John Muir Way-also Scotland

[bluedog225]

Jeeze. I come home today planning to ask about a trip and it seems everyone has travel fever.

don’t want to step on other threads.

Good planning all around. Post covid and after this travel season peak.

She and I were just discussing the possibility of doing the John Muir Way in Scotland in late September. We may have a place to stay in Dunbar for a couple of weeks.

I’d be hiking solo.

Any tips on this trip?

https://johnmuirway.org/

12009AA1-7D51-4C0D-9EE9-57F6A3C05D9A.jpg

[P.I. Stazzer-Newt]

Displace it by about 35 miles - either north or south.

Dunbar is nice.

[bluedog225]

I don’t think they have miles over y’alls way. (chuckle)

I was under the impression it was a planned trail and it would have some ability to stop in a hotel or boarding house, eat, etc. before the next day. Something like the camino santiago. Having some context for being a stinky, semi-homeless person seems to help.

What’s your thinking? More scenic off the beaten path?

[AndyG]

That first ten miles is lovely. The rest? Meh!

What about the West Highland Way? There, the first ten miles is meh, followed by lovely.

Andy

[bluedog225]

The West Highway Way looks nice. I know nothing about the area. This opportunity just came up last night so any tips appreciated.

[AndyG]

The Kilsyth-Denny-Falkirk bit should be preferably done at night, whilst wearing sunglasses. That way you wouldn't miss a thing.

Andy

[S.V. Airlie]

Jeeze. I come home today planning to ask about a trip and it seems everyone has travel fever.

don’t want to step on other threads.

Good planning all around. Post covid and after this travel season peak.

She and I were just discussing the possibility of doing the John Muir Way in Scotland in late September. We may have a place to stay in Dunbar for a couple of weeks.

I’d be hiking solo.

Any tips on this trip?

https://johnmuirway.org/

12009AA1-7D51-4C0D-9EE9-57F6A3C05D9A.jpg

TAKE ADVANTANGE OF THE YOUTH HOSTELS. iNEXPENSIVE, MANY ALLOW TO COOK YOUR OWN..ONE TO 4 LBS/NIGHT. AS IN BRIT POUNDS

[P.I. Stazzer-Newt]

I don’t think they have miles over y’alls way. (chuckle)

I was under the impression it was a planned trail and it would have some ability to stop in a hotel or boarding house, eat, etc. before the next day. Something like the camino santiago. Having some context for being a stinky, semi-homeless person seems to help.

What’s your thinking? More scenic off the beaten path?

We have miles, and furlongs too if you look closely, Scotland is a small(ish) and relatively densly populated country - finding a place to stop for the night is easy - there are in descending order of cost - hotels, B&B, Youth Hostels and Bothies or you can take a tarp and a hammock.

It is very very well mapped (OS maps) and thanks to the Land Reform acts you are free to wander wherever you will - just so long as this is done responsibly

Tell us what sort of landscape you want and someone might be able to help.

[S.V. Airlie]

King's land, you can camp anywhere as long as you clean up afterwards

[bluedog225]

I enjoyed the camino in Portugal and Spain. Walk a while (15 miles or so) and find a cheap hotel and a good meal. Do it again the next day. A week to 10 days would be good.

Trees, hills, mountains, rocky coasts, water, rain, old villages, paths remote from the highway.

I’ve had about enough of the desert southwest.

Really, anything that’s not like this:

9060C890-E9B0-4280-ABFF-7831E8E67502.jpg

Or this:

4367C16C-7C28-45C6-903E-F0E7433B8C41.jpg

[AndyG]

^ ummm.

Glencoe...

720p.jpg

...much better.

Andy

[timber_cruiser]

The West Highway Way looks nice. I know nothing about the area. This opportunity just came up last night so any tips appreciated.

My wife and I recently completed the West Highland Way. We consider this one of the best long distance treks we have done so far. I would highly recommend booking accommodations before hand. Any hikes in Scotland will be popular these days and you want to make sure you have things lined out ahead of time. The scenery on this hike is spectacular and becomes even more so as you travel further north along the route. We finished our hike with a day hike up to the summit of Ben Nevis the highest point in the UK, another highlight for us.

[bluedog225]

Sounds like a great trip. Thanks!

[P.I. Stazzer-Newt]

Dunbar is handy for the south east border country.....

Here is a whole slew of suggestions.

https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/long...e-routes.shtml

[bluedog225]

Excellent. Thanks!

We have a “free” flight to london. Many possibilities.

The Coast to Coast path is looking good as well.

[WI-Tom]

Excellent. Thanks!

We have a “free” flight to london. Many possibilities.

The Coast to Coast path is looking good as well.

The Coast to Coast looks great--my wife and I will likely do that next summer. But the Lake District may be the best part of that. I'd be tempted to spend two weeks in the Lake District instead. And that's after already having spend 10 days backpacking/wild camping there on an earlier trip.

Tom

[WI-Tom]

My wife and I recently completed the West Highland Way. We consider this one of the best long distance treks we have done so far. I would highly recommend booking accommodations before hand. Any hikes in Scotland will be popular these days and you want to make sure you have things lined out ahead of time. The scenery on this hike is spectacular and becomes even more so as you travel further north along the route. We finished our hike with a day hike up to the summit of Ben Nevis the highest point in the UK, another highlight for us.

Any wild camping potential on the West Highland Way? Or do you pretty much need to book pubs/B&B/campground type places?

Tom

[P.I. Stazzer-Newt]

The main area where wild camping is restricted is the loch Lomond and Trossachs, I'll dig out a reference.

https://www.lochlomond-trossachs.org.../get-a-permit/

[timber_cruiser]

Any wild camping potential on the West Highland Way? Or do you pretty much need to book pubs/B&B/campground type places?

Tom

There are wild camping spots along the way. We met some people who did this for some stages. Booking at B&B pubs would be best if you want to avoid carrying a heavier pack with camping gear. If you do this hike in 7 stages which is what many people do, you average 14 miles a day.

[WI-Tom]

Thanks--14 miles/day is about what I manage in the high Sierra with a full pack for 2 weeks. Lots of elevation gain/loss there every day. Weather is a bit balmier than the Highlands, I suspect...

Tom