Soon starting my thru-hike of the Scottish National Trail

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Spring is here and it is time for a new wee adventure.
I am super excited to leave France for Scotland in a few days to start my thru-hike of the 537 miles (864km) Scottish National Trail.

It will be my 10th long distance trail and not in a million years I would have thought I’d still be going at it 8 years later when I started hiking long distance trails in 2014.
But word on the trail is, it’s addictive.

This year is somewhat different as most of the trails (long and shorter) I’ll be hiking this summer will be popular trails.
Which will be a nice change from most trail I’ve been on.
I love the solitude that you can get on trail but I had more than my share and that will be a nice change.
Not to say that a lot of people thru-hike the SNT, but it’s made of existing trails that get a bit of traffic.

The trail goes from the border with England in Kirk Yetholm (at the end point of the Pennine Way), to Cape Wrath up North in the Highlands.
It follows for the last section the Cape Wrath Trail, that seems to be one of the most beautiful in Scotland.

I have been to Scotland 10 years ago on a family holiday and even though I didn’t do any hiking, I absolutely loved it and knew I’d be back some day to explore some of the many stunning trails Scotland has to offer.

When I realized a few years ago that there is a long distance trail in Scotland, I imediately put it at the top of my list, but then Covid hit and like everybody, my plans have changed.

I am stoked that it’s finally happening this year and can’t wait to have the slowest thru-hiking experience of my life because of all the distilleries on the way.
Man… All those amazing single malt whiskies just can not not be tasted…

I am also really looking forward to explore the villages and towns on the way.
Not to mention all the cool castles in the country.

It looks like May/June is a good time to be hiking there, with less sandflies and possibly less rain.
I say possibly because I’ll belive it when I’ll see it.
Though apparently July/August is definitely not the best time and remembering my August thru-hike of the Irish coast to coast where I had rain the entire time, I hope for better weather.
That being said, I know it’s going to rain and I’m ready for it.

I must be a sucker for punishment because on my thru-hike across France last year, the weather was miserable to say the least and I wouldn’t have pictured the SNT to be my next one.
But eh, it just looks too beautiful so I’ll deal with the rain.

I’ll have 2 months in Scotland, meaning I’ll be able to hike some other shorter trails after the SNT.
The Hebridean Way, the West Highland Way and the Speyside Way are definitely at the top of my list.
Especially the Speyside Way, though it might not be the most stunnin of them all, it goes from distillery to distillery and it looks like there is a lot of them!