TRAILS

“We must be still and still moving
Into another intensity
For a further union, a deeper communion.”

— T S Eliot, Four Quartets, East Coker

We each have areas we have access to for a daily walk, or windows through which we may see nature (God's 'first book'). There are places on our doorsteps, in urban as well as rural areas, and also places further afield we may like to go to at some point, once Covid 19 related Government guidelines permit.

Places to sit quietly and places to roam meditatively. Places local to you, under your nose and those further afield, for some future exploration. Here, bit by bit, specific trails located throughout Scotland will emerge onto this page. Brief descriptions will be given and meditative material offered such as optional rituals as time goes on - note the Leaflet available by dates per trail and click on the image to see the leaflet. This small selection of trails will include river trails, hill trails, park trails, pilgrim routes and established recognised walks. Let us know if you can add locations of either quiet spaces, trails or walks you have crafted yourself to add to this map.

Black numbers on clear dots correspond to trails below

Open and Quiet Spaces

Pilgrim route, Trail

Flat, Moderate going, Rural, South Scotland

6. St Cuthberts Way

Pilgrim route, Trail

Flat, Moderate going, Rural, South Scotland

100km cross border walk between Melrose where Cuthbert began his ministry and ending at his burial place at Holy Island.

Cuthbert's Way

Companion: ‘The ancient practice of pilgrimmage beckons us to find the places of connection between the terrain inside us and the topography around us, whether it’s the landscape of the natural world, or of a story or of a season.’ Jan Richardson

Leaflet available: 9 Sep 2021

Pilgrim route, Trail

Flat, Moderate going, Rural, South Scotland

Trail

Flat, Inclined, Moderate going, Hilly, Rural, Scottish Islands

5. Arran

Trail

Flat, Inclined, Moderate going, Hilly, Rural, Scottish Islands

A variety of terrains and landscapes in one small island.

Companions: A self-led retreat, for 1 to 5 days, among the crosses, hilltops, wells, groves and springs, crossing places and boundaries of the island of Arran. Material for a personal or group pilgrimmage connecting inner and outer landscapes is provided.

Leaflet (retreat guide) available courtesy of Nancy Adams: 22 July 2021

Trail

Flat, Inclined, Moderate going, Hilly, Rural, Scottish Islands

Hill trail, Trail

Inclined, Moderate going, Rural, Highlands

4. Old Struan Coffin Path

Hill trail, Trail

Inclined, Moderate going, Rural, Highlands

The processional routes in remote parts of the country between church and burial ground are sometimes called coffin paths. This one is near Blair Atholl, between Loch Tummel and the River Garry.

Companions: A time to cry reflection

Leaflet available: 2 June 2021 (click on image)

Hill trail, Trail

Inclined, Moderate going, Rural, Highlands

Hill trail, Trail

Inclined, Moderate going, Rural, Central Scotland

3. The Pentland Hills

Hill trail, Trail

Inclined, Moderate going, Rural, Central Scotland

Gentle hills and ridges south of Edinburgh.

Pentland hills regional park

Companions: ‘The house of our lives is this green world too’. Mary Oliver.

Still, as they promised , God, once he is in your heart , is everywhere. Mary Oliver

Reflection: The world under our feet

Leaflet available: 19 May 2021 (click on image)

Hill trail, Trail

Inclined, Moderate going, Rural, Central Scotland

Trail, Long distance trail

Flat, Roughgoing, Rural, Scottish Islands

2. St Magnus Way

Trail, Long distance trail

Flat, Roughgoing, Rural, Scottish Islands

A long distance pilgrimmage route round the largest of the Orkney Islands taking in aspects of St Magnus’s life.

St Magnus Way

Companions: The ancient practice of pilgrimmage beckons us to find the places of connection between the terrain inside us and the topography around us, or of a story, or of a season. Jan Richardson.

This life, Andrew Greig

A reflection: Migrations

Leaflet available: 6 May 2021 (click on image)

Trail, Long distance trail

Flat, Roughgoing, Rural, Scottish Islands

Contemplative path, Trail

Easygoing, Rural, Highlands, Inclined

1. Corbenic Poetry Path

Contemplative path, Trail

Easygoing, Rural, Highlands, Inclined

A path that weaves its way through varied terrains (open hillside, ancient native woodlands, hazel coppice, and riverbanks) interposed with installations of poetry from noted Scottish poets.

Corbenic Poetry path

Companions: Where are you going? Lost, David Wagoner

Leaflet available: 22 April 2021 (click on image)

Contemplative path, Trail

Easygoing, Rural, Highlands, Inclined

Park trail, Trail

Inclined, Moderate going, Rural, Highlands

Knockan Crag Nature Reserve

Park trail, Trail

Inclined, Moderate going, Rural, Highlands

Various trails incorporating installations of quotations and poetry amidst breathtaking views.

Knockan Crag Nature Reserve

Companions: ‘Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your lifespan?’ Matt 6:27. A man in Assynt (Extract)

Leaflet available: TBA

Park trail, Trail

Inclined, Moderate going, Rural, Highlands

Coastal path, Trail

Flat, Easygoing, Rural

LIndisfarne Causeway

Coastal path, Trail

Flat, Easygoing, Rural

Try a barefoot walk across the causeway during low tide to Lindisfarne, as part of the St Cuthbert Way or on its own.

Companion: ‘The world is created as a means of God’s self-revelation so that, like a mirror or footprint, it might lead us to love and praise the Creator’. Ileo Delia

Leaflet available: TBA

Coastal path, Trail

Flat, Easygoing, Rural

Trail, Coastal path

Flat, Easygoing, Rural, South Scotland

St Abbs Head walk

Trail, Coastal path

Flat, Easygoing, Rural, South Scotland

Part of the Berwickshire Coastal Path

and St Abbs National Nature Reserve

Companion: The flower, George Herbert

Leaflet available: TBA

Trail, Coastal path

Flat, Easygoing, Rural, South Scotland

Trail, Hill trail

Inclined, Roughgoing, Rural, South Scotland

Striding arches

Trail, Hill trail

Inclined, Roughgoing, Rural, South Scotland

The Striding Arches are three large stone sandstone arches built on the hilltops around Cairnhead, in Galloway, by sculptor Andy Goldsworthy.

Dumfries and Galloway walks

Companion: “Such love does the sky now pour , that whenever I stand in a field , I have to wring out the light when I get Home’, St Francis of Assisi

Leaflet available: TBA

Trail, Hill trail

Inclined, Roughgoing, Rural, South Scotland

Trail, Park trail

Flat, Easygoing, Rural, Highlands

Frank Bruce Sculpture Trail

Trail, Park trail

Flat, Easygoing, Rural, Highlands

A series of wooden sculptures in a wooden region of the Cairngorms.

Frank Bruce sculpture garden

Companion: Ever since God created the world, God’s everlasting power and deity—however invisible—have been there for the mind to see in the things God has made. Romans 1:20

Leaflet available: TBA

Trail, Park trail

Flat, Easygoing, Rural, Highlands