Day 9 Ben Nevis

Today we climbed a mountain, it was hot, hot, hot, cold, cold,cold, windy, sunny and in places very snowy under foot. The views were fantastic, it was a long hard journey up and almost as long to get back down again, it took us 7 hours in all, but was well worth it, we couldn't have asked for better conditions.

Day 7 Kinlochleven to Fort William

Not many photos on the phone today so they will be added when we return home. It rained for most of the night and all day. Relentless although slowing to only light rain at times. The paths were running water. The streams across the path were at times raging torrents. We were soaked through. Goretex is good but can only cope with so much. Boil in the bag as we climbed hills and constant downpour. Our packs were wet, our bodies were wet and our feet were wet. Not cold for the most part though. We pitched the tent at Glen Nevis, in the sunshine! We then donned our wet packs and carried on to complete the journey to Fort William, it bloody rained again as we started walking! A photo at the end taken by a lone Canadian who we had passed and been passed by several times at the end. We bought chips and a Scotch pie and ate them on a bench in the middle of the town. We started to walk back and guess what, the rain again, all the way to the tent. A shower and then a couple in the local bar to finish the day. Two knackered but happy hikers :)

Day 6 Kingshouse hotel to Kinlochleven

We left Kingshouse, change of plan though.After a day without showers or toilets we decided to not take the planned detour to the hidden valley but instead to stick with the WHW and go to straight to Kinlochleven. The Devils staircase was early on and we stopped halfway up and had a coffee and breakfast at a pretty stream. We had skipped these early on. Over the top of the staircase a long descent across moorland and through the forest down to Kinlochleven. A very steep and long descent down a forest road (gravel) of about 2 and half hours. We stayed at a camping area behind the McDonald hotel. A lovely evening, food in the Hotel was excellent. We had tried the local pub but were met with a very frosty reception so decided not to eat there. Two families from Glasgow at the campsite exchanging banter and friendly conversation made the evening very pleasant.

Day 5 Sat 25th Tyndrum-Kings House

After a good nights sleep we packed up and waved good bye to Tyndrum at 9:30 a.m. Long day today, 18 miles including crossing Rannoch Moor (they say it's the most remote place in the uk). Weather on our side again wall to wall sunshine all day, in fact at times it was too hot. We crossed the moor with Josh an American from New Jersey, who choose to accompany us as others in his party were a little slow, if you could get past him clearing his nose via his throat and depositing the contents of said nose/throat on the path side every few yards, he was good company and made the day fly by. We are pitched in a wild site(no loos or washing facilities) behind a Hotel, just had dinner, back to tent for coffee, now we're off for a wee dram and a use of the loo before bed x

Day 4 Friday 24th

Woken at 6:30 by noisy Kraut group of inbetweeners. Warmer night even with the wind showers. Calm, windy,calm,windy. Nice walk through a forest up and down hilly bits. Started as a wooly hat day and ended as a paddle in meltwzter streams to cool feet off.
Photos
Falls of Falloch,
Coffee in the woods
Coffee in the open
Paddle time
The famous Green Welly at Tyndrum
By the way campsite
Weather forecast for tonight is 0 degrees, tomorrow, fine and cloudy sunshine. Rannoch moor awaits, the remotest part of the uk and tne biggest and highest moor in the land. Planning to stay Glencoe ski centre campsite and tnen on to the Hidden valley near Glencoe on Sunday. A very remote part in the hills so communication will be very iffy.

Day 3

Not up so bright and early today, knackered after day 2. Today we are off to Beinglas, a 10 mile walk along the side of Loch Lomond, not as easy as we thought, very, very rocky in places quite time consuming, wd made the 10 miles in a slow 6 hours but was worth it, the loos have heating and a hot shower was very welcome. So all clean and covered in Olbas Oil we had a drink at the bar on site then across the road go rhe Drovers Inn for dinner. Malc had haggis, I went for chicken, we both had pudding (we'd earned it!) and a couple of whiskeys. Now we're ready for bed and it's only 21:20 Photo's will follow. Another easy day tomorrow (Fri) only 11 miles. More updates soon x

Day 2

Up bright and early plan to walk Drymen to Cashell, we decided to carry on to Rowardennan for dinner then on to a wild campsite but it was closed so we walk a long way further until we'd had enough and we camped wild at the side of Loch lomomd, not so bad and I got to try out my 'shewee' (think about it) it worked a treat! Oh what it must be like to be a man.

Tonights lodgings

The only campsite in the area, not the best facilities but a socket to charge phones is always welcome. Nice view, only two tents on the slope, oops, I mean site and shower n toilets. One star but they work.

Dumgoyne Distillery

Day 1 After 6 hours and 15 mins on various trains we arrived in Milngavie at 13:10 to start our walk, Malc had a scotch pie from Greggs I had a mars bar (not deep fried) and not from Greggs, off we set at around 13:25 to walk the 7 miles to the distillery, as you can see we made it in time to do the last tour of the day, an hour and two wee drams each later we set off on the last leg of the day to Drymen, stopping on route for dinner at the Beech Tree Inn. We've arrived tent pitched coffee in hand and blog done. Back soon, mobile power and reception permitting :)

Berwick upon Tweed

Taken from the train as we approached Berwick

Leaving town

On the train and leaving 'the smelly end' of petfoods behind.

All packed n ready to go

The backpacks are ready :)

West Highland Way: The plan

To hike the WHW complete with tent in a backpack and then climb Ben Nevis. A side trip to the hidden valley is also involved in the walk.
Starting in May 2013. Including return travel from our house using the national rail network. 11 days door to door.