Southern Upland Way
13 days · 216.2 mi · strenuous · Point-to-point
Quick facts
What the Southern Upland Way is known for
The Southern Upland Way crosses southern Scotland from Portpatrick to Cockburnspath. This whole-trail itinerary follows OpenStreetMap relation 4736666 (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL); Scotland’s Great Trails publishes 344 km and the current section itinerary is published by Dumfries & Galloway Council.
Elevation profile
Elevation ranges from 75 ft to 5,489 ft over 216.2 mi. Measured from OSM geometry (approximate).
- Uphill 80.8 mi · 37%
- Downhill 68.9 mi · 32%
- Flat 66.5 mi · 31%
Ridgefold breaks every route into uphill, downhill, and flat — see the full per-day breakdown in the app.
How hard is the Southern Upland Way?
On the Ridgefold Difficulty Index, the Southern Upland Way scores 57/100, a relative rating across the 1,243 trails we've mapped, blending distance, elevation gain, and steepness. It is a comparison within our set, not an official rating.
Frequently asked questions
How much elevation gain is on the Southern Upland Way?
The Southern Upland Way climbs roughly 25,131 ft total — about 116 ft per mile, topping out near 2,323 ft.
Related trails
Sources & attribution
Route geometry from OpenStreetMap, © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 — source relation. Stats are approximate and may differ from official surveys; permit rules and conditions change — verify with the managing authority before your trip. Last reviewed July 2026.