Executive Summary

For those of you who can’t be bothered to read the whole day by day account my friendly nearby AI bot has generated this summary. 🤣

• John completed the Southern Upland Way across southern Scotland, walking from Portpatrick to Cockburnspath between 27 June and 11 July 2026.
• Although the official trail is 214 miles, his route totalled 225.3 miles over 14 walking legs, taking 89 hours 14 minutes at an average pace of about 23:54 minutes per mile.
• The journey was often tough: poor weather, boggy and overgrown paths, fallen trees, diversions, long days, wet boots, and very few other end-to-end walkers.
• The hardest section was Wanlockhead to Moffat, a 23-mile day in dreadful weather, but the walk also included memorable scenery, lochs, forests, moorland, coastal cliffs, hoards, cairns, and good hospitality.
• Noelene provided essential support by driving the route, carrying luggage, arranging stays, and meeting John at daily endpoints.
• John finished proud and emotional: he mostly enjoyed it, wouldn’t do the SUW again, but will keep doing long-distance walks for as long as he can.