Scotland has a ‘Right to Roam’ law, giving walkers the right to travel over most places except private gardens. However, with rights comes responsibilities and these are well summarised in the Scotways leaflet, to be found at https://scotways.com/images/pdf/Scotways_A3-DL-law-leaflet.pdf . As much of our route goes through farm or sporting ground, we ask that any walkers with dogs keep them on leads at all times.

While the Northern Pilgrims’ Way is designed for walkers, the pilgrim will have to use other means to arrive and depart. They may also want to have a back-up vehicle for daily drop-off and pick-up use. Please consult our ‘Useful Links’ for sources of information on public transport.

Some of the roads mentioned are single-track and it is important to adapt your driving accordingly. If you are not driving yourself but depending on someone else, please pass this list on to them. Here are a few tips:

• If you are unsure of your reversing abilities, take a few lessons before your journey

• passing places are usually, but not always, marked by white diamond-shaped signs. If you realise that you have several cars on your tail or the car behind is crowding you, pull into the first available passing place and let them overtake. If the nearest passing place is on your right, stop opposite it and let the other car pass you by going into the passing place.

• Remember that you are on holiday, with time to spare, but the car behind you may not be so lucky. The local GP/district nurse/harassed mother/delivery driver on a tight schedule will appreciate your courtesy in pulling in and letting them pass.

• When cars are approaching each other, the rule is that the car nearest to a passing place stops there and lets the other car past. If one car has to reverse, it should be the one nearest to a passing place. If the oncoming car flashes its lights, this is an unofficial signal to say that they want you to proceed.

• On hills, the upcoming traffic has priority (but also consider the distance from a passing place for each car).

• Do not expect a vehicle towing a caravan/trailer/farm implement to reverse even if they are the closest to a passing place

• Do not stop on the road, no matter how stunning the view or appealing the Highland cattle – continue to the next passing place, park the car and walk back

• If you want to leave your car in a passing place for a few minutes, make sure that there is enough space left for another vehicle to pull in to allow passing/overtaking

• And lastly – if you hear a siren, pull in to the side of the road as soon as possible as an emergency vehicle is trying to get through.