Just where on earth do we begin! After what was an absolutely fantastic week it seems almost impossible to be back home and now trying to give you a snapshot of our amazing adventure in a few paragraphs and photos. Everyone agreed it was wonderful, the scenery was varied and frequently breathtaking and every day different. The weather exceeded our expectations and just proved the long distance forecast isn't always right, and even the midges only tortured us a few times and weren't nearly as bad as we expected.
We were joined on our adventure by Andrea from Italy, bestman at Sarah and Matteo's wedding, and for the final four days by Will Roberts not forgetting the company of all the other trekkers we kept meeting along the way especially Alisha from California towards the end of the week.
Day 1. The start in Milngavie was a bit of a surprise in that no sooner had we went through the official gateway than we appeared to be in the countryside and Mugdock wood. Everyone agreed it was much nicer than wandering along streets making our way out of town. The consensus of opinion at the end of Day 1 which took us from Milngavie to Drymen was that it was a good 12 mile walk but a nice gentle warm up for the trek that lay ahead. There was an odd shower or two but that didn't dampen the enthusiasm or spirits. We were pleasantly surprised but grateful for the freshly made scones and tea which greeted us going through the wood where there was a table with an honesty box in aid of charity. Only problem was the midges knew exactly where to find us so we didn't linger for long. But what enterprise!
Likewise later on in the day the freezer with the ice creams and the two young girls with the traybakes most welcome. We made a wee diversion at one point for a look in at Glengoyne Distillery but apart from that it was good going all the way to Drymen and the Winnock Hotel. Our first day ended with a good sing song in the hotel bar where the music and recitations were appreciated by Welsh and Dutch visitors.
Our journey had truly begun.
Day 2 and the sun was shining as we set off from Drymen to Rowerdennan which saw us get our first glimpse of Loch Lomond and our first real climb up over Conic Hill. The steep climb was certainly worth the effort for the views from the summit were spectacular and the tricky path down to Balmaha took us through a lovely wood. At least we had the right footwear on unlike some of the day walkers we met heading upwards!. Don't think wedge sandals and plimsoles were the best thing to wear but at least they were out making an effort!.
We were very envious of all the sunbathers and swimmers making the most of the last day of July as we heading along the lochside but unfortunately we couldn't linger as the youth hostel at Rowardennan was our destination. A wonderful day and we really felt we were on a highland walk.
Day 3 and what a difference a day makes. It was pretty wet when we left the hostel heading for Benglass Farm and their wigwams so the suntan cream was put away and the waterproofs came out the rucksacks. This was definitely a challenge clambering over rocks and paths, squeezing between boulders and negotiating waterfalls and streams in full flow or searching for Rob Roy's Cave. Some of the group certainly didn't have this as their favourite day while others loved it. Fun, exciting, scary, challenging, exhausting and without doubt spectacular! We had certainly seen the Loch in all moods. Amazingly Inversnaid Hotel welcomed us and all other walkers in for a stop at lunchtime even in our drookit state. A very welcome stop. Just before we reached the wigwams, the sun started to come out as did the midges but we had survived. Various folk had advised us to go to the Drovers Inn so we set of there for supper complete with guitars etc. Well! This place is something else, like it has been plucked out of a different century or film set. Stuffed animals, collections of eggs, pictures, artefacts, maybe we should have been telling ghost stories instead of singing. But a good few pounds was added to the sponsorship with the busking in the bar and the food was good. Quite an end to a memorable day.
Day 4 and Benglass to Auch with the sun on our backs. Once again the views on this day were spectacular and lovely woods towards the end. We even managed to cool our feet in the River Fillan at lunchtime before stopping briefly in Tyndrum. After sussing out our accommodation for the night in some chalets we headed out of the village and walked a further 4 miles to Auch after which our bag/transport wizard ferried us back to Tyndrum. This was good thinking as it meant when we started the following day it wasn't with an instant climb. Fish and chips rounded another successful day.
Day 5 was another glorious day although the midges were rather vicious in the morning and prevented much dillying and dallying as we went on our way but nothing was going to stop us from admiring the scenery on this day. With our headstart in the morning due to the previous nights extra bit, the cameras were out when we came across some Highland Cattle cooling off in the stream as we set off. If we were in awe of them just what must the foreign walkers have thought. Our goal today was Kingshouse taking us through some picture postcard landscapes. The walk to Bridge of Orchy was beautiful but the climb up from it was magical. As our Italian friend described it " just layers and layers of green". After a brief stop at Inveroran Hotel, Telford's Road took us towards the indescribable wilderness of Rannoch Moor. Peace perfect peace. Everyone was rather relieved that it wasn't a replica of Wednesday's weather or there would have been no shelter from the rain and the views would have been hidden by the mist. Our first glimpse of Glencoe when we came round the corner at the top was memorable. Absolutely fantastic. And as we sat with a refreshment in the Kingshouse Hotel at the end of the stretch, everyone agreed it was a day never to be forgotten. From there we were ferried to Glencoe Youth Hostel just what we needed a bed for the night!
Day 6 and Saturday was our shortest day at only eight miles - think the longest was 16 - and after being taken back to Kingshouse we made our way to Kinlochleven. It was no walk in the park however, but a walk along the hillside before tackling the Devils Staircase. It was a scorcher of a day and while we found it hot, hate to think how the runners who were running from Tyndrum to Fort William felt as they passed us en route upwards and downwards. The walk to the top for us was maybe challenging in the heat but once there it was like being on top of the world. The majestic mountains in all directions - words can not describe. In some ways the long descent down to Kinlochleven seemed harder going underfoot but all arrived safely to be welcome sight of Hobbit Huts! Obviously a favourite haunt of midges. This was definitely the worst the midges had been all week but thankfully the end was in sight or should that have been sadly the end was in sight.
Day 7 The last day :( saw us heading from Kinlochleven to Fort William with waterproofs on for only the second day. Someone obviously had been looking after us this week as far as the weather was concerned. In someways this was maybe the least picturesque of the days but there were still some views to take in when we remembered to stop and look. And often some of the nicest views were behind us although there had obviously been a lot of felling going on and some of the woods on the map were no longer green.As we neared the end and got sight of Ben Nevis we knew we were on the home straight and it was good to see the welcoming party at the Nevis Centre car park before the final couple of miles into Fort William and the official end.
We had arrived. The official certificate stated we had covered 97 miles in seven days. Along the way we had met numerous friendly people including Alisha who accompanied us part of the way and joined us in the evening, Bert from Belgium,a lovely German couple whose names I will hopefully remember tomorrow, the cheery Geordie crowd (hope the blisters are ok) and others we kept meeting/catching up now and again who always greeted us with a smile. As a group we had great fun got to know each other much better and hopefully at the end are all a wee bit fitter and have certainly got the walking bug.
A HUGE thank you Ronnie and Julia for the planning and organisation, not only for this week but the training walks beforehand, we couldn't have done it without you.Thanks to you we know we are all a lot fitter. To John the bag/transport man who made sure everything we needed was in the right place, ferried us about and still had time to run up 11 Munroes during the week! Thanks to Will for joining us and helping with the ferrying it meant a lot to us that you came. Also Bob , James and Walter for the help with transport and medals!
Lastly all our supporters and sponsors we are thrilled with how much has been raised we know it isn't all in yet but we are definitely over £4,000 so many many thanks. When the going got tough your generosity was the thing which inspired us to keep going.
There will be more comments and photos going up in the next couple of days so apologies it isn't all tonight but somehow the brain as well as the feet need a wee bit of rest.
Fabulous blog and spectacular achievement: so nice to see you got to do the WHW with Katie!
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