John Muir Way Completed
About this route
The John Muir Way is one of Scotland’s Great Trails — a coast-to-coast long-distance path of about 215 km (134 miles) from Helensburgh on the Firth of Clyde to Dunbar on the North Sea.
John Muir was born in Dunbar in 1838. In 1849, aged eleven, he and his family left Scotland from the Clyde for America. Helensburgh is used as the symbolic western end of the trail, linking his birthplace with the area from which he emigrated. Muir later became a leading voice in the American conservation movement and is often called the “Father of the National Parks” for his role in protecting places such as Yosemite.
The route also links Scotland’s first national park (Loch Lomond & The Trossachs) with canals, the Falkirk Wheel, Edinburgh and the East Lothian coast. It is waymarked and suitable for walking in sections; some stretches also work for cycling.
Official start: Helensburgh esplanade · Official end: Dunbar
This page is a personal record of the route walked in 11 day stages (January 2024 – April 2025), before and after a major foot surgery and long rehabilitation. The final day finished in Dunbar on 21 April 2025 — the anniversary of John Muir’s birthday. The stages follow public-transport stops rather than the published official legs. The GPX files are the actual tracks recorded on a Garmin Fenix — useful as a real walked line, but not a substitute for official waymarked route files.
Overall
Walking days
Day 1 – Helensburgh to Balloch (27 January 2024)
Travel — Out: train to Helensburgh · Return: train from Balloch
Storm damage diversion — detour required around fallen trees blocking the path.
Day 2 – Balloch to Milngavie (3 March 2024)
Travel — Out: train to Balloch · Return: train from Milngavie
Detoured slightly off the direct route toward Strathblane to end at Milngavie station for the train home (and to start the next section from here). Added a little to the route length.
Day 3 – Milngavie to Croy (17 March 2024)
Travel — Out: train to Milngavie · Return: train from Croy
Day 4 – Croy to Falkirk (24 March 2024)
Travel — Out: train to Croy · Return: train from Falkirk
Day 5 – Falkirk to Linlithgow (9 February 2025)
Travel — Out: train to Falkirk · Return: train from Linlithgow
First section after a long break recovering from major foot surgery (last walked March 2024).
Day 6 – Linlithgow to South Queensferry (9 March 2025)
Travel — Out: train to Linlithgow · Return: train from Dalmeny, then bus from Edinburgh
Day 7 – South Queensferry to Edinburgh (16 March 2025)
Travel — Out: bus to Edinburgh, then train to Dalmeny · Return: bus from Edinburgh
Day 8 – Edinburgh to Longniddry (23 March 2025)
Travel — Out: bus to Edinburgh · Return: bus from Longniddry, then from Edinburgh
Day 9 – Longniddry to North Berwick (13 April 2025)
Travel — Out: bus to Edinburgh, then Longniddry · Return: bus from North Berwick, then from Edinburgh
Day 10 – North Berwick to East Linton (18 April 2025)
Travel — Out: bus to Edinburgh, then North Berwick · Return: bus from East Linton, then from Edinburgh
Day 11 – East Linton to Dunbar (21 April 2025)
Travel — Out: bus to Edinburgh, then East Linton · Return: bus from Dunbar, then from Edinburgh
Finished in Dunbar on 21 April — the anniversary of John Muir’s birthday.
Photos
A selection from the 11 days on the route. Tap a photo for a larger view.
