Today, on John Muir Day, the First Minister declared the route which goes from west coast to east coast formally open. Muir was born on 21 April 1838, and there is already a John Muir Trail in the US to recognise his work as a naturalist and as the founder of the national park movement there.
The Scottish route crosses through Edinburgh from South Queensferry and then out the other side to Prestonpans. The 134 mile trail is a reversal of the journey which John Muir himself made when he left his home in Dunbar to go to America from Scotland’s western seaboard.
The idea for it originated with the Central Scotland Green Network who have devised the John Muir Way to incorporate sites to see along the way like castles and historic towns. The organisation’s whole ethos is to change the landscape of Central Scotland by delivering greenspace links and a network of active travel routes. You can either cycle or walk along it and it is designed to be accessible for everyone, so no doubt someone with a mobility scooter will be up for the challenge soon!
If you are using your bike then the CSGN recommend that you use at least a hybrid bike for some of the bumpier sections. It is a route which may take you about four days, so we recommend a comfortable saddle! Here is the video which CSGN made to promote the route. Do send us photos if you walk or cycle it!
You can download a guidebook here and there is an online guide here.
John Muir Way – Promo Video from CSGN on Vimeo.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
