National Trail Guides UK - Pennine Way, Wolds Way, Two Moors Way, Southern Upland Way

I was able to persuade my nephew Ronnie to travel the Southern Upland Way with me, but it was on the condition that we walked it instead of running. As it happens, Ronnie injured his knee a few days into the walk and had to drop out for most of the journey, acting as chauffeur, and so I saw no pointing in walking when I was now free to run. And so I ran.

This was May 2002. It was agreed, 9 days of walking coast to coast, starting at Port Patrick on the West Coast, close to Stranraer, diagonally across the widest part of Scotland to Cockburnspath on the East Coast. 212 miles in total, spread over 9 days.

There would be much variety in the countryside, and much history. We would see the countryside of Sir Walter Scott and of Robert the Bruce. We would see the coast, the mountains, lochs, forests and moors. I was looking forward to this. Neither of us had spent much time preparing, but as we were walking and not intending to run this wouldn't be so important. I kept fit regularly by playing squash.

We traveled to Port Patrick in 2 cars so that we could leave one car at the beginning of each day's walk, and one at the end.