The E2 is a European long-distance hiking trail. It currently runs from Scotland via England and the English Channel and on through the Benelux countries and France to Nice. Switzerland is briefly touched and a very short section also runs through Germany.
background
The E-ways
The European long-distance hiking trails are a project of the European Hiking Association (ERA-EWF-FERP). The EWF is an umbrella organization of national and regional hiking clubs that are responsible for marking and maintaining the trails in their area.
At the time when the EWF was founded in 1969, long-distance hiking trails began as a connecting element in Europe. Today the network of European long-distance hiking trails covers an area of 60,000 km.
The long-distance hiking trails are made up of well-known, shorter hiking trails and matching connecting elements (in France the Sentier de Grande Randonnée GR5 and the Grande Traversée des Alpes). They are therefore mainly used in sections as a partial inspection and the higher-level long-distance hiking trail is the virtual bracket. For more information see the article European long-distance hiking trail E1.
The E 2
The E2 is currently starting in Stranraer in Scotland, an extension to Ireland of Galway on is planned. It runs through Scotland and in two variants England to the English Channel. On the European mainland, the western variant begins in Ostend in Belgium and the east variant in Hook of Holland in the Netherlands. He continues through Luxembourg and along its eastern border through the valley of the Our, the Sauer and the Moselle. In Schengen he steps into German territory for a few hundred meters and reaches that in Apach french Lorraine. About the Vosges and the Sundgau he reaches the French law. At the Lake Geneva he briefly touches the Switzerland and leads from the south bank over the Grande Traversée des Alpes through the French Alps Nicewhere it ends.
In France, the route runs together with the Sentier de Grande Randonnée GR5. The total length is around 4,850 km.
preparation
A helpful preparation list can be found in the article Way of St. JamesIn many cases, it is not the signposts that are used as long-distance hiking trails, but those of the local hiking trails along which the E2 runs.
getting there
Please refer to the regions or cities and airports.
security
The path leads through safe travel countries. Sunburn and ticks are dangers that can be confronted on a daily basis. The Borrelia bacterium transmitted by ticks can only be stopped by treatment with antibiotics. You can protect yourself against the early summer meningoencephalitis TBE, which is caused by a virus, by vaccinating in good time before the trip. You should be checked or checked for ticks every evening.
course
Scotland
Currently, the E2 begins near Stranraer or in Portpatrick, depending on the source. First it's east on the Southern Upland Way to Melrose. There he leaves the Southern Upland Way and leads on the St Cuthbert's Way to the border to England.
- Portpatrick - New Luce (21.5 km): The Southern Upland Way and with it also the E2 begins at the northern end of the harbor front in Portpatrick, where the first information desk of the Southern Upland Way is located, and climbs over concrete steps to the top of the cliffs, from where you have a nice view back over the City has. The trail passes some Coast Guard buildings - turn left here and around them on the seaside - and then runs along the edge of Dunskey golf course before descending to the small sandy cove of Port Mora. From the bay the path leads over a small hill and then back down to the sea in the stony Port Kale. A steep, stepped path carved into the rock leads up again. The path now leads through sheep pastures high above the sea towards the lighthouse of Killantringan. Shortly before the lighthouse of Killantringan the path reaches the road to the lighthouse and finally turns to the east, away from the coast. Follow the road past the Killantringan Farm to the intersection with the B738. Turn left on this about 400 meters, then right onto another side street and continue north and northeast to a junction just before the Knock and Maize Farm. Here turn right (south) onto a dirt road and shortly afterwards turn east to another intersection. Turn left there onto a path that leads over moorland meadows, with wind turbines on the right and the Knockquhassen reservoir on the left. At the east end of the reservoir, the trail turns right onto a path that goes past the farms of Little Mark and Greenfield, where it becomes a back road. Shortly after the last farm, the path crosses the Piltanton Bach and reaches a crossroads, where it turns right and soon afterwards reaches another crossroads and there turns left. After a short time the path turns right onto another side street and leads past Ochtrelure. The road bends first to the left and then to the right. At the latter junction, a footpath leads downhill to Spout Wells. There he turns right onto a back road that leads to Whiteleys Farm and the A77. Here the path turns left onto the A77 for a hundred meters, then right onto a side street that leads to another street, where it turns right for a short distance and then left onto a street that crosses the Bach of Black Stank. Just before Culhorn Mains Farm, turn left onto a path that leads to the edge of a large plantation. Turn right here and follow the path through fields and forests to a side street. There follow the path to the right to a T-junction, where it passes under a railway bridge on the left. Immediately after the bridge, turn left onto a path, continue through a pleasant wooded area to an information board for the Southern Uplands Way on the outskirts of the small village of Castle Kennedy.
