Good luck sentinal,
Let the walking poles to the strain, hope you have a great time.
Les

I have a guide to the Southern Upland Way which includes paper two maps with all the ordnance surveys bits you need on it. I'm trying to decide whether to take just these two paper thin maps rather than 9 ordnance survey landranger maps. What is the navigation like on the way - is it fairly easy or do I need detailed ordnance survey maps.

Any thoughts anyone?

I always feel uneasy without OS maps, and the only time I didn't use them I had to change my route because I tweaked my leg. That proved a bit awkward.

When I walked SUW I made my own strip maps (wide ones) out of 1:50000 OS maps. It cut down the bulk and the weight a bit, and I can stick the pieces back together with sellotape if I want to. I know that, 50 years ago, such vandalism would have got me drummed out of the Scouts, the church youth club, the RA and just about any grim-faced conservative institution you could imagine, but I did it, so there!

Generally, signposting is exceptionally good in the Borders Region, which is east of the main watershed, so you'll be fine as far as St Mary's Loch. It's less good in Dumfries and Galloway, but the only place I had any doubts about where to go was in the fields between Beehive Bothy and New Luce. There was no trace of a path on the ground, but visibility was OK and I figured it out from my broad strip map. Let me know if you want to use mine - save you some money!

Thanks for the offer Stottie but I think I'll print some of my own maps out from the Anquet mapping software I use. I do know how you feel about the vandalism of maps though, but sometimes there really is no other way.

I'm in a bit of a panic over this walk actually. I'm having doubts as to whether I can do it, am I fit enough, will the knee hold up etc. But I had similar doubts before the Pennine Way and I loved that. Also, looking at the map it seems fairly undulating without some of the severe climbs you find on the PW.

Give it a shot - nothing ventured, nothing gained.

No seriously steep climbs before Galashiels, and by then you'll know all you need to know.

Worst climbs (one down and one up, in immediate succession) are west of the A702 en route from Moffat to Wanlockhead, between Laght Hill and Comb Head, and they are no fun at all!

I take the view that most of these long-distance paths is mind over matter. If you can put yourself into the right mindset with the right outlook you can almost anything in front of you. During the night your body breaks down your muscles and rebuilds them so it shouldn't take long to get back to fitness. I reckon that if I can do the first four days, then I'll do the lot.

I got halfway through then had to give up due to heat exhaustion.

I have walked from Coburnspath to Beattock but waved the white flag this morning as the effects of the heat took its toll. I went packed with hat, scarf, gloves, fleece, jumpers, ration packs, survival bag, GPS, personal locator beacon and a number of other items you would expect to carry during March in the Borders. Unfortunately what I did not take was a sun hat or sun tan lotion. The eastern section of the SUW is also very exposed and I suffered walking 6 days in 70 - 80F heat.

It is also worth noting there is much less atmospheric pollution in the Borders so the suns rays are a lot stronger. I got very burnt and suffered from the effects of heat exhaustion and after 21 miles from Tibbie Shiels to Beattock yesterday I didn't have the energy to do Beattock - Wanlockhead today, so I called it quits and came back home.

This is the first national trail I have failed to complete and although I feel very down, I did a lot better than this poor chappie who had to be airlifted off the fell in Cumbria due to heat exhuastion whilst walking the Cumbria Way:

(see recue number 23)

http://www.keswickmrt.org.uk/

Bad luck, if one can say that about such fine weather.
Take consolation from the fact that your injury didn't stop you.
Beattock-Wanlockhead involved more ascent than any other day in my east-west schedule, plus it's a long and lonely haul. As you were suffering, you made a good decision. The rest of the SUW will still be there when you're ready for it.

Sentinel,
You gave it a go, that's what matters. Don't be too disappointed, it just wasn't meant to be this time. Sh-t happens as the chinese proverb says.
Dave.

Mud can be used as an effective form of sun tan lotion.Just smear it over the face,back of the neck and arms and it will protect you until you can find a shop that sells sun tan lotion.

You always learn something from these experiences and come out of it stronger.