outskirts of Arrochar with some fine views of Ben Arthur (The Cobbler) and the Arrochar Alps.
After our visit to Inveruglas Pier, we walked 6 miles back to Arrochar & Tarbet station, plus an extra 2 miles to Tarbet Pier where we camped by Loch Lomond. We waited for it to start getting darkish before pitching the tents so we didn't offend any locals.
In the morning my mate caught the train from Arrochar & Tarbet Station back to Glasgow while I caught the Waterbus across Loch Lomond to Rowardennan where my plan was to join the West Highland Way, where I would reach Fort William by the following Sunday and head home on the Monday. Unfortunately due to horrendous rain, I got as far as Tyndrum before calling it a day, catching the next bus and heading home on the Wednesday afternoon/evening.
photo gallery here>
https://get.google.com/albumarchive/100408387173570597610/album/AF1QipMyQHG2wYqNjOcIIPM-vlDN0pD1jPuIyKh6QqlU
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