Scotland Coast to Coast | The Southern Upland Way | Ep 3: St John's to Sanquhar (Days 5 & 6)

The Southern Upland Way is a 344km / 213 mile long distance trail across the southern part of Scotland. Starting at Portpatrick on the Irish Sea it heads to the North Sea at Cockburnspath, making it Scotland's only official coast to coast walk. The trail typically takes between 12 and 16 days to complete.

It offers superb and varied walking in landscapes that are home to an interesting mix of wild nature and human history, including several ruined abbeys, castles and prehistoric remains. As it cuts across the lines of the hills rather than following ridges and valleys, amounting to 7,775m of ascent, it's not to be underestimated. I think this is the most challenging of the official Scotland's Great Trails (note the Cape Wrath Trail, which would certainly be more challenging, is not as yet an official GST).

The trail has several remote sections, which can make planning accommodation and re-provisioning a challenge. This is easier to manage if wild camping, although even then good quality camp spots can be hard to find.

I walked the trail in sections starting with the 140km (ish) Portpatrick to Sanquhar in April 2023. I walked the first day and a half of this section with @PaulBuck, then solo for the rest, meeting a few other walkers along the way.


In this Episode:

00:00 Day 5 / Past St John's
04:21 Forest
05:14 Benbrack
06:36 Allan's Cairn
07:54 Chalk Memorial Bothy
08:13 Day 6 / Polskeoch
13:25 Treasure!


With thanks to Afke, Wolfgang and Sophie (and Paul obvs) for your company.

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Corresponding Blog Posts:

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Main gear used on the trip / seen in this video:

Shelter: Tipik-tentes Pioulou XL
Pack: Atompacks Mo 60
Waist pack: Atompacks Roo
Sleeping Bag: Cumulus Quantum 350
Mat: Thermarest Neoair Xlite short
Mat: section of 3mm Evazote foam
Pillow: Trekology
Stove: Trangia Triangle with gas burner
Pot: Alpkit Alipots 1L
Mug: Vargo Titanium Bot 700
Baselayer: Montane Dart
Legwear: Alpkit Koulin trail tights with Decathlon shorts
Mid layer: Mountain Equipment Switch Jacket
Outer layer: Rab Firewall
Shoes: Salomon Xultra 4
Hat: Outdoor Reserach Radar Cap
Warm hat: Polar Buff
Trekking Pole(s): MBC Carbon
PLB: Garmin InReach mini
Watch: Garmin Fenix 6 Pro
Headtorch: Nitecore NU33
Filter: Sawyer Squeeze
Dirty water bag: Evernew


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Video shot on Shot on DJI Osmo Action and Google Pixel 6

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Music:

Unicorn Heads and Freedom Trail Studio - all from the YouTube Audio Library

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