There are currently no dates scheduled for this trip. Next year (2027) we will be completing our Scottish National Trail on Stage 2. If you would like to register your interest in any future edition of this length of Scotland trail please contact us to do so.
We can offer private and bespoke group options for all our trips. This trip can start on any date of your choosing, with a minimum of 4 people. To explore this option please don’t hesitate to contact us with your preferred dates, accommodation, and group size.
The Scottish National Trail was devised by Cameron McNeish who passionately believed that Scotland was deserving of a long-distance trail that travelled the length of the country. And, we think he was right!
Starting in Kirk Yetholm, near the border with England, the route makes use of existing trails and rights of way to wind its way through the Lowlands and the Highlands to its final destination, Cape Wrath. In our Stage 1 we will walk from Kirk Yetholm to Kingussie, not far from the ‘Centre of Scotland Stone’ which seems apt. It’s not precisely half-way (290 of 557 miles) but it does make for a logical stopping point.
On this first stage we will make use of St Cuthbert’s Way, the Southern Upland Way, and the Cross Borders Drove Road, to head northwards through the Scottish Borders. Then we will make some quick miles alongside the canals of the central belt.
The West Highland Way and Rob Roy Way will each briefly aid our journey to Perthshire. Then we enter the Cairngorms. We will head into the hills with provisions for 3 days and 2 nights, before emerging into Speyside to complete the first stage of the Scottish National Trail.
Highlights
- Taking the first step on a journey from one end of Scotland to another!
- Following the Tweed Valley on the Southern Upland Way.
- Passing the incredible Falkirk Wheel on the Union Canal.
- Walking through remote Perthshire glens to the Birks of Aberfeldy.
- Walking and wild camping through the remote hills of the Cairngorm National Park.
- Camping amongst the regenerating woodland of Glen Feshie.
Itinerary
Each day, you will be guided along the Scottish National Trail and taken to your accommodation. We will be with you from the moment you set off in the morning to the moment you arrive at your accommodation in the evening.
On most days you will only need to carry your day bag, with essentials to keep you warm, dry, fed, and hydrated for the day. Your main luggage will be transported to your next accommodation for you.
Everything will be taken care of so that you can just enjoy the walking!
Today is the day we will all make our way to Kirk Yetholm to begin our Scottish National Trail adventure. In the evening you will get a chance to meet the rest of your group, as well as your guides, for a welcome evening and briefing. This will be in a local pub/restaurant where you will have the option of an evening meal.
Accommodation in or near Kirk Yetholm
Day 1: Kirk Yetholm to Cessford – 21km (13 miles); 720m ascent.
We will start with an out-and back to the border between Scotland and England, before following St Cuthbert’s Way over Wideopen Hill, and then through Morebattle to Cessford.
Day 2: Cessford to Maxton – 22km (13.5 miles); 445m ascent.
Today you will walk through rolling Borders countryside, follow an old Roman road passing the site of
the Battle of Ancrum Moor.
Day 3: Maxton to Abbot’s Ford – 20.5km (12.75 miles); 470m ascent.
Continuing on St Cuthbert’s Way today’s route follows the River Tweed before passing over the Eildon
Hills into Melrose. Back on the banks of the Tweed we pick up the Southern Upland Way which takes us through the more industrial Tweedbank.
Day 4: Abbot’s Ford to Innerleithen – 26.5km (16.5 miles); 915m ascent.
After walking through the edge of Galashiels our route passes through farmland over the hill to Yair.
From here we rise to the moorland and the Three Brethren. Staying on the tops for the remainder of the day the Southern Upland Way is followed across Minch Moor, before a descent to Traquair and
eventually the village of Innerleithen.
Day 5: Innerleithen to Romano Bridge – 26.25km (16.25 miles); 500m ascent.
The Tweed will once again provide our handrail and smooth path to Peebles. Here we will pick up the
Cross Borders Drove Road through hill farmland and forestry.
Day 6: Romano Bridge to Balerno – 24.5km (15.25 miles); 370m ascent.
