As of April 2014 another long distance walk is to be added to the list that you can test your outdoor gear UK walkers, and it’s another for Scotland. Near year an existing walk of 47km (29miles) called The John Muir Way will be extended to about 160km (100miles) and renamed The John Muir Trail. This new and improved walk will celebrate both the life and work of, no surprise to say, John Muir who is best know as being considered to be the father of the national parks we all enjoy today, as well as being a conservationist of world renown.

The Trail itself will go from Dunbar in East Lothian, where Dunbar was born, to the Clyde Estuary at Helensburgh on the west coast. The official opening of the walk in April 2014 will also tie in with the 100th anniversary of John Muir's death. This is a direct follow on to the celebrations that have happened this year to celebrate the 175th anniversary of his birth, including the first ever John Muir Day which took place on 21st April.

Scotland abounds with long distance walks and here are just a few of them for you to consider:

The first and still one of the best is the West Highland Way. One of the most popular walks its length of just under 100 miles, from Fort William in the Highlands to Milngrave, north of Glasgow, normally takes between four and seven days to complete.

The Great Glen Way can also be started at Fort William and makes it way to Inverness, via Loch Ness, so no shortage of views as you make your way along its 117km (73 miles) length, again taking between four and seven days to complete.

For those who want something with a literary feel to them then why not try The John Buchan Way, a one day walk of 22km (13.75miles) which is fully marked taking you from Peebles to Broughton using an existing hill paths. Alternatively, The Sir Walter Scott Way is a six day walk across the eastern borders between Moffatt and Cockburnspath, which lies on the coastline. Running through lowland valleys, lochs and reservoirs, along the banks of the River Tweed, and over several borderland hills and through communities steeped in history.

These are just a few of the walks available to test your outdoor gear UK walkers, so lets get packed, get the map out and take that first step to experiencing something new.