Scotland's Great Trails

Scotland's Great Trails formerly the four Long Distance Routes (or LDRs) are long-distance "people-powered" trails (predominantly hiking trails but including cycling and canoe routes) in Scotland.[1] The LDRs were previously proposed and financially supported by Scottish Natural Heritage, but administered and maintained by the local authority areas through which they pass. With the passing of the Land Reform Act (Scotland) 2003, access rights largely no longer require to be negotiated and a further 22 Great Trails were developed in Scotland.

Legislation to create the LDRs was passed in 1967, but the first one was not opened officially until 1980.

Routes

A typical waymark
  1. Annandale Way from Moffat to Newbie Barns, on the Solway Coast a distance of 55 miles (89 km).
  2. Ayrshire Coastal Path from Glenapp to Skelmorlie a distance of 100 miles (160 km).
  3. Berwickshire Coastal Path from Cockburnspath to Berwick-upon-Tweed a distance of 28 miles (45 km).
  4. Borders Abbeys Way circular route: Kelso – Jedburgh – Hawick – Selkirk – Melrose a distance of 68 miles (109 km).
  5. Cateran Trail circular route: Blairgowrie – Kirkmichael – Spittal of Glenshee – Alyth a distance of 64 miles (103 km).
  6. Clyde Walkway from Glasgow to New Lanark a distance of 40 miles (64 km).
  7. Cross Borders Drove Road from Little Vantage to Hawick a distance of 52 miles (84 km).
  8. Dava Way from Grantown-on-Spey to Forres a distance of 24 miles (39 km).
  9. Fife Coastal Path from Kincardine to Newburgh a distance of 117 miles (188 km).
  10. Formartine and Buchan Way from Dyce, near Aberdeen to Fraserburgh and Peterhead a distance of 53 miles (85 km).
  11. Forth-Clyde/Union Canal Towpath from Bowling, Dunbartonshire to Fountainbridge, Edinburgh a distance of 66 miles (106 km).
  12. Great Glen Canoe Trail from Banavie, near Fort William to Clachnaharry, near Inverness a distance of 60 miles (97 km).
  13. Great Glen Way from Fort William to Inverness a distance of 79 miles (127 km), opened 2002.
  14. John Muir Way from Fisherrow, near Edinburgh to Dunglass, near Cockburnspath a distance of 45 miles (72 km).
  15. Kintyre Way from Tarbert to Southend, Argyll and Bute a distance of 87 miles (140 km).
  16. Moray Coast Trail from Forres to Cullen a distance of 50 miles (80 km).
  17. Mull of Galloway Trail from Mull of Galloway to Glenapp a distance of 36 miles (58 km).
  18. River Ayr Way from Glenbuck to Ayr a distance of 44 miles (71 km).
  19. Rob Roy Way from Drymen to Pitlochry a distance of 77 miles (124 km) or 94 miles (151 km)
  20. Romans and Reivers Route from Ae to Hawick a distance of 52 miles (84 km).
  21. St Cuthbert’s Way from Melrose to Lindisfarne a distance of 62 miles (100 km).
  22. Southern Upland Way from Portpatrick to Cockburnspath a distance of 212 miles (341 km), opened 1984.
  23. Speyside Way from Buckie to Aviemore a distance of 65 miles (105 km), 84 miles (135 km) of route including spurs; first part opened 1981; completed in 2000.
  24. Three Lochs Way from Balloch to Inveruglas a distance of 31 miles (50 km).
  25. West Highland Way from Milngavie, near Glasgow to Fort William a distance of 96 miles (154 km), opened in 1980.
  26. West Island Way from Kilchattan Bay to Port Bannatyne a distance of 30 miles (48 km).

Each of the routes is waymarked with a hexagonal thistle symbol.

The 6 miles (9.7 km) of the Pennine Way terminating at Kirk Yetholm are in Scottish Borders, Scotland, but in the care of the Countryside Agency, and designated a National Trail.

Proposals for new LDRs originate from Scottish Natural Heritage, who make proposals to the Scottish Government. Responsibility for creating and maintaining each LDR lies with each local authority through which a route passes, but Scottish Natural Heritage provides some of the finance and publicity.

References

  1. ↑ "Scotland's Great Trails: the official guide". Scotland's Great Trails. Retrieved 27 July 2015.

External links

See also

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