Walking in Scotland

Ted. St. Augustine said, “It is solved by walking.” Judy and I find that whatever ails us, be it physical, mental or spiritual, we can help the situation by taking a walk.

Scotland has thousands of walking trails. 1980 saw the opening of the first official long distance walk. Dubbed the West Highland Way, it stretched 90 miles from Milngavie to Fort William. There are now more than 30 long walks scattered across the country. 

Back in 2014, Judy and I learned that a new one, the John Muir Way had opened. 130 miles long, it takes one clear across Scotland from Helensburgh to Dunbar (Muir’s birthplace). We immediately began discussing the possibility of a doing a walk across Scotland.

Since that time, we have talked ourselves out of one long continuous walk but decided that day hiking would be an important part of our visit to Scotland. Thus, it is not a coincidence that our Scottish home base is Milngavie. At the southern terminus of the West Highland Way, the John Muir Way passes within 4 miles of here.

The WHW starts 2 blocks from our apartment

The Campsie Fells from the JMW, 5 miles from Milngavie

Plus, there are dozens of other lovely small walks nearby. Roughly every other day now, we head out to a nearby town and do a 6 - 8 mile roundtrip walk into the countryside.

A bit of the Roman Antonine Wall (142 AD)

Forth & Clyde Canal

A beach on Loch Lomond

We often walk the West Highland Way or John Muir Way but sometimes simply walk in a nearby forest. 

Mugdock Reservoir

Mugdock Castle

 We like to end our walk with a tea and scone!

There are lots of castles, museums and other sights in this country but we find country walks to be one of the best ways to spend a day. And whatever worries us, gets resolved - at least for a moment.

Loch Lomond from Conic Hill