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Discover Scotland's Great Trails… …There's a Surprise Around Every

Discover Scotland's Great Trails… …There's a Surprise Around Every

a break to the

To celebrate the opening of the new , we are offering you the chance to experience Discover 's Great … this fascinating route stretching 52 miles (83km) from south west over the Cauldstane Slap – the pass over the – it continues through to Peebles and Traquair, and onward via the Yarrow Valley to . On the way, you’ll explore hidden valleys such as Fingland Burn and Gypsy Glen and across the glorious Borders countryside. Experience this all for yourself …there's a surprise and WIN a break to the Scottish Borders Stay for two nights at the 4 star gold Glede Knowe Guest House nestled in the around every corner picturesque village of Innerleithen. Situated close to the town of Peebles – you will be perfectly positioned to explore the many surprising sights and sounds of the Cross Borders Drove Road trail. What’s more, you will savour a delicious breakfast on each morning to set you up for the day ahead. Enjoy one full day of bike hire courtesy of bspoke cycles, and you will also be invited to experience the thrills and spills of Go Ape – the UK’s number one forest adventure. Fly down zip-wires, leap off the Tarzan Swing and tackle crossings whilst enjoying some of Scotland’s most breathtaking scenery. And with up to £100 towards travel and spending, you’ll be free to discover the many surprising things to see and do on the Cross Borders Drove Road.

Enter now: visitscotland.com/surprisetrails

Peebles, the Scottish Borders

Terms and Conditions: Draw closes 30.06.13. No purchase necessary. For full Ts and Cs go to: visitscotland.com/surprisetrails Promoter: VisitScotland, Edinburgh EH6 6JH ISBN 978 1 8537 9323 Scotland’s Great Trails are nationally promoted trails for people-powered journeys. Each is distinctively waymarked, largely off-road and has a range of visitor services. At least 25 miles in length, they are suitable for multi-day outings as well as day trips. Collectively the 26 different routes provide over 1,700 miles of well managed paths from the Borders to the Highlands, offering great opportunities to explore the best of Scotland’s nature © Becky Duncan/SNH and landscapes, and to experience our amazing history and culture. The fold-out map shows where the trails are, their start Now it’s your turn. Explore each trail for yourself and end points and length. Turn over for a tantalising ✔ and get ticking those boxes! taste of some of the wildlife and landscapes that you could encounter as you journey along these trails. 1 Way 13 Way Each of Scotland’s Great Trails has a website (at the foot 2 Coastal Path 14 Way of the listing on the reverse of the map), where you can find out more about how to get started – such as route 3 15 Way Coastal Path descriptions, transport options and accommodation. 16 Coast Trail 4 Where will Scotland’s Great Trails take you? 17 Mull of Trail 5 18 Way Front cover image: Bruce’s Stone above Loch Trool, & Galloway 6 Clyde Walkway Photography courtesy of Scottish Viewpoint, Scottish Natural Heritage, 19 Council and Association 7 Cross Borders 20 Romans and Drove Road Reivers Route 8 Dava Way 21 St Cuthbert’s Way 9 Coastal Path 22 10 Formartine and 23 Way 24 11 Forth-Clyde/Union Canal Towpath 25 West Way 12 Great Glen Trail 26 Check out www.scotlandsgreattrails.org.uk for links to further information on all the trails. 1 ✔ 8 Dava Way ✔ 12 Great Glen ✔ 14 ✔ 16 ✔ 20 Romans and Reivers ✔ Canoe Trail Route

Caledonian Canal Tantallon Castle START: Divie Viaduct, Moray START: , nr Fort William START: Fisherrow, nr Edinburgh , Moray Hawick, the Scottish Borders FINISH: Newbie Barns, START: Grantown-on-Spey FINISH: Clachnaharry, FINISH: Dunglass, START: START: Ae Solway Coast FINISH: Forres nr nr FINISH: Cullen FINISH: Hawick LENGTH: 55 miles (88km) LENGTH: 24 miles (39km) LENGTH: 60 miles (96km) LENGTH: 45 miles (72km) LENGTH: 50 miles (80km) LENGTH: 52 miles (83km)

2 ✔ 9 ✔ 13 ✔ 15 ✔ 17 Trail ✔ 21 St Cuthbert’s Way ✔

Glen Mor (The Great Glen), START: Fort William FINISH: Inverness LENGTH: 79 miles (127km)