Following an old Roman road and then passing through the southern end of the Pentland Hills we cross to Balerno which sits on the Water of Leith.
Day 7: Balerno to Muirend – 23.25km (14.5 miles); 240m ascent.
On final day of our first section the route heads into Edinburgh along the Water of Leith before joining the Union Canal and head west back out of town. We will pass Ratho and cross the viaduct at Lin’s Mill before finishing our day at Muirend. A well earn rest day awaits.
Today is a scheduled rest day. We will be on the outskirts of Edinburgh and you may wish to make use of the public transport links into the centre to explore Scotland’s capital city.
Day 1: Muirend to Falkirk – 31.75km (19.75 miles), 120m ascent.
This day will be spent on Union Canal tow paths through Linlithgow to Falkirk.
Day 2: Falkirk to Cadder – 33km (20.5 miles), 316m ascent.
Continue west on the canal with will take a couple of diversion onto the Antonine Wall to vary the walking, as well as take in the amazing engineering of the Falkirk Wheel.
Day 3: Cadder to Drymen – 28.5km (17.75 miles), 390m ascent.
Leaving the towpath behind we will work our way to Milngavie to pick the West Highland Way which we will follow to Drymen.
Day 4: Drymen to Callander – 33km (20.5 miles), 650m ascent.
We will leave Drymen on the Rob Roy Way and walk on road and forestry track to Aberfoyle, then under the Menteith Hills to Callander.
Day 5: Callander to Comrie – 25.75km (16 miles), 670m ascent.
We will begin with an uphill to the Callander crags. After asection of minor road the route takes hill tracks through to Glen Arteney. It can get a bit boggy underfoot before finishing on a minor road into Comrie.
Day 6: Comrie to Loch Freuchie – 29.5km (18.5 miles), 940m ascent.
Glen Lednock leads us out of the village via the Deil’s Cauldron. From Invergeldie we climb on good
tracks up to around 600m. The tracks fade and some off-path walking brings us to the River Almond.
Good tracks down the river bring us to our final climb of the day on the Rob Roy Way. Rougher path
brings us out at Loch Freuchie. This will be our toughest day so far.
Day 7: Loch Freuchie to Aberfeldy – 20km (12.5 miles), 370m ascent.
On final day of this section is on the Rob Roy Way following minor roads and hill tracks, until the final
section on footpaths through the birks of Aberfeldy.
This is our second scheduled rest day and we will be based in the small town of Aberfeldy. You may wish to take a wander by the River Tay or visit the local distillery.
Day 1: Aberfeldy to Blair Atholl – 29km (18 miles), 615m ascent.
We set off on our final leg of the stage along the Tay riverbank to Grandtully. Views open out as we gain height walking over to Pitlochry and the end of the Rob Roy Way. We then follow the rivers Tummel and Garry to Killiecrankie and onwards to Blair Atholl.
Day 2: Blair Atholl to Red House – 29.5km (18.25 miles), 620m ascent.
Here we head northwards through Glen Tilt and into the Cairngorms. We will be carrying provisions for 2 nights and 3 days of walking. With all we need on our backs we have flexibility in our destination, but we will aim to make camp at the Red House bothy after fording the Geldie Burn.
Day 3: Red House to Ruigh Aiteachain – 19.75km (12.25 miles), 260m ascent.
The remotest leg of our journey takes us westwards over the watershed and into the upper reaches of
Glen Feshie. A place famed for its regeneration of natural woodland and river processes we will camp
amongst the woodland near Ruigh Aiteachain bothy.
Day 4: Ruigh Aiteachain to Kingussie – 23km (14.25 miles), 272m ascent.
On our final day we will follow the river down Glen Feshie and into Inshriach Forest. We will pass the
Uath Lochans and take in the Far-leitire crags, before joining the Speyside Way into Kingussie. All that’s left is to enjoy a hearty meal and raise a glass or two before departing the following day.
For now we have reached the end of the road. Stage 1 of the Scottish National Trail is complete and will pick up the trail from Kingussie next year. For now it is time to say our farewells and head for home.
