John Muir Way

The John Muir Way is a 215-kilometre (130 mi) continuous long distance route in southern Scotland, running from Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute in the west to Dunbar, East Lothian in the east. It is named in honour of the Scottish conservationist John Muir, who was born in Dunbar in 1838 and became a founder of the United States National Park Service. The route provides a coast-to-coast route across Scotland, linking Muir's birthplace with Scotland's first national park, Loch Lomond and The Trossachs,[2] and Helensburgh, from where he left Scotland for the United States.[3] It is suitable for walkers and cyclists although some sections are on rougher terrain and may not be suitable for road bicycles.[4]

Not to be confused with the John Muir Trail.
John Muir Way
Gullane beach lies on the trail
Length215 kilometres (134 mi)[1]
LocationArgyll and Bute and East Lothian, Scotland
DesignationScotland's Great Trails
TrailheadsHelensburgh Esplanade, Helensburgh, Argyll
56.0031°N 4.7368°W / 56.0031; -4.7368 (John Muir Way (Helensburgh trailhead))
Dunbar
56.0025°N 2.5165°W / 56.0025; -2.5165 (John Muir Way (Dunbar trailhead))
UseHiking and cycling
Elevation
Elevation gain/loss2,015 metres (6,611 ft) gain[1]
Lowest point0 m (0 ft)
Hiking details
Trail difficultyEasy to moderate
SeasonAll year
SightsCastles, canals , beaches, birds, Roman sites, Falkirk Wheel.
Hazardsnone
Websitehttp://johnmuirway.org/
John Muir Way fingerposts

The John Muir Way opened on 21 April 2014.[5] Previously a shorter 'John Muir Way' existed only in East Lothian, but the majority of this older route has now been absorbed into the much longer new route.[6] A shorter section of the older route from Dunbar to the Scottish Borders has been renamed as the 'John Muir Link'.[7] In 2017 the route was designated as one of Scotland's Great Trails by NatureScot.[8] The Independent declared the original John Muir Way its Walk of the Month for February 2014.[9] Between 240,000 and 300,000 people use the path every year, of whom about 5,500 walk the entire route.[10]

Route

The John Muir Way is signposted throughout using a purple-brown logo.[8] Taking the trail from west to east, the John Muir Way starts in Helensburgh.[3] The trail follows over the hills, providing views of Loch Lomond and the Trossach mountains, before descending into Balloch, with its National Park centre. This is one of the wilder sections of the route with the most rugged terrain: windswept, high moorland with little shelter. From here the route winds its way towards Strathblane and Scotland's most famous long distance walk, the West Highland Way which it crosses near Dumgoyne hill and Glengoyne Distillery.

At Kirkintilloch, the trail picks up the Forth and Clyde Canal and heads through Strathkelvin to Falkirk and its wheel which provides a link between waterways for travelling craft. Roman forts and the Antonine Wall are the next attractions en route to the ancient town of Linlithgow and its impressive palace of Mary, Queen of Scots. It leaves Linlithgow with its low lying loch for the seashore and the harbour town of Bo'ness, coasting along to Blackness Castle and the bridge town of South Queensferry. The trail follows the greener places in the capital city, Edinburgh, before guiding travellers east, past famous, coastal birding and golf spots via Aberlady and North Berwick. The trail ends in Dunbar, where Muir was born and there is a museum dedicated to him.[3]

See also

References
  1. "Trails". Scotland's Great Trails. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  2. "The Story of the John Muir Way". John Muir Way. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  3. Miller, David (17 April 2014). "John Muir Way ready to be unveiled". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  4. "John Muir Way". Scotland's Great Trails. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  5. "John Muir Way Opens In April 2014 - Outdoors News". OutdoorsMagic. 4 February 2014. Archived from the original on 14 March 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  6. "The John Muir Way & The John Muir Festival". Scottish Natural Heritage. 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  7. The Long Distance Walker's Association. "John Muir Way". Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  8. "Recognition for the John Muir Way". Scotland's Great Trails. 13 January 2017. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  9. Mark Rowe (22 February 2014). "Walk of the month: East Lothian coast - Great strides towards conservation - UK - Travel". The Independent. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  10. "Scotland's networks of paths and trails: key research findings" (PDF). Scottish Natural Heritage. August 2018. p. 5. Retrieved 26 September 2018.

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