This region comprises Scotland south of the Firth of Clyde and of the Forth and Clyde Canal, and within postcode areas DG, G, KA, ML and PA. The dividing line between the south-eastern and south-western areas approximates to the watershed between the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea.
Neighbouring regions and areas are
Note also some of the most convenient hubs for multi-day walking on different routes.
Routes
- Annandale Way
A walk of 91km between Moffat and Annan. - Arran Coastal Way
A circuit of 61km around the island of Arran. - Ayrshire Coastal Path
A walk of 146km between Wemyss Bay and Glenapp. - Clyde Coastal Path
A 67km path between Partick and Wemyss Bay. - Clyde Walkway
A 67km walk between New Lanark and Partick. - Forth and Clyde / Union Canal Walk
A walk of 102km between Bowling and Edinburgh. - Goatfell
A 16km walk over Goatfell (674m), on the island of Arran. - John Muir Way
A walk of 213km walk between Helensburgh and Dunbar. - Kelvin Walkway
A 16km walk between Milngavie and the outflow of the River Kelvin into the Clyde at Partick. - Loch Lomond and Cowal Way
A walk of 92km walk between Portavadie and Inveruglas. - Loch Ryan Coastal Path
A walk of 19km between Glenapp and Stranraer. - Mull of Galloway Trail
A walk of 57km between Glenapp and the Mull of Galloway. - River Ayr Way
A walk of 66km between Glenbuck Loch and Ayr. - Romans and Reivers Route
A walk of 84km from Ae to Hawick, this National Trail does not qualify as a Green Walk because public transport only connects at Beattock/Moffat, Eskdalemuir and Hawick (without any service at the Ae terminus). - Southern Upland Way
A walk of 344km between Portpatrick and Cockburnspath. Due to several great gaps in public transport services (two consecutive gaps of over 40km either side of Sanquhar and the 56km between Lauder and Cockburnspath), the route of this National Trail does not qualify as a Green Walk (though it remains an outstanding traverse). - Three Lochs Way
A 50km walk between Helensburgh and Inveruglas. - West Highland Way
A walk of 154km between Milngavie and Fort William. - West Island Way
A walk of 51km on the Isle of Bute. - Whithorn Way
A walk of 240km between Glasgow and Isle of Whithorn.
Some places lend themselves to being hubs, where you may pitch up for a few days’ car-free walking, fanning out on a different route (or part of a route) each day. The hub becomes a walking-place for recreation at walking pace. Hubs in this area include
- Ayr
Ayr is the obvious hub for the Clyde Coastal Path and the Ayrshire Coastal Path between Greenock and Girvan: the Arran Coastal Way and the West Island Way on Bute are also accessible. The River Ayr Way opens up the landward side, and there are local walks available. - Dumfries
Dumfries is the travel hub for the Galloway hills and coast, and brings the Annandale Way within reach. It may shock parochialists that Carlisle will present similar opportunities. - Glasgow
Glasgow is the pre-eminent hub in this area, and its unrivalled transport network within Scotland makes it a natural base to experience a wide variety of walks. - Hamilton
Hamilton may be relatively close to Glasgow, but offers a quicker link by bus to Clydesdale for the Clyde Walkway (and a less hectic base than Glasgow for points west on the Clyde Way routes) and the exploration of such areas as Tinto. - Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock has good links to the Ayrshire Coastal Path, but is also acts as a gateway to the northern slopes of the Merrick massif. - Stranraer
Stranraer is a hub to explore the Ayrshire Coastal Path south of Girvan, the Loch Ryan Coastal Path, the Mull of Galloway Trail, and the westernmost parts of the Southern Upland Way, which is here accessible by bus. The coastal path on the west side of the Rhinns of Galloway is being pieced together slowly, and will offer an increasing number of options (which will be boosted by including local taxis — with regulated and relatively inexpensive fares) in the transport picture.
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