© Lorne Gill Ardrossan Marina Glen Mor (The Great Glen), Lochaber Saddell Bay, Kintyre Mull of Galloway Eildon Hills START: Glenapp START: Kincardine START: Fort William START: Tarbert START: Mull of Galloway START: Melrose FINISH: Skelmorlie FINISH: Newburgh FINISH: Inverness FINISH: Southend FINISH: Glenapp FINISH: Lindisfarne (England) LENGTH: 100 miles (161km) LENGTH: 117 miles (187km) LENGTH: 79 miles (127km) LENGTH: 87 miles (140km) LENGTH: 36 miles (58km) LENGTH: 62 miles (100km)

3 Berwickshire ✔ 18 ✔ 22 Southern Upland Way ✔ Coastal Path Ayr Gorge Woodlands START: Glenbuck FINISH: Ayr LENGTH: 44 miles (71km)

Cliffs east of St Abb’s Head National Nature Reserve Ayr Gorge Woodlands Loch Trool, Dumfries & Galloway START: Cockburnspath START: Glenbuck START: FINISH: Berwick-upon-Tweed FINISH: Ayr FINISH: Cockburnspath LENGTH: 28 miles (45km) LENGTH: 44 miles (70km) LENGTH: 212 miles (340km)

4 Borders Abbeys Way ✔ 23 Speyside Way ✔ 16

23 10 8

Jedburgh Abbey CIRCULAR: Kelso-Jedburgh- 13 12 Hawick-Selkirk- START: Melrose FINISH: Aviemore LENGTH: 68 miles (109km) LENGTH: 65 miles (105km)

5 Cateran Trail ✔ 24 Three Lochs Way ✔ 5

25

9 19

Alyth CIRCULAR: Blairgowrie- Balloch to section of Three Lochs Way Kirkmichael-Spittal START: Balloch of Glenshee- 24 14 FINISH: Inveruglas LENGTH: 64 miles (103km) LENGTH: 31 miles (50km) 11 3 6 Clyde Walkway ✔ 10 Formartine ✔ 25 ✔ 26 and Buchan Way 7 6 21

15 18 20 4 2 Mormond Hill White Horse 22 The Falls of Clyde START: Dyce, nr on the West Highland Way 1 START: FINISH: START: , nr Glasgow FINISH: New & FINISH: Fort William LENGTH: 40 miles (65km) LENGTH: 53 miles (86km) LENGTH: 96 miles (155km)

17 7 Cross Borders ✔ 11 Forth-Clyde/Union ✔ 19 Rob Roy Way ✔ 26 West Island Way ✔ Drove Road Canal Towpath Trail Kilchattan Bay Motorway START: Kilchattan Bay Road FINISH: Port Bannatyne Railway LENGTH: 30 miles (48km) International Airport Trail Trail Regional Airport Trail MotorwayTrail MotorwayTrail Motorway Motorway Bowling, RoadMotorwayRoad Falls of Acharn Road Road Kailzie Hill, the Scottish Borders START: Bowling Trail RailwayRoadRailway START: Kilchattan Bay Railway Railway START: Little Vantage FINISH: Fountainbridge, Motorway InternationalRailwayInternational Airport Airport FINISH: START: Kilchattan Bay International AirportInternational Airport FINISH: Hawick Edinburgh Road RegionalInternationalRegional Airport Airport Airport LENGTH: 77 or 94 miles FINISH: Port Bannatyne LENGTH: 52 miles (83km) LENGTH: 66 miles (106km) RailwayRegional AirportRegionalRegional Airport Airport (124 or 151km) LENGTH: 30 miles (48km) International Airport Regional Airport 5 Cateran Trail 10 Formartine and 15 Kintyre Way 20 Romans and Reivers Route 25 West Highland Way In this, the Year of Buchan Way Natural Scotland 2013, what better way to explore the Dipper On the heathery hills around breathtaking natural Glenshee, you may be rewarded Common Seal Short-Eared Owl Red Deer Stag with a glimpse of a red deer or a Wind your way down this remote This trail follows old Roman roads, The landscapes are forever beauty and thriving Pearl Bordered Fritillary golden eagle soaring overhead. peninsula and you’re likely to sheltered forest tracks and quiet changing as this trail passes through natural environment, Oystercatchers are often seen The wildlife along this old railway encounter deer, red squirrels and lanes. While you no longer need to woodland and rolling farmland to close to rivers, and dippers may be route can be secretive, so make an grouse in the woods and moor keep an eye out for the notorious Loch Lomond, crosses the open than getting out and spotted bobbing on the rocks before early start or dawdle at dusk and above Tarbert, and seals, seabirds Reivers, livestock raiders of the expanse of and about and enjoying disappearing underwater to catch you might be rewarded by the sight and basking sharks along the coast. Middle Ages, do look out for birds traverses the imposing mountain insects. In late autumn look of a fox, badger, roe deer or red During winter and spring, Lussa of prey such as short-eared owl, scenery of the Highlands. The Scotland’s Great Trails. out for salmon leaping up the falls squirrel. A rich variety of bird and Loch is a haven for flocks of white- buzzard and goshawk which wildlife also gets wilder as you of the River Ericht as they head insect life lives amongst the natural fronted Greenland geese. Wildlife of regularly nest and hunt in the forest. head north - feral goats frequent With 26 to choose upstream to their spawning grounds. vegetation that flanks the route, the hooked beak and talon variety Also listen out for the elusive water the bouldery terrain north of from, you will be Then of course there are the beavers including beautiful butterflies in the thrives on the Mull of Kintyre – the vole plopping into small streams as , red deer are regularly and wild boar near Alyth and even secluded cuttings. domain of kestrels, peregrines and you pass. seen near Kingshouse and, if you’re spoiled for choice! llamas near Glenshee. www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/outdooraccess/ golden eagles. www.southofscotlandcountrysidetrails.co.uk/ lucky, you might see a golden eagle. www.caterantrail.org long_routes/formartine_buchan.asp www.kintyreway.com where-to-ride/romans-and-reivers-route/ www.west-highland-way.co.uk

