[1] The Southern Upland Way meets with seven of the other Great Trails: the Annandale Way, the Berwickshire Coastal Path, the Borders Abbeys Way, the Cross Borders Drove Road, the Mull of Galloway Trail, the Romans and Reivers Route and St Cuthbert's Way.

It is considered the most difficult of Scotland's Great Trails but also one of the most rewarding to complete passing through some of the UK's most remote land.

When the route was planned, it was only designed for walkers, but in recent years many stiles have been replaced by gates for horseriders and cyclists.

[11] The current fastest time to complete the route is 55 hours and 42 minutes by Jack Scott, set in October 2020.

[16] Between Stranraer and Melrose, the Southern Upland Way forms part of the E2 European long distance path, which runs for 3,010 miles (4,850 km) from Galway to Nice.