Adventurer Braves Rugged Rhins of Galloway Coast Path in Scotland

In 2025, a new 83-mile coast path around the Rhins of Galloway peninsula in southwest Scotland is in the midst of a "soft launch" phase. The trail, designed to boost tourism in this overlooked region, has been a mixed experience for one adventurous hiker.

While the Rhins of Galloway coast path offers stunning scenery, including deserted white-sand bays, orchid-filled meadows, and seal-dotted rocky shores, the trail has also proven to be unruly and challenging in places. The hiker has had to hurdle fences, wade through thick bracken, and navigate disappearing paths and wayward waymarks. However, these difficulties have also led to a sense of exhilaration and discovery, with the hiker encountering delightful surprises like leaping hares, foxes, and deer along the way.

The Rhins of Galloway, a remote and little-visited part of Scotland, sees far fewer tourists than the country's northern regions. Local officials hope the new coast path will give people a reason to explore this untamed stretch of coastline, which features ancient ruins, RSPB reserves, and exotic gardens. But with a team of only five to maintain over 1,100 miles of core paths in the region, improvements to the Rhins trail are still a work in progress.

By 2026, the plan is to have completed a slew of new work, including negotiating fences, increasing signage, building a bridge, and trimming unruly vegetation. While the Rhins of Galloway coast path may be a little raw at the moment, it holds great potential to mature into an exceptional long-distance hiking experience.