The Mary Queen of Scots Way uses a ferry to cross Loch Lomond
A guidebook to a new long-distance trail is the culmination of six years’ work by the author.
The Mary Queen of Scots Way is a 172km (107-mile) route across Scotland produced by munro-bagger Paul Prescott.
The walk, from Arrochar in the West top St Andrews on the Fife coast, passes through places with a link to Scotland’s last queen, who met a grisly end in 1587.
Paul Prescott, who has summited more than 200 munros, has been researching and compiling the route since 2006. The guide, published by Rucksack Readers, has a detailed route description with photographs and overlays, a map of the route at 1:110,000 scale in six drop-down panels, and is printed on water-resistant paper.
The book also contains information on public transport and travel, along with a potted history of the chequered life of Mary Queen of Scots.
The route crosses Loch Lomond by ferry to Inversnaid and then goes through Aberfoyle, Callander, Dunblane, Tillicoultry, Glendevon, Glenfarg, Falkland and Ceres.
Mr Prescott is an organiser for Callander Ramblers and his guidebook, which has 63 pages plus the six map pages, costs £10.99.
Rucksack Readers has also published an updated guide to the Rob Roy Way.
Jacquetta Megarry’s book, also priced £10.99, details the route from Drymen in the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs national park to Pitlochry.
The 124km (77-mile) route passes through Aberfoyle, Callander, Strathyre, Killin and Aberfeldy and places with an association with the notorious outlaw.
The Rob Roy Way was recognised in March 2012 as one of Scotland’s Great Trails.
Apart from a stretch along South Loch Tay, the route runs largely off-road on a mixture of cycleway, forest tracks and footpaths.
The third edition includes recent improvements to the trail.
Author Jacquetta Megarry is the co-developer of the route which was launched in 2002. She created the Rucksack Reader format in 2000 and has written or co-authored 14 guidebooks so far.
More information on the guidebooks is on the Rucksack Readers website.
Max Davies
21 March 2012The Mary Queen of Scots Way sounds brilliant. Lots of folk have talked about a route across Scotland to St Andrews, but isn't it great that somebody has actually put it together? Looking at the website, it seems to be almost entirely offroad, which makes it even better. Here's to Paul Prescott's initiative, I can't wait to try it out.