The Southern Upland Way is a coast-to-coast hiking route in Scotland that extends from Portpatrick to Cockburnspath. This 215 mi (347 km) footpath also doubles as an unofficial sheep sanctuary, offering the contemplative hiker a fugly, furry sounding board for any thoughts, epiphanies, and/or complaints about the less than friendly cow population.
The following log entries feature my photographs and daily route.
DAY 1: May 15, 2025 [~16 mi]
Route: Starting point in Portpatrick to wild camping near Chlenry
DAY 2: May 16, 2025 [~24 mi]
Route: Wild camping near Chlenry to wild camping near Bargrennan
DAY 3: May 17, 2025 [~22 mi]
Route: Wild camping near Bargrennan to wild camping before St John’s Town of Dalry
DAY 4: May 18, 2025 [~26 mi]
Route: Wild camping before St John’s Town of Dalry to wild camping before Sanquhar
DAY 5: May 19, 2025 [~30 mi]
Route: Wild camping before Sanquhar to wild camping before Beattock
DAY 6: May 20, 2025 [~21 mi]
Route: Wild camping before Beattock to Tibbie Shiels Inn at St Mary’s Loch
DAY 7: May 21, 2025 [~19 mi]
Route: Tibbie Shiels Inn at St Mary’s Loch to wild camping before Galashiels
DAY 8: May 22, 2025 [~36 mi]
Route: Wild camping before Galashiels to wild camping past Longformacus
DAY 9: May 23, 2025 [~20 mi]
Route: Wild camping past Longformacus to the terminus in Cockburnspath
POST-TRAIL REFLECTION
“Southern Upland Way Song”
It’s me and the sheeeeeeeep
We are finding our waaaaaaaay
We are in the saaaaaaaame
On the Southern Upland Way
– Webster signing off
