Virtual Southern Upland Way Challenge

Take on Scotland's longest long-distance trail from wherever you already train. The Southern Upland Way runs roughly 335 km (about 208 miles) from Portpatrick on the Galloway coast in the southwest to Cockburnspath on the Berwickshire coast in the east, crossing the full width of southern Scotland through remote moorland, forest and border farmland. Route Rally turns every synced walk, run or ride into progress along this demanding coast-to-coast trail.

  • Route: Southern Upland Way
  • Distance: 334.6 km
  • Elevation gain: 5900 m
  • Long and remote coast-to-coast crossing
  • Best for: Longer rallies of your own for serious walkers and runners, and multi-month endurance goals

Planning your challenge

A runner averaging 40 km/week finishes in around eight weeks; a walker at 30 km/week takes about eleven weeks, and a cyclist at 150 km/week completes it in just over two weeks.

Long by Route Rally distance bands, and Scotland's longest long-distance route. Best for committed walkers and runners who want a substantial multi-month goal.

Works well for serious walkers who want a remote and demanding coast-to-coast that takes them far from the well-trodden Highland routes.

Create your own rally for your own Southern Upland Way target, solo or with a club, workplace or group of friends.

Why this route

  • The Southern Upland Way is Scotland's first official coast-to-coast route, covering about 335 km (208 miles) from Portpatrick to Cockburnspath.
  • As a virtual challenge you cover the distance in your own time, with walks, runs and rides from anywhere pushing you steadily east across southern Scotland.
  • The route passes through some of the most remote and least-visited landscapes in southern Scotland: the Galloway Forest Park, the Lowther Hills and the border moors around St Mary's Loch.
  • Its length and remoteness make it the most demanding of Scotland's Great Trails, suited to committed walkers rather than casual day-trippers.
  • At a consistent 30 km a week it takes around eleven weeks to complete, making it a serious long-term goal for those who want a trail that really tests their consistency.

Highlights

  • Start at Portpatrick on the Galloway coast of southwest Scotland
  • Cross the Galloway Forest Park, the largest forest park in the UK
  • Follow the border moors through St Mary's Loch and the Ettrick Hills
  • Finish at Cockburnspath on the Berwickshire coast of the North Sea

Common questions

How does my activity actually count?

Connect your activity tracker to Route Rally and every kilometre you log adds up automatically. Your marker moves along the route as new activities sync, with nothing to upload and nothing to enter by hand.

Do I have to live near the route?

Not at all. Walk, run or ride wherever you usually train. The route is a virtual target, so your local roads, treadmill miles and weekend hikes all push you further east across southern Scotland.

How long does the Southern Upland Way take?

At 30 km a week it takes around eleven weeks, roughly three months. Build to 50 km a week and you finish in about seven weeks. You set the end date when you create the rally, so the pace is yours.

Is this harder than the West Highland Way?

The Southern Upland Way is longer and significantly more remote. It does not have the same volume of walkers, services or infrastructure as the West Highland Way, and long sections cross empty moorland with few landmarks. That makes it more demanding for those doing the real route, but as a virtual challenge the difficulty is simply the consistency required to cover the distance.