Читать книгу The Southern Upland Way. Scotland's Coast to Coast trail онлайн

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 Castle Kennedy Gardens (Stage 2)

 Lead Mining Museum, Wanlockhead (Stage 7)

 Traquair House (end Stage 10)

 Melrose Abbey (end Stage 11)

 Thirlestane Castle and Gardens, Lauder (end Stage 12)

The walking stages associated with most of these attractions are relatively short, so that time should be available for an extended visit.

THE ROUTE

Cold Moss, near the highest point of the SUW in the Lowther Hills (Stage 7)

STAGE 1

Portpatrick to Castle Kennedy

Start Portpatrick Finish Castle Kennedy Distance 21.9km (13.6 miles) Ascent 350m

The walk starts with a highly scenic section of about 3.5km of coastal walking, along cliff tops and down to small coves and beaches. Some care is required on the cliff sections on the first half of this route from Portpatrick. At the Killantringan Lighthouse on Black Point the trail leaves the coast to head eastwards on minor lanes and tracks across the Rhins peninsula, reaching its high point on this stage at 156m (512ft) on Mulloch Moor. Knockquhassen Reservoir is passed on a moorland path to its south, after which the SUW descends towards Stranraer and Loch Ryan. The SUW does not enter Stranraer itself, although a diversion of less than a mile would allow a visit to this town, the capital of the Rhins and a former port to Larne and Belfast in Northern Ireland. The route skirts to the south of Stranraer, but offers good views down to the town and Loch Ryan. It then makes its way via narrow lanes, tracks and paths to Castle Kennedy, a small village on the A75, and home to the renowned and eponymous gardens.