The Scottish National Trail - Blair Atholl to Bynack

The Scottish National Trail is a 536 mile/864 km-long long distance walking route running the length of Scotland from Kirk Yetholm to Cape Wrath.

The Trail offers very varied walking, following long-established footpaths for much of the distance but becoming progressively more difficult as it heads north, finishing with a tough stretch of backpacking - with some pathless and demanding terrain - on the final stretch of the Cape Wrath Trail.

In Summer 2017 I spent several weeks completing sections of the Scottish National Trail.
My original plan for 2017 was to backpack the whole of the trail but due to lack of funding I could only manage sections where wild camping was an option.

I ventured out on three separate occasions and completed the route over the course of 15 days, as follows:

Trip 1 - Blair Atholl to Fort Augustus (6 days, 5 nights)
Trip 2 - Milngavie to Pitlochry (6 days, 5 nights)
Trip 3 - Fort Augustus to Morvich (5 days, 5 nights)

Along the way I made a video diary/vblog which you can view here on my blog.

 16 MILES / 8 HOURS

I continue my walk on the Scottish National Trail, after catching a train to Blair Atholl. 
I spend the first evening camping in Glen Tilt.
The next day I follow the river Tilt through Glen Tilt, deep into the Cairngorms National Park to eventually reach Bynack Lodge ruin where I set up my next camp.

Braemar to Pitlochry long distance hike - Day 4

I got bored sitting at home so I decided to walk approximately 57 miles through the Cairngorms from Braemar to Pitlochry over the course of 4 days, visiting some bothies and climbing Ben Dearg en-route.  I spent the first night in a bothy and the next 2 nights were spent wild camping by Old Bridge of Tilt next to Blair Atholl.

Day 4  (Back on track)
I continue my walk down the River Tilt and follow the River Garry to Pitlochry on a section of the Scottish National Trail to finish my walk at Pitlochry Station.

Braemar to Pitlochry long distance hike - Day 3

I got bored sitting at home so I decided to walk approximately 57 miles through the Cairngorms from Braemar to Pitlochry over the course of 4 days, visiting some bothies and climbing Ben Dearg en-route.  I spent the first night in a bothy and the next 2 nights were spent wild camping by Old Bridge of Tilt next to Blair Atholl.

Day 3 (Ben Dearg)

I took a walk up Beinn Dearg from Blair Atholl and paid a visit to Allt Sheicheachan bothy en-route.

I had planned to take the circuit route described here on Walkhighlands but the day got off to a late start and then I lingered about in the bothy for ages, by the time I came back down from the mountain it was already getting late and I just had to return to Blair Atholl the quickest route (same way I came up).  I spent the night wild camping by the Old bridge of Tilt near Blair Atholl.

I had considered staying in the bothy but it would mess up my schedule for the following day as I had to walk 10 miles to Pitlochry station to meet my train.