1 Annandale Way 6 Clyde Walkway 11 Forth-Clyde/Union 16 Moray Coast Trail 21 St Cuthbert’s Way 26 West Island Way Canal Towpath

Bottlenose Dolphins Peregrine Falcon Tufted Duck With its marvellous landscapes of Goosander Red Grouse Woods and water are a winning The canals provide a vital corridor rugged cliffs, sheltered coves and The Annan river is home and combination when it comes to for wildlife, through the city and sweeping stretches of sand, Moray’s The hills of the Scottish Borders Osprey hunting ground for heron, kingfisher wildlife, and the Clyde Valley is no into the countryside. On the water coastline is alive with wildlife. The are alive to the sound of music in and otter – wily fishers all. In exception. Woodpeckers and tree you’re likely to see mute swans, resident population of bottlenose spring – the song of the skylark, the Follow this trail through the Isle of autumn, saw-billed goosander flock creepers, bluebells and primroses, mallard, little grebe and tufted duck. dolphin in the Moray Firth is a plaintive note of the golden plover, Bute and there’s a good chance of to Castle Loch, mid-way along the beetles and badgers, all live in the You might also spot characters from big draw, as is the chance to see the bubbling trill of the curlew and seeing grey seals around the coast, trail through the Annan Valley, for a woodlands that border the trail. But ‘Wind in the Willows’ – Ratty (water an osprey plunging for fish. But the throaty cackle of the red grouse. and maybe even an otter. Stop at spot of fishing too. And for the finale, the top trump must surely be the vole), Toad and Weasel. On summer don’t overlook the fulmars soaring And Lindisfarne, at the end of the the bird hide at Loch Fad, and in where the river flows into the Solway opportunity to see peregrine falcons days look out for swifts on the wing, effortlessly overhead, stonechats trail, is a mecca for long-distance summer you could be rewarded Firth, there’s a wonderful black and nesting on the cliffs above the river while at dusk keep an eye out for calling loudly from the whins, avian travellers in autumn, as well as with an osprey fishing and in winter white minstrel show of thousands of at the Falls of Clyde. Daubenton’s bats flitting over the ducks dabbling in the estuaries and a colourful canvas of dune flowers in you might spy a goldeneye or a Barnacle geese every winter. www.visitlanarkshire.com/things-to-do/ water hoovering up insects. lichens carpeting the pinewood. summer. gaggle of greylag geese. www.annandaleway.org walking/Clyde-Walkway-/ www.scottishcanals.co.uk/our-canals www.morayways.org.uk/moray-coast-trail.asp www.stcuthbertsway.info www.visitbute.com/Walking+on+Bute/

