Bikepacking the breadth of the Borderlands — Southern Upland Way

The Southern Upland Way is a spectacular long distance cycling and hiking route linking the west and east coasts of Scotland, crossing the remote hills of the Scottish Borderlands.

Starting from Portpatrick, on the Irish Sea, the Way travels 214 miles (344 km) through the border regions of Scotland to finish in Cockburnspath, on the North Sea. The rugged coastlines are linked via a hilly landscape sculpted by thousands of years of glacial activity.

In total it covers 214 miles (344 km) linking rugged coastlines, from remote Portpatrick to Cockburnspath, with a hilly landscape formed by glacial activity over thousands of years.

The resulting rolling hills and rocky outcrops make a great challenge for riders, more accessible than the remote Highlands with smaller summits (none above 3,000ft (914 m), but still plenty of climbing to test the legs and deliver some incredible views. You’ll also pass through many villages and towns so there’s plenty of options for resupply or even overnighting under a roof if that’s your preference.

In Scotland you can wild camp legally thanks to the Right To Roam act (see more at scotways.com/faq/law-on-statutory-access-rights). If you’re choosing from the hotels, guesthouses and campsites along the route, make sure you do book ahead, especially in peak season during the summer months.

There’s some serious climbing on this route so you’ll need some low gearing and wide tyres to cope with the sometimes rocky and rough terrain. A gravel bike with tyres of 40mm or more or a mountain bike will be best, depending on your preference.

Although not as remote as other parts of Scotland, this route still passes over some inaccessible areas so you’ll need to make sure that you’re familiar with emergency procedure (such as telephone numbers for emergency services and route escape points) and have emergency equipment, including a basic first aid kit and a survival bag.

The best times of the year to tackle the Southern Upland Way include the spring and autumn, at either side of the midge season, but when it should be a bit drier under tyre and hopefully offer some better weather.

Always be prepared with waterproofs and extra layers should the worst of the weather hit you, even in the summer months. Attempting the Southern Upland Divide in the winter months is not recommended as some of the way is on grassy ground which can become very boggy and hard to pass after bad weather.

Travel options at either end are limited as it starts and ends in small coastal villages without great links for cyclists. Your best bet is to catch a train to and from either end. At the start you’ll need to catch a train to Stranraer, a 7 mile (11.5 km) ride to the start in Portpatrick, and then at the finish you’ll need to ride 8.7 miles (14 km) to Dunbar for the nearest station to make your way home.

Find out more about cycling the route at southernuplandway.gov.uk/coast-to-coast-long-distance-walking/biking.
If you think you like the look of this route but might prefer the challenge on foot, check out our hiking Collection for the Southern Upland Way here komoot.com/collection/904418/a-wild-and-undiscovered-coast-to-coast-challenge-southern-upland-way.