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.
This is a Long route 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 walking count on Scotland's longest trail?
Your tracker feeds the total directly, moving you east from Portpatrick with every walk, run or ride it captures. On a route this long the consistency does the work: 30 km a week reaches Cockburnspath in around eleven weeks, and 50 km a week in about seven.
Do I have to be in southern Scotland?
No. The coast-to-coast is measured in kilometres, not in map references, so pavements, parks and treadmills all count. The real route's difficulty is its remoteness, with long empty sections and very few services; the virtual one keeps the length, and at 335 km that is demanding enough on its own.
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. The end date you choose at setup sets the weekly rhythm.
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.
Start your Southern Upland Way Conquest
Joining is free. Connect Strava or Apple Health once and every ride, run or walk you record syncs automatically, moving you along the route without anything else to log.