What's Included?
- Accommodation for 19 nights (breakfast included)
- 2 nights wild camping
- 18 days guided walking
- Qualified UK Mountain Leader as your guide
- Luggage transfers
- Support vehicle
- Information Pack and training advice
- Maximum group size of 8
- Arrival transfer from Tweedbank train station
- Free return to Tweedbank at the end of the trek if required
- Lunches, snacks and dinners
- Camp food including breakfasts
Accommodation Options
Mixed Accommodation
On this trek we will make use of a mix of accommodations in the many small towns and villages we pass through. These will mainly be B&Bs but we will also stay in some hotels and inns along the way. We will occasionally use self-catering properties where appropriate. All of these will include breakfast.
On 2 nights we will be wild camping and you will need to bring all the kit required for this aspect of the trek (tent, sleeping bag, stove and all your overnight kit). We will provide you with a kit list to help you pack so that you are as comfortable as possible while not overloading your rucksack.
Wild camping is a challenge, however, the effort will be rewarded by spending the night in one of the most remote and unspoiled locations in the UK.
FAQs
This trek is graded 5/5 on our trekking scale.
This is the grading reserved for our most challenging treks and only recommended for the experienced and fit walker. A trek that will be hilly/mountainous, consistently cover long distances over pathless rough terrain. Routes of this grade will include committing days through very remote areas.
On Stage 1 of the SNT the days can be long, some include significant height gain, and although there is lots of good tracks and paths on this stage there are also sections rough off path terrain. This stage includes wild camping which necessitates a heavier pack for 3 of the walking days.
To help you decide if this trip is right for you, please also refer to the itinerary, which includes daily distances, ascent, and detailed descriptions of the terrain.
You can read more about our grading system in our Trip Difficulty Guide.
Please note: all long-distance walking is challenging, particularly if you are not used to walking/exercising on consecutive days. What makes a trek challenging is personal and depends on your fitness, strengths, and preferences.
Firstly, you can expect a real challenge. We will be packing a lot of miles into 3 weeks of walking and therefore this will be physically demanding.
Along the route you can expect variety. From the green rolling countryside of the Scottish Borders, to the industrial central belt, and then into the Highlands you will get a real sense of travelling through Scotland’s many and varied landscapes.
You can expect to find historical and cultural interest throughout from the realms of the Border Reivers, over the Antonine Wall, to the musings of Robert Burns.
If you are a seasoned walker looking for a truly long distance goal then this is an excellent choice.
You will need to have resilience to deal with the inevitable weather changes in a trip of this length, the physical fitness and determination to face some big mile days and some tougher terrain.
We strongly recommend that all customers booking this trip have prior experience with long-distance trails and/or multi-day mountain walks.
If you are unsure whether this challenge is suitable for you, please get in touch to discuss this. We would love to talk all about this trek!
We will make the nearest train station, Tweedbank, our meeting point for this one. We will provide a transfer to Kirk Yetholm from here on arrival day.
We don’t advise arriving by car as 3 weeks is a long time to leave it anywhere. However, Tweedbank train station does have a large free car park.
We will stay in numerous towns and villages along the route and these will always be close to the end of each day’s walk. We will stay in some locations for 2 nights so that you don’t have to pack up and move on every morning.
Facilities in each place will vary but we will always make sure you are informed of any places where these are limited. Your Trek Manager will be on hand throughout to look after the logistics such as getting to shops for packed lunches etc.
You will be provided with a full kit list, but as a guide the basics you will need are:
Walking boots, waterproof trousers, waterproof jacket, hat, gloves, a spare warm layer and walking trousers (not jeans or denim), a water bottle, sun and midge protection.
Camping kit: tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, camp stove and cooking kit, and water filter/purification.
With Thistle Trekking you get a personal service. We are happy to answer any questions and queries and help where we can with all aspects of your trip.
Your point of contact will be the same person from the first enquiry to the final communication before your Scottish National Trail trek.
Our guides are all qualified, experienced, and fun companions on the trail.
