Scotland

The Hebridean Way- Days 10 and 11: Lewis, trail’s end

Three Points of the Compass winds up his Hebridean adventure. A last couple of days would throw midges, bogs and yet more road walking my way

Trail talk

The Hebridean Way- Days 7-9: Harris and Lewis

Three Points of the Compass continues his Hebridean adventure, moving from the shining sands on the west of Harris, to cross to the mountainous east and north of the island, before continuing to Lewis, his tenth and final island

Trail talk

The Hebridean Way- Days 4-6: Benbecula, Grimsay, North Uist, Berneray and South Harris

Three Points of the Compass continues heading north(ish) across the Western Isles archipelago on the Hebridean Way

Trail talk

The Hebridean Way- Days 1-3: Vatersay, Barra, Eriskay, South Uist and Benbecula

It was May. That means one thing- backpacking in Scotland. Three Points of the Compass sets off to traverse ten of the Western Isles archipelago, on the Hebridean Way.

Gear

Unpacking from the trail. Scotland has been wearing me down!

...or rather, multi-day hikes punishing gear over time. It looks like Three Points of the Compass will be hitting the summer gear sales.

Trail talk

Trail talk: Skye Trail- the Storr to Broadford

After a tough day on the Trotternish Ridge, Three Points of the Compass continues his hike on the Isle of Skye. Missing one of the most magical of natural phenomenon in the process!

Trail talk

Trail talk: Skye Trail- Rubha Hunish to the Storr

Three Points of the Compass walked Scotland's Skye Trail over six days in May. The first two days were wet and windy. But would I get blown off the Trotternish Ridge?

Cooking

Gear talk: my backpacking gear for spring in the UK

A glance at the gear Three Points of the Compass has packed for a weeks wander across Lowland Scotland. I have a mix of official campsites and wildcamping, and because this is in May, I can anticipate low to mid-high temperatures and dry or wet conditions.

Trail talk

Trail talk: ‘treasure’ on the Southern Upland Way

The Southern Upland Way has an additional exciting element about it. A Treasure Hunt! Hidden 13ths are to be found in Kists along the trail. These tokens are based on an art project that commenced in 2002- Waymerks

Trail talk

Trail talk: Southern Upland Way: Part three- Moffat to Cockburnspath

I was past the half-way point of the Southern Upland Way and had the east coast of Scotland (almost) in my sights. The bigger climbs were now behind me and the paths became easier underfoot. While there was rain ahead, I cared not as I was just about recovered from illness and enjoying the trail immensely.

Trail talk

Trail talk: Southern Upland Way: Part two- the Glenkens to Moffat

My time on the Southern Upland Way continued. I was enjoying the trail immensely and was heading toward a day off at the midway point. However a problem was about to be encountered...

Trail talk

Trail talk: Southern Upland Way: Part one- Portpatrick to the Glenkens

Three Points of the Compass walked the 215 mile Southern Upland Way in April/May 2022. Part One follows me from the Irish Sea at Portpatrick to the Glenkens

Trail talk

Trail talk: Facilities on the Great Glen Way

The Great Glen Way is remarkable for the number of on-trail facilities provided. This is a simple account of those seen or passed by Three Points of the Compass on a six-day backpacking trip in November 2021

Trail talk

Trail talk: Slighe a’ Ghlinne Mhòir- six days in November. Part two

Three Points of the Compass backpacked the Great Glen Way in November 2021. My final three days take me the length of Loch Ness, to finish in Inverness

Trail talk

Trail talk: Slighe a’ Ghlinne Mhòir- six days in November. Part one

Thick with cold and unfit, what to do? It was obvious, go and backpack the Great Glen Way in Scotland. I waited a week to see if the aches and cough went away and the headache subsided. They didn't. It looked like one of those 'super-colds'. So I booked train tickets and was away within days.

Trail talk

Trail talk: The Speyside Way

Three Points of the Compass hiked the 87 mile long Speyside Way in August 2021