WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO ALL OF YOU WHO GENEROUSLY DONATED TO THE 2017 C2C4C HIKE, HELPING US RAISE OVER $20,000 FOR HUMANE EDUCATION.
THE John Muir Way COAST TO COAST TRek across scotland from the Firth of Clyde in Helensburgh to Muir's birthplace In the North Sea Town of Dunbar.
Not to be confused with the 215-mile John Muir Trail in California, Scotland's 134-mile John Muir Way was first traversed in 2014 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of John Muir's Death. The route links together main paths, trails, and cycleways. Adventurers have the option to hike across Scotland or take several alternate paths and cycle across.
John Muir (1838-1914), born in Dunbar, Scotland, is best known as a 20th-century pioneer of the American environmental movement. He came to the US when he was 11 years old, but it wasn't until he was 28 that he decided to follow his dream and explore the wild country. After walking 1000 miles from Kentucky to the Gulf of Mexico, he walked to the Sierra Nevada - a journey that launched his commitment to wilderness conservation. He spent his last 30 years as a writer and campaigner, helping to found the Sierra Club in 1892.
For Muir, mountains were spiritually important. He probably wouldn't have been intrigued by the Scottish route, which passes through a number of villages, towns, and even Edinburgh, never rising above 900 ft. Even so, the Way includes some remote stretches that are more in keeping with John Muir's legacy.
While the trail can be hiked in either direction, we took the more traditional route starting in Hellensburgh and hiking east to Dunbar. We hiked with backpacks and gear, but chose to stay in hostels and B & B's rather than campsites in order to cut down on the weight of the gear we need to carry.
June 24th Fly from Newark to Glasgow and then take train Hellensburgh
June 25th Hike to Balloch (9 miles)
June 26th Hike to Strathblane (18 miles)
June 27th Hike to Auchinstarry (13 miles)
June 28th Hike to Falkirk (13 miles)
June 29th Hike to Linlithgow (16 miles)
June 30th Hike to South Queensferry (13 miles)
July 1st Hike to Edinburgh (13 miles)
July 2nd Hike to Cockenzie (10 miles)
July 3rd Hike to North Berwick (16 miles)
July 4th Hike to Dunbar!!! (15 miles)