- Castel Kennedy - Bargrennan (43 km): This section begins on the A75 at the entrance to Castle Kennedy Gardens and follows the main driveway through wooded parkland to the White Loch, through which the ruins of Castle Kennedy and the newer Lochinch Castle can be seen. The route runs along the southeast bank of White Loch to the entrance of the Castle Gardens (which are worth a visit if you have the time). Here it turns right and leads uphill to a side road with a view back to the Black Loch, which is north of the White Loch. Turn left onto the back road with Cults Loch on the right. After about 600 meters turn right onto a path that goes past the houses of Chlenry and then Chlenry Farm. It ends shortly afterwards and the route continues uphill on a path through pastureland to a junction with the same side road. Follow this to the right for about 500 meters to a path that leads to the right (southeast) to the gate on the edge of the Glenwhan Forest, a large coniferous plantation. Go through the gate and immediately turn left to follow a well-maintained path around the northern edge of the woods and then down to Craig Brook, which is in a picturesque rocky forest clearing where it tumbles down in small waterfalls. The route follows the creek to a railway line, then turns north and goes through the forest to a bridge over the railway. Over the bridge the path leads through meadows to another bridge, this crosses the water of Luce, and then goes up a field to the cruise farm. The path leads left along the road for a short distance past the Cruise Farm, then turns right onto a path to cross the rough pastureland to the old abandoned house of Kilhern, where it turns sharply left. The path leads around the right (eastern) side of a tree plantation. The path takes a path on the left, meets the path beyond the forest and follows it to a side road. New Luce is about two kilometers west on this road. However, the path turns east and follows the road to its end at Balmurrie Farm. Here the route continues north on the track to Kilmacfadzean, then exits to turn right onto a rough path that heads northeast over open moorland dominated by the giant wind turbines to the east. Before us lie the dark conifers of a huge forest. The path leads into the forest and runs along a marshy forest path, crosses a footbridge over the Mulniegarroch or Purgatory stream, to a drier forest road, which you follow for a kilometer until you turn right onto a path that leads to a clearing at Laggangarn, where there is a small wooden shelter known as the Beehive Bothy, which is useful in bad weather or for an overnight stay if you have sleeping and cooking equipment with you. The path continues to another clearing with two old stones - the Laggangarn Stones - and an information sign from Historic Scotland. Beyond the stones, the trail crosses Tarf Water and reaches a signpost pointing back to the Laggangarn stones and down to the Wells of the Rees, which are well worth a visit. The short detour leads to a clearing where three small stone domes have been built over three small springs. These mysterious domes are very old and their purpose has long been lost. We continue over the Craig Airie Fell (it is possible to get around this by continuing on a forest path and meeting the path on the descent). Go down from Craig Airie Fell to get onto a forest path which then swings left (east). At the end of the trees we turn right and walk down a short grass path next to a dry dike to meet a small (dirt) road near the buildings in Derry. Turn right on this road leading towards the forest and walk past it for a while before going into the forest. At Polbae the path makes a right turn to cross a stream and the road is now paved. He continues until he meets the B7027, where he turns right and follows the road to the small hamlet of Knowe (no facilities). After crossing the bridge over the Beoch Bach, the path leaves the road and turns left onto another swampy forest stretch that leads through conifers to a side road at Glenruther Lodge. The route turns left and follows this road for a mile and a half, then takes a path to the right that leads over open moorland to the top of 184-meter-high Ochiltree Hill, a good vantage point. The path leads gently down the slope, then along a forest back to the side road, which leads a short distance to the right and then shortly before Garchew to the left for a last moorland path to the road A714 and to the village of Bargrennan, where there is accommodation and food.
- Bargrennan - Dalry (40 km)
- Dalry - Sanquhar (41.5 km)
- Sanquhar - Wanlockhead (12.5 km)
- Wanlockhead - Beattock (19 miles)
- Beattock - St Mary's Loch (33.5 km)
- St Mary's Loch - Traquair (18.8 km)
- Traquair - Melrose (28 km)
- Melrose - Harestanes (24 km)
- Harestanes - Kirk Yetholm (28 km)
England
From Kirk Yetholm on the Scottish border, the route now runs over the Pennine Way towards the south. Near Middleton-in-Teesdale, the long distance trail splits into two routes of different lengths.
