The John Muir Way
Spanning 134 miles across central Scotland, the John Muir Way is one of the country’s Great Trails—an inspiring route for walkers and cyclists alike. Stretching from Helensburgh on the west coast to Dunbar in the east, the birthplace of John Muir (America’s ‘father of national parks’), it offers a rich tapestry of landscape, heritage, and history.
The trail symbolically passes through Loch Lomond & The Trossachs, Scotland’s first national park, inviting travellers to reconnect with nature. Along the way, green corridors link coastlines, villages, towns, and even the capital, offering a seamless blend of rural and urban scenery.
This is a route of striking contrasts: tranquil woodlands, sweeping beaches, and peaceful canals give way to riverside paths and city parks. As you journey eastward, you’ll encounter remnants of Roman Scotland, marvels of engineering, and several UNESCO World Heritage sites—each adding depth to the experience.
Whether you're a local explorer or visiting for the first time, the John Muir Way reveals a side of Scotland rarely seen from the road. With excellent transport connections and a wide range of accommodation, it’s easy to tackle the full coast-to-coast adventure or break it into manageable sections for day trips or weekend escapes.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival and overnight in Helensburgh.
Day 2:Helensburgh to Balloch. 9 miles, 14.4 km
The start/finish of the route is marked by a circular stone plinth with engraved footprints and a white stone bench with John Muir quotes, located on Helensburgh's waterfront near the pier. Starting out from this seaside holiday town is a treat.
Day 3: Balloch to Strathblane. Length: 18.5 miles, 29.6 km
Make your way through Balloch Castle Country Park taking in the fantastic views from the shores of Loch Lomond. The walking route then takes you over the Kilpatrick Hills giving an upland experience and real sense of wildness.
Day 4: Strathblane to Kilsyth. Length: 13 miles, 20.8 km
This leg is a 13-mile stretch, one of the longer sections, but most of those miles are flat and easier going than the previous two sections.
Day 5: Kilsyth to Falkirk. Length: 13 miles, 20.8 km
East of Kilsyth, the trail meets the Forth and Clyde Canal, which in John Muir’s time provided a busy shipping link between the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Clyde. Now the canals are cherished places to enjoy quiet fishing, cycling or just messing about on the water.
Day 6: Falkirk to Linlithgow. 8.5 miles, 13.6 km
Falkirk is home to a bustling pedestrianised town centre and hosts the Falkirk Wheel and The Helix, two of Scotland’s most well-known tourist attractions.
Day 7: Linlithgow to South Queensferry. 14 miles, 22.4 km
Leaving the historic town of Linlithgow, the route takes you through some wonderfully rural countryside. The Fisherrow walk (or Fishers' Brae) gives you superb views and was used by wives of fishermen travelling between Bo'ness and Linlithgow to sell their catches.
Leaving the historic town of Linlithgow, the route takes you through some wonderfully rural countryside. The Fisherrow walk (or Fishers' Brae) gives you superb views and was used by wives of fishermen travelling between Bo'ness and Linlithgow to sell their catches.
Day 8: South Queensferry to Edinburgh. 15.5 miles, 24.8 km
South Queensferry affords you superb views of all three of Scotland's famous Forth bridges; be sure to get out at sunset (or dawn if you’re keen) to capture them at their best.
Day 9: Edinburgh to Prestonpans. 10 miles, 16 km
Once you’ve immersed yourself in the wealth of sightseeing and dining opportunities, you can then leave Edinburgh via Musselburgh. Be sure to take in a horse race or two at Musselburgh Racecourse, if only for the spectacle, before joining the coast and its wading wildlife.
Day 10: Prestonpans to North Berwick. 16.5 miles, 26.4 km
Beyond Prestonpans with its battle site and rich industrial heritage the route runs past the site where Cockenzie Power Station used to stand. It then heads off east to Seton Sands and lovely long beach views.
Day 11: North Berwick to Dunbar. 15 miles, 24 km
Leaving North Berwick southwards provides you with an opportunity to climb North Berwick Law, giving great views of the town, Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh, Tantallon Castle and the Bass Rock. The summit has historically sported whale jawbones and when the last ones decayed, fibre-glass replicas were installed.
Day 12: Departure after breakfast.
Price:
From £1490 per person, based on 2 people sharing a room.
Included:
Accommodation in comfortable bed and breakfasts, guesthouses or small hotels, with breakfast each morning
Luggage transfers
Route notes and map
Not Included:
Travel to/from the start and finish points
Lunches and dinners
Insurance
Getting to Helensburgh
By Air: Nearest International Airports: Glasgow International Airport and Edinburgh Airport.
An airport shuttle bus operates between Glasgow International Airport and Glasgow city centre (journey time 25 min). There is also a regular airport bus shuttle service between Edinburgh Airport and Glasgow (journey time 55 min)
From Glasgow, you can travel to Helensburgh by train or taxi.
By Public Transport: Nearest Railway Station: Helensburgh Central.
Helensburgh is located 30 miles west of Glasgow city centre and 22 miles from Glasgow International Airport. The taxi fare from Glasgow Airport is approximately £30 (journey time 30 min), and from the city centre to Helensburgh approximately £45 (journey time 45 min).
Train services operate from Glasgow Queen Street Station to Helensburgh Central Station (journey time 45 min). Frequent railway services operate from on the West Coast Mainline from across the UK to Glasgow.
The journey time from Edinburgh to Glasgow is approximately 1 hour and from London Euston to Glasgow Central Station is approximately 5 hours.
By Car: If you plan to travel by car, you may wish to park in Glasgow or Edinburgh for the duration of your walk, so you can travel by public transport to Helensburgh and back from Dunbar. We can advise you about parking options when you make your enquiry.
Departing Dunbar
By Air: Nearest major International Airports: Edinburgh Airport and Newcastle Airport.
Dunbar is conveniently situated on the East Coast Main Line. Direct rail services run to Edinburgh (journey time 30 min), Newcastle (1 hour 10 min) and London (4 hours 30 min).
All airports run regular public transport services from the city centres. An airport shuttle bus and tram runs from Edinburgh city centre to Edinburgh Airport (journey time 30 min). From Newcastle city centre to Newcastle Airport, the metro takes 25 min.
By Public Transport: Nearest Railway Station: Dunbar Station.
Dunbar is conveniently situated on the East Coast Main Line. Direct rail services run to Edinburgh (journey time 30 min), Newcastle (1 hour 10 min) and London (4 hours 30 min).
As the train services can be very busy, we recommend booking your tickets in advance.
There is also a regular bus service connecting Edinburgh to Dunbar, Cockburnspath, St Abbs, Eyemouth and Berwick-upon-Tweed. The service is run by Borders Buses.
By Car: If you plan to travel by car, you may wish to park in Glasgow or Edinburgh for the duration of your walk, so you can travel by public transport to Helensburgh and back from Dunbar. We can advise you about parking options when you make your enquiry.