2 Ayrshire Coastal Path 7 Cross Borders Drove Road 12 Great Glen Canoe Trail 17 22 Southern Upland Way

There’s a fun-packed Whinchat programme of events to The Great Glen is formed by a Gannets Kirkhope Law celebrate the Year of Natural gigantic fault line and is one of the Mute Swan Mountain Hare Scotland throughout 2013. The Ayrshire coastline is a hot-spot most geologically active parts of This trail, which follows the route Find out about the many for wildlife enthusiasts. Seals basking used by drovers taking their beasts the UK, but don’t worry most earth This is a trail for all seasons for For a route that stretches over on inshore rocks are a common to market, takes you into hidden tremors are too faint to be recorded. wildlife. In summer it’s seabird city 200 miles from coast to coast, it’s ways you can get involved sight, and with luck you may see valleys such as Fingland Burn and However, in 1901 an earthquake at the Mull of Galloway, where no surprise that the wildlife is as by visiting the Scottish otters too. Look out for long-billed Gypsy Glen and across the glorious caused a 600 foot crack to open guillemots and razorbills, kittiwakes diverse as the countryside along Natural Heritage waders probing the estuary muds, in the towpath at Dochgarroch and fulmars are all busy raising their the way. Seabirds clamouring on Borders countryside. The heathery website and the Year cormorants standing like statues as hump of Kirkhope Law, crested with Lock! The broom and whin (gorse) chicks. From autumn through to the cliffs, woodpeckers hammering they soak up the sun and gannets its double dykes, is resplendently that you’ll find lining some of the spring there’s plenty to see at Luce in the forests and mountain hares of Natural Scotland plunging at break-neck speed into dressed in purple in summer – it’s towpaths were originally planted on Bay and Loch Ryan – from graceful bounding across the hillsides are page. the offshore waters. How many of like walking or riding along a the orders of Thomas Telford as their mute swans to energetic turnstones. just a few of the ’ the 135 birds listed in the Guide dinosaur’s back. roots help to bind the sand and At any time of year, look out for roe secrets it shares with those who Some of the Book can you spot? www.southofscotlandcountrysidetrails.co.uk/ gravel of the canal’s embankments. deer at Glenapp. journey across it. www.ayrshirecoastalpath.org where-to-ride/cross-borders-drove-road/ www.greatglencanoetrail.info www.mullofgallowaytrail.co.uk www.southernuplandway.gov.uk fantastic things on offer include: 3 Berwickshire Coastal Path 8 Dava Way 13 Great Glen Way 18 River Ayr Way 23 Speyside Way • Scotland’s Big 5 celebrations – vote for your favourite Big 5 wildlife • View from the train – discover more Lapwing Red Squirrel about Scotland’s Painted Lady on Thrift From the woodlands and pastoral Some of Scotland’s most iconic Pine Marten Otter wildlife can be seen along this iconic natural The coastal cliffs burst into colour in landscape of the Moray plain, this trail – seals basking on the rocks at landscapes with spring – thrift (sea pink), early purple trail heads to the wild moor where The top ten creatures to keep an Glenbuck Loch, the start of the trail, golden plover, curlew, lapwing and eye out for in the Great Glen are is famous for its fossilised fish. The , while otters and osprey our mp3 audio orchid, yellows of the bird’s-foot fish the waters of the River Spey. snipe are regularly seen and heard. red deer, red squirrel, pine marten, good news for wildlife watchers is trefoil, gorse and rockrose; visited by Keep an eye out for red squirrels guide, App and In summer bog asphodel, gentians wild boar, osprey, peregrine falcon, there’s still salmon and other fish equally brightly-attired butterflies and elusive pine martens in the leaflets – common blue, northern brown and orchids abound. The old railway raven, black grouse, Scottish living in the River Ayr, and these native pinewoods of the argus and painted lady to name a sidings at Dunphail have been crossbill and wood ant. You can attract kingfishers, heron and otter. National Park – and if you’re really • Celebrate John few. Add the cacophony of noise developed as a wildlife-friendly download free Spotter’s Guides Also look out for grey wagtail and lucky you’ll catch a glimpse of a Muir – join from the cliff-nesting guillemots, Breathing Place, from where the from the website to help you dippers. Badger, roe deer and red capercaillie. Find out more about in activities kittiwakes and fulmars, and it’s sure trail leads south through a beautiful identify and learn more about these squirrel live in the nearby woods, these fascinating creatures by to put a spring in your step too. birch wood to the spectacular and the many other creatures that while raptors reign over the moor visiting the Wildlife Centre at Scotland’s www.scotborders.gov.uk/ Divie viaduct. live here. above Muirkirk. and the RSPB reserve at Abernethy. protected places berwickshirecoastalpath www.davaway.org.uk www.greatglenway.com www.theriverayrway.org www.speysideway.org to celebrate the life and work of the 4 Borders Abbeys Way 9 Fife Coastal Path 14 John Muir Way 19 Rob Roy Way 24 Three Lochs Way “father of National Parks” • Scotland’s Outdoor Challenge – inspiring young Eider people to share Brown Hare Salmon Experience the vast variety of natural their special Kittiwakes Between the Borders Abbeys towns and cultural heritage as you explore This scenic trail travels through the Ferns & Mosses stories of the great and villages, wildlife thrives. Look the Kingdom of Fife’s spectacular The coastal sections of the trail are heart of Scotland, and its centrepiece Great views over Loch Lomond, Gare outdoors via a new out for salmon and dippers in the coastline. Ponder on the forces that ideal for viewing seabirds such as is the spectacular Glen Ogle. Large Loch and Loch Long are the defining rivers between Kelso and Jedburgh, Facebook App and created the sculptured sandstone gannets and oystercatchers, while lochs feature prominently along features of this trail, though your goosander and grey heron on the crags and fossil-rich limestone cliffs. inland there are opportunities to the way, as do dramatic cascades eye will also be drawn to the craggy photographing way to Hawick. Buzzard and brown their feet! hare frequent the hill farms between View the wealth of wildlife from wild spot brown hares and roe deer and of water such as the Falls of Leny, Arrochar Alps and majestic Ben here and Selkirk, and Selkirk Hill is flowers to pods of dolphins as you the rivers are home to kingfishers Dochart, Acharn and Moness. Look Lomond. Focus in closer as the trail a hot-spot for wild flowers such as pass through nature reserves and and otters. In John Muir’s home out for the ‘king of the river’ jumping passes through Glen Loin and you’ll mountain pansy and butterwort. past rich seas. Listen out for eider town of , look out for in the at and at see that the oak trees are cloaked in On summer days check the country cooing and wigeon whistling, as kittiwakes nesting on the castle and the famous fish ladder in Pitlochry mosses and ferns, and you’ll maybe lanes around Melrose for ringlet and each changing season brings its own seals scavenging for fishy scraps in where 5,000 salmon pass upstream spot some deer sheltering or a Images © SNH, Lorne Gill, meadow brown butterflies. special charms. the harbour. to Loch Faskally. sparrowhawk hunting. Laurie Campbell and Patricia www.scotborders.gov.uk/bordersabbeysway www.fifecoastalpath.co.uk www.eastlothian.gov.uk www.robroyway.com www.threelochsway.co.uk and Angus Macdonald a break to the Scottish Borders

