From previous railway tracks and towpaths to historical methods alongside Roman roads or defences, energetic journey networks comply with and weave their manner by means of our historic atmosphere.
Utilizing energetic journey networks to have interaction with heritage, nature and our native communities is a wonderful approach to unplug from digital life and take time for our wellbeing, in addition to serving to in our efforts to transition in direction of a sustainable future.
Join us as we information you alongside three well-known Scottish routes which might be steeped in historical past…
The John Muir Method
126 Excessive Road, Dunbar, birthplace of John Muir and start line for the John Muir Method
The John Muir Method is a 134-mile route from Helensburgh to Dunbar however is definitely cut up into sections which will be walked, wheeled or cycled for an ideal time out.
Hundreds of years of historical past are linked by the favored path because it winds its manner by means of Scotland’s first nationwide park, Loch Lomond and The Trossachs, and alongside the gorgeous shoreline of East Lothian.
Alongside the route you’ll come throughout an abundance of historic landmarks. Certainly one of our favorite sections runs from Linlithgow to South Queensferry and contains gems like Linlithgow Palace and Peel, Kinneil Home and Blackness Fort. The beginning of the route will be reached by public transport by way of trains on the Glasgow-Edinburgh line.
Linlithgow Loch and Peel
A meander round Linlithgow Loch makes for a stunning time out in itself. The paths are glorious for walkers, cyclists, and wheelers preferring a extra leisurely tempo. There are benches and picnic tables if you wish to sit for some time longer and benefit from the native wildlife. It can take round an hour to stroll the two.3 miles across the loch.
Right here, we’ve additionally teamed up with the Linlithgow department of Biking With out Age Scotland, to assist enhance the equality of entry to the Loch and Peel for aged and disabled communities through the use of pioneering trishaw rides.
Biking With out Age volunteers at Linlithgow Palace
Kinneil Property and Native Nature Reserve
Go to the grounds of Kinneil Home and the Kinneil Museum, housed in a 17th century secure constructing, which supplies the historical past of the Property and Bo’ness. Within the grounds additionally, you will have the ability to see the final visibly remaining instance of a fortlet alongside the Antonine Wall.
The Nature Reserve is a former industrial web site which has been restored, making room for wildlife and offering a surprising scenic greenspace to stroll and cycle by means of.
Kinneil Home
Blackness Fort
Blackness Fort, constructed within the 15th century, is steeped in wealthy historical past and has taken on many roles in its time together with a state jail. Extra not too long ago it featured within the TV collection Outlander.
The realm straight round Blackness Fort, together with the foreshore, is protected as a part of the broader Firth of Forth safety space for over-wintering birds. Picnic benches and cycle racks can be found so that you can take your time exploring all the things the positioning has to supply.
A break from biking at Blackness
The Caledonian Canal
The Caledonian Canal journeys by means of the Nice Glen from Fort William to Inverness. The canal connects a number of lochs on its 60 mile route: Loch Lochy, Oich, Ness and Dochfour. Engineered by Thomas Telford, it’s an distinctive instance of how our waterways offered essential commerce and transport routes.
At this time you possibly can take a stroll or cycle alongside the well-maintained towpaths that type a part of the Nationwide Biking Community Route 78 and marvel on the feats of engineering, such because the locks which you’ll come throughout in your journey.
Trains and bus companies can be found to succeed in completely different elements of the canal. Specifically, the sections close to Fort Augustus and Inverness are extensively accessible to a variety of customers. The canal passes many key heritage websites, making it a history-packed tour irrespective of how far you select to journey:
Inverlochy Fort
If you happen to’re setting off from Fort William following the route of the Nice Glen Method, make certain to pay Inverlochy Fort a go to. It was as soon as defended by a moat and held a strategic place on the southern finish of Loch Lochy.
At this time, the fortress is likely one of the most full castles constructed within the 1200s. (There’s some entry inspections in place whereas we examine among the centuries-old masonry).
Bridge of Oich
This marvelously constructed suspension bridge was opened in 1849 after the earlier bridge was washed away by flooding. The bridge was as soon as a part of an vital commerce route within the Highlands, permitting native merchants and farmers to move their items and cattle to the remainder of Scotland. Because the site visitors elevated, the bridge fell into disuse and new commerce routes had been constructed. Now the Bridge of Oich is simply open to pedestrians. This implies you possibly can pause to take full benefit of the gorgeous views of the River Oich!
Urquhart Fort
As you go alongside Loch Ness, take a break in Drumnadrochit to go to Urquhart Fort, a web site that was on the centre of over 1,000 years of turbulent historical past. It was as soon as one in every of Scotland’s largest castles. At this time you possibly can discover the enduring ruins whereas additionally absorbing spectacular views of Scotland’s most well-known loch.
The Antonine Wall
The Antonine Wall stretches 60 km throughout Scotland, forming the north-west frontier of the Roman Empire. It’s a part of the Frontiers of the Roman Empire World Heritage Website. Not like Hadrian’s Wall, this one was constructed with turf layers – some reaching 3m excessive!
There are many unbelievable walks alongside the Antonine Wall that go well with completely different talents. A 6.5 mile route from Stroll Highlands beginning at Auchinstarry Marina takes you alongside elements of the wall. Get to the beginning of the route by taking the prepare to Croy and stroll 1 mile to Auchinstarry Marina. On this 4-hour stroll you’ll actually have the ability to delve into Scotland’s wealthy Roman historical past:
A stroll alongside a part of the Antonine Wall
Bar Hill Roman Fort
Bar Hill Roman Fort is free to go to and open all yr spherical. From right here you’re going to get gorgeous views throughout the Kelvin Valley.
Artefacts similar to footwear, shells and cash have been discovered right here, giving an perception into the fort’s wealthy historical past. You possibly can even discover a 3D reconstruction of the fort earlier than you go to for a digital glimpse into the lives of those that lived there
Fort Hill
Though there aren’t any seen stays at Fort Hill, you possibly can take within the views which might have made this web site a wonderful strategic location prior to now. It’s additionally the positioning of an Iron Age fort.
Croy Hill
Croy Hill presents one other glorious vantage level alongside the Wall. Once more, there aren’t any seen stays of any constructions at this time. Nonetheless, the proof of the Romans is obvious to see within the ditch formation. Excavations have additionally revealed proof of a civilian settlement, with agricultural and industrial exercise. Pottery and an arrowhead have been discovered close by, suggesting this web site could have been inhabited earlier than the Romans too.
Get planning!
Making use of those historic routes permits us to re-use the historic atmosphere and discover new methods to join with our shared heritage.
The routes described listed below are appropriate for various talents. To seek out out extra about native accessibility, AccessAble have some glorious sources. Traveline Scotland might help with public transport info and journey planning, whereas Sustrans is a good place to begin planning a visit by bike.
For extra inexperienced historic adventures, why not take a look at 5 castles to succeed in sustainably from Glasgow?
This weblog was written by Molly Harkins and Erin Fowler, Conservation Trainees inside our Cultural Belongings, Traineeship & Craft Fellowship Programme.
