Week 1 Edinburgh to the Holy Isle of Lindisfarne

Planning my route has been a far more difficult process than I’d imagined it would be. For one thing the best maps to use for planning a walk are the OS Explorer maps and there are 6 of them covering the area between here and Newcastle. Then there is the fact that the national network of footpaths does not yet form a continuous route from north to south. I’ve been thinking about which places to visit along the way and trying to get my brain thinking in walking, rather than driving distances. Two places that look very close on the map and might be half an hour’s travel in a car could actually add two days to my journey!

I’ve been out walking for the past two weekends trying to translate the distances on the maps into time and effort and I think I’ve now got a fair idea of what the first week looks like. What follows is not set in stone. As a wise man once said, “plans will develop as events unfold”.


Wed 25/06/08 Day 1

• DCHS to Elphinstone (East Lothian)
• ~12.5 miles
• Staying with my Godfather.

Thurs 26/06/08 Day 2

• Elphinstone to Gullane Bay via Longniddry on the John Muir Way
• ~12 miles
• Probably camping near remains of St Patricks chapel.

Fri 27/06/08 Day 3

• Gullane to Tyninghame via North Berwick & East Linton following the John Muir Way.
• ~12miles
• Probably camping in Binning Wood

Sat 28/06/08 Day 4

• Tyninghame to Cockburnspath via Dunbar and Dunglas on the final stretch of the John Muir Way.
• ~13 miles

* Everything up to here can be seen on OS Explorer map 351

Sun 29/06/08 Day 5

• Cockburnspath to Eyemouth following cliff top path
• ~14 miles

Mon 30/06/08 Day 6

• Eyemouth to the Holy Isle of Lindisfarne via Berwick upon Tweed
• ~21 miles
• Staying in Marygate House

Tue 01/07/08 Day 7 Rest day – enjoying the Holy Isle

For info on the John Muir Way visit http://www.eastlothian.gov.uk/content/0,1094,1033,00.html
See also http://www.northseatrail.org/

For those who are interested in meeting with me somewhere along the way I will attempt to keep up to date information about my progress on this blog. Whenever possible I will phone home to let people know if I am on, ahead or behind schedule. My training walks have made it very clear that I will be heavily reliant on the charity of people along the way. If you fancy coming out, feeding me a banana and walking a little way with me, I will be very grateful - and I'm sure to have a story to tell in exchange for your gift.

See you on the trail,

Ewen