To celebrate the opening of the new Cross Borders Drove Road trail, we are offering you the chance to experience Discover Scotland's Great Trails… this fascinating route stretching 52 miles (83km) from south west Edinburgh over the Cauldstane Slap – the pass over the Pentland Hills – it continues through West Linton to Peebles and Traquair, and onward via the Yarrow Valley to Hawick. On the way, you’ll explore hidden valleys such as Fingland Burn and Gypsy Glen and across the glorious Borders countryside. Experience this all for yourself …there's a surprise and WIN a break to the Scottish Borders Stay for two nights at the 4 star gold Glede Knowe Guest House nestled in the around every corner picturesque village of Innerleithen. Situated close to the town of Peebles – you will be perfectly positioned to explore the many surprising sights and sounds of the Cross Borders Drove Road trail. What’s more, you will savour a delicious breakfast on each morning to set you up for the day ahead. Enjoy one full day of bike hire courtesy of bspoke cycles, and you will also be invited to experience the thrills and spills of Go Ape – the UK’s number one forest adventure. Fly down zip-wires, leap off the Tarzan Swing and tackle crossings whilst enjoying some of Scotland’s most breathtaking scenery. And with up to £100 towards travel and spending, you’ll be free to discover the many surprising things to see and do on the Cross Borders Drove Road.

Enter now: visitscotland.com/surprisetrails

Peebles, the Scottish Borders

Terms and Conditions: Draw closes 30.06.13. No purchase necessary. For full Ts and Cs go to: visitscotland.com/surprisetrails Promoter: VisitScotland, Edinburgh EH6 6JH ISBN 978 1 8537 9323

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