Everything You Need
to Take the First Step

City streets, riverside paths and parkland

Starting at Glasgow Cathedral, the route passes through the Merchant City and along the River Clyde, visiting Govan Old Parish Church with its remarkable collection of Dark Age carved stones, before arriving at magnificent Paisley Abbey.

National Cycle Route 7, loch shores and woodland

Following the old railway line through countryside, the route passes Barr Castle and Castle Semple Collegiate Church — an unaltered example of a 16th-century family church — before reaching the wildlife-rich shores of Castle Semple Loch.

Cycle track, village walking and parkland

Bird enthusiasts may wish to start at the RSPB reserve at Lochwinnoch. The route passes the remarkable Auld Kirk of Kilbirnie with its carved oak loft, before arriving at Kilwinning Abbey — colonised by Tironensian monks around 1100 and still home to an ancient archery tradition.

Cycle track, riverside paths and sandy beach

The route crosses the River Irvine and passes through Irvine, where traces of early pilgrimage survive in place names and holy wells. Mary Queen of Scots stayed at Seagate Castle here on her way to Whithorn. The stage ends with a glorious walk along the beach to Troon.

Coastal path, beach and town centre

Hugging the Ayrshire coast past Scotland's great golf courses, the route passes Prestwick's early saltpan houses and the remains of a leper house endowed by Robert the Bruce, before entering historic Ayr and the Auld Kirk.

Coastal path, Carrick Hills and quiet roads

A visit to Alloway — birthplace of Robert Burns and setting of Tam O'Shanter — is unmissable. The route follows the Ayrshire Coastal Path to Dunure's picturesque harbour and ruined castle, then climbs the Carrick Hills with views to Arran, the Mull of Kintyre, and on clear days, the Antrim coast.

Roadside walking, beach and coastal paths

Maybole, once capital of Carrick, retains its Kennedy tower house on the High Street. The route passes Crossraguel Abbey — a daughter house of Paisley with a remarkably preserved gatehouse and dovecote — and the village of Kirkoswald, associated with Robert Burns, before reaching Girvan harbour.

Coastal cliffs, high-level paths and river valley

The coast south of Girvan is a paradise for geologists and fossil hunters. The route runs high above the shore with panoramic views of Ailsa Craig — the world's only source of granite for top-quality curling stones — before turning inland through the dramatic Stinchar valley.

Undulating countryside, woodland and off-road tracks

Colmonell Parish Church contains one of the finest examples of Arts and Crafts stained glass in Scotland. The route follows the south side of the River Stinchar on off-road tracks, passing ruined Pinwherry Castle, before descending to Barrhill — the most southerly railway station on the route.

Open moorland, minor roads and conifer plantations

The route starts at the Martyrs' Tomb — a monument to two Covenanters shot in 1665 for possessing Bibles. The lonely moors above Barrhill are rich in Bronze Age cairns and barrows. Near the route stand the Laggangairn standing stones, later inscribed with crosses by Christian pilgrims heading to Whithorn.

Undulating roads, moorland tracks and minor roads

The longest stage, best split over two days with an overnight at Glenluce. The route passes the remote Cistercian Glenluce Abbey — the "Valley of Light" — with its remarkable Chapter House acoustics, then crosses the Machars peninsula past Iron Age crannogs and the Old Place of Mochrum, two conjoined tower houses.

Flat minor roads through the Machars

The final approach to Whithorn passes the White Loch of Mochrum, said in folklore to have healing powers, and the Monreith estate where James IV stayed on his way to the shrine. The route enters Whithorn through St John Street, arriving at the Pend — the ceremonial gateway to the Priory where pilgrims have gathered for over a thousand years.

Off-road path, cliff-edge walk and coastal path

A new off-road section leads from the Priory to Rispain Camp — an Iron Age settlement once mistaken for a Roman fort. The route descends through Physgill Glen to St Ninian's Cave, where thousands of pilgrims since the 8th century have left crosses in the rock. A cliff-edge walk leads to the Isle of Whithorn and its 14th-century pilgrim chapel.