Walker's Paradise

Southern Upland Way

As far as we are concerned, Scotland is a walker's paradise. Walking is engrained in the culture, enshrined in the National Right To Roam federal law, and seemingly practiced by one and all. This is one of the big reasons we feel at home here.

There are 12,500 miles of protected paths which are accessible right across Scotland – from the countryside to the city – suitable for walking, cycling, and horse-riding. Edinburgh has several hundred miles of these. By comparison, Virginia, which does a good job with trails and which is about one-third larger than Scotland, has only about 10% of the trail miles.

Interestingly, but not surprising given the Scottish affinity for walking, John Muir was born in Scotland. After moving to the US, he focused his life on the preservation of wilderness, and is widely known as the "Father of the National Parks." Thank you, Scotland.