Southern Upland Way

Extra Nights & Rest Days

As Scotland’s longest Great Trail, the Southern Upland Way passes through plenty of towns and villages on its journey, each with their own individual charm and attractions. Extend your holiday by booking extra night stays at any of your overnight stops, and spend more time exploring each area to your heart’s content.

The Southern Upland Way sets off from the seaside town of Portpatrick, which is a good choice for an extra night’s stay if you wish to spend more time exploring the coast. This pretty town is filled with pastel-coloured houses set around a small bay fringed with cliffs, and boasts lovely views out to sea. As well as a variety of places to eat and shop, Portpatrick offers a number of attractions to keep visitors occupied, such as the magnificent ruins of Dunskey Castle perched on the cliffs, or the exotic displays of the Logan Botanic Gardens, to name but a few.

Another ideal location for a rest day is Sanquhar, a small village nestled among fantastic scenery. The main attraction here is the Tolbooth Museum, housed inside a handsome Georgian town house and filled with evidence of the village’s fascinating history. Sanquhar also claims to be home to the oldest post office in the world, which has been operating since 1712, while the high street also has plenty of other shops and eateries to peruse. Just outside of the village is the Crawick Multiverse, a land art project designed by world famous landscape artist Charles Jenks, which is worth visiting for those interested in unique architecture.

For somewhere a little livelier, you could consider the vibrant and bustling town of Moffat for an extra night’s stay. Nestled in the heart of Southern Scotland and well-placed as a base to explore the landscapes of Dumfries and Galloway - and the Scottish Borders - Moffat is a Conservation Area and a “Walkers are Welcome” town, meaning it comes fully equipped for the needs of its visitors. Attractions of particular interest around Moffat include the Moffat Musuem, the architecture of the town centre, the local nature reserves, a historic golf course and a range of specialty shops and award-winning restaurants to enjoy.

Lauder is another good option for a rest day location, with plenty of attractions to keep visitors entertained. Lauder’s Town Trail will help you learn all about the town’s local history, appealing to keen historians and town explorers alike. On the edge of town is Thirlestane Castle - one of the seven Great Houses in Scotland - as well as the remains of the House of the Holy Trinity, which was founded in 1160 and was one of the most important institutions in medieval Scotland. In addition to all of this, Lauder boasts a range of places to eat and shop, as well as an art gallery and golf course, offering something for everyone to enjoy.

You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops:

Travel Information

Useful information and travel links that will assist you in your plans to travel to the start of the holiday and back from the end of it are sent to you with your full tour pack. A summary is given below:

By Air - the most convenient airports are Glasgow Airport, Glasgow Prestwick Airport and Edinburgh Airport.

By Rail - The nearest train station to the start of the trail (Portpatrick) is at Stranraer (approximately 7 miles). From here buses run to Portpatrick. There is a train station at the end of the trail (Dunbar).

By Bus - Various buses run to Portpatrick and from Dunbar.

From London - Trains run from London Euston to Stranraer.

Return To The Start - To return to the start of the trail you will need to catch the train from Dunbar to Stranraer and then from Stranraer catch a bus to Portpatrick. Please note this is a lengthy journey.