- Kirk Yetholm - Windy Gyle (13 miles)
- Windy Gyle - Byrness (14 miles)
- Byrness - Bellingham (15 miles)
- Bellingham - Greenhead (35 km)
- Greenhead - Alston (16 miles)
- Alston - Dufton (32 km)
- Dufton - Middleton-in-Teesdale (21 miles)
Central Route (Kent Route)
The Kent route remains on the for the time being Pennine Way. You continue through national parks, over high moors and lonely high-altitude trails to Uttoxeter. The Heart of England Way follows the E2 towards Oxford and the Thames. Windsor and Canterbury are the last major cities on the long distance walking route before reaching the port city of Dover.
- Middleton-in-Teesdale - Tan Hill (17 miles)
- Tan Hill - Hawes (27 km)
- Hawes - Horton in Ribblesdale (14 miles)
- Horton in Ribblesdale - Malham (14 miles)
- Malham - Ickornshaw (27 km)
- Ickornshaw - Calder Valley (16 miles)
- Calder Valley - Standedge (11 miles)
In Standedge, the E2 follows the E2 on shorter sections Pennine Bridleway, Tame Valley Way,Tameside Trail and the Goyt Way until after Dislay.
- Standedge - Broadbottom (?? km)
- Broadbottom - Dislay (?? km) From Dislay the E2 follows the Gritstone Trail to Ruston Bank
- Dislay - Tegg's Nose (17 km)
- Tegg's Nose - Ruston Bank (13 miles)
From Ruston Bank, the E2 follows Staffordshire Way to Milford
- Ruston Bank - Rudyard (7/12)
- Rudyard - Rocester (32 km)
- Rocester - Milford (34.8 km)
From Milford the E2 follows the Heart of England Way to Burton-on-the-Water
- Milford-Lichfield (25 km)
- Lichfield-Meriden (48.8 km)
- Meriden-Henley (28 km)
- Henley-Campden (43 km)
- Campden-Bourton-on-the-Water (25.4 km)
From Bourton-on-the-Water, the E2 follows the Oxfordshire Way to Kirlington.
- Bourton-on-the-Water - Charlbury (27.5 km)
- Charlbury - Kirtlington (17.7 km)
From Kirtlington, the E2 follows for a short section Oxford Canal Walk to Oxford.
- Kirlington - Oxford (?? km)
From Oxford the E2 now follows that Thames Path to Weybridge.
- Oxford - Abingdon (15.8 km)
- Abingdon - Wallingford (21.6 km)
- Wallingford - Tilehurst (23.7 km)
- Tilehurst - Henley-on-Thames (19.7 km)
- Henley-on-Thames to Marlow (13.9 km)
- Marlow - Windsor (22.3 km)
- Windsor - Shepperton (21.9 km)
From Weybridge the E2 now follows the River Wey Navigational to Guildford.
- Waybridge - Guildford (19 miles)
From Guildford the E2 now follows the North Downs Way to the coast at Dover.
- Guildford to West Humble (13 miles)
- West Humble to Merstham (10 miles)
- Merstham to Oxted (12.8 km)
- Oxted to Otford (18.9 km)
- Otford to Cuxton (24.1 km)
- Cuxton to Detling (20.1 km)
- Detling to Lenham (14.9 km)
- Lenham to Wye (17.9 km)
- Wye to Etchinghill (18.1 km)
- Etchinghill to Dover (19.3 km)
The E2 leaves the British Isles in Dover. You can take the ferry to Calais, where the route continues towards Belgium.
Eastern Route (Harwich Route)
The Harwich Route branches off in Middleton-in-Teesdale. It leads towards the North Sea coast, which it is reached near Whitby. Passing Kingston upon Hull, the route continues to Lincoln. Most of the meadow and field paths lead through the east of England, often bordered by the famous hedges. After Cambridge, the Essex Way accompanies the E2 to Harwich harbor.
literature
Web links
- The E2 in the outdoor wiki
- European hiking club
- E2. In:traildino.com, accessed June 30, 2017.
- Southern Upland Way , alternative side (in English)
- St Cuthbert's Way (in English)
- Pennine Way (in English)
- Oxfordshire Way (in English)
- Thames Path (in English)
- North Downs Way (in English)
