Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has announced that three new trails have been added to the national network of long distance routes, known as Scotland’s Great Trails.
The recently-completed Berwickshire Coastal Path, Rob Roy Way and Great Glen Canoe Trail bring the total number of routes in the network up to 23, extending it to over 1500 miles.
Stretching from the Borders to the Highlands, the trails provide opportunities to explore the country’s landscapes and nature by foot, bike and horseback on well marked paths. With the addition of the Great Glen Canoe Trail, people can now paddle from coast to coast between Fort William and Inverness, and see the Caledonian Canal and Loch Ness from different perspective.
Berwickshire Coastal Path is one of the three new trails added to the Great Trails list Photo: Lisa Jarvis
The Rob Roy Way, which runs between Drymen and Pitlochry, follows the tracks and paths used by the notorious outlaw Rob Roy MacGregor in the 17th and 18th centuries. The most southerly of the three, the Berwickshire Coastal Path, is along one of the most spectacular coastlines in Britain. Linking Cockburnspath to Berwick-on-Tweed, it takes in dramatic cliff top scenery complete with arches, stacks and crumbling castles.
Pete Rawcliffe, people and places manager at Scottish Natural Heritage said: “In Scotland we’re very lucky to have so many long distance trails running through some of our finest scenery, so it’s great to add another three routes to ‘Scotland’s best’. The trails offer people the chance to go out and enjoy the countryside close to where they live as well as exploring further afield. And the beauty of these trails is that you can just dip in for short trips as well as going the whole distance.”
Riddell Graham, director of partnerships at VisitScotland, said: “VisitScotland is delighted to be working closely with Scottish Natural Heritage and other interested countryside partners in the development and promotion of ‘Scotland’s Great Trails’. As we prepare to celebrate the Year of Natural Scotland in 2013, as part of our Winning Years programme, the addition of three new routes will add greatly to the visitor appeal of the extensive paths network already in place and provide great opportunities for tourism businesses to benefit from the natural experience on their doorstep.”
Information on each of Scotland’s Great Trails is available from the Scottish Natural Heritage, VisitScotland and Walkhighlands websites, and via a dedicated website www.scotlandsgreattrails.org.uk
