BBC Weather
Just getting ready for the day and of course we watched the BBC weather.
Look no rain.
The Clachan Inn, Drymen
We are having our evening meal at The Clachan Inn, Drymen – Richard reliably informs me this is the old licensed public house in Scotland.
The food was excellent – I had the Chef’s special lamb burger followed by hot chocolate fudge cake and ice cream. Having to return to Drymem because we could not get accommodation further down the walk has worked out for the best.
Drymen has:
- a large amount of accommodation covering all price brackets – but I think you should book with Carol at Elmbank
- lots of places to eat
- a Spar store with long opening hours – being a village store it is small but stocked with all sorts of things – Richard bought some glue there
- the taxi firm in the village will run you around – it cost us £15 to get back this evening – and they have taken a booking for tomorrow to take us back
So my suggestion is forget Rowardennan and stay two nights in Drymen at Elmbank.
The Clachan Inn, Drymen Read More »
West Highland Way Day 2 – Drymen to Sallochy Bay (and back by taxi)
Small change of plan today, we have shortened today’s walk (to save on the taxi fare!) but what it really means is that day three will be a ten mile day rather than seven.
The accommodation here in Drymen is very good, we have a three bedroom apartment, all the bedrooms and living room have flat screen TVs, the kitchen is well supplied with tea,coffee, milk and the makings for breakfast. There is central heating, and two shower rooms. Richard has done really well to find this place. It has allowed us to sort ourselves out following the first days shake down walk. (Parrot count so far zero – see our Coast to Coast blog.)
We booked our taxi back last night with a local taxi company here in Drymen.
Before starting we watched Jensen Button win the Japanese Grand Prix.
The Pottery pub where we had dinner last night – the photo was shot just before setting off today – blogging in the rain again, at least for the first part of the day – that’s my positive attitude showing through.
The path was a stream.
Lunch – no raincoat and a great view.
I even wore my sunglasses!
We are now waiting for the taxi – middle of nowhere and a strong 3G signal – so I’ll publish this now.
West Highland Way Day 2 – Drymen to Sallochy Bay (and back by taxi) Read More »
West Highland Way Day 1 – Milngavie to Drymen
Train into Glasgow, we need a cashpoint and a pie shop.
Is there an app for removing rain drops from my photographs?
The Start at Milngavie
There is no missing the start (or the end) of the West Highland Way.
It looks like today is the perfect day to use my water tight case for my iPhone, so I can blog and take photographs in the rain.
The rain has been patchy and mostly light (no over trousers needed) so it has not been hard to deal with. On the plus side there has been some nice light to photographs the woodland colours.
By 2.30pm the rain had stopped and I had my rain coat off.
West Highland Way Day 1 – Milngavie to Drymen Read More »
West Highland Way – Tomorrow Milngavie to Drymen
We have driven to Drymen this afternoon to drop off our case (it saved us having to pay to have the bag transported). The plan is to have our case, which contains spare clothes, wash kit, food for the trail and other sundry items moved from one B&B to the next by “Sherpa Van”. However due to
- there being no accommodation at Rowardennan – we will be walking to the end of the road and then getting a taxi back to Drymen and then the following morning another taxi to restart the walk
- and Sherpa Van not servicing Inversnaid – for this day we will need to carry our overnight stuff and trail food for the next day
the bag is going to spend three days at Drymen and then it is being taken to Crainlarich.
So here is where we will be walking to tomorrow.
Sunny Drymen
This is the B&B
Tonight we are staying with Diana’s cousin and his wife, Richard and Morag, and they are also going to keep an eye on my car as well. Thank you.
Tomorrow we will get the train from Muirhead via the Glasgow city centre to Milngavie and then we start walking!
West Highland Way – Tomorrow Milngavie to Drymen Read More »
West Highland Way – On Our Way
We got off to a good start this morning, rain and hold ups around Manchester, but there was a good sunrise.
We have stopped in Lancaster for walking fuel.
West Highland Way – On Our Way Read More »
West Highland Way – All packed
All packed & ready (for anything) | richardgoeswalking.
So tomorrow I am off to Scotland, and the West Highland Way, with my optimistic walking companion Richard. See his blog entry above.
I have everything packed, but it looks a very small pile of kit – although I have included two backpacks! I had packed my Karrimor 25l day pack, but I have changed my mind and I now have decided to use my Golite Jam 2, it compresses quite well and will give me the extra comfort and space for the day we have to carry our overnight kit (there is one B&B where it will cost too much to ship our large case there).
Another thing I needed to sort before leaving – my iPhone has gone wrong again. See this post – I have tried the “putting the earphone plug in and out” and the “restore my iPhone completely” options but still no phone audio. I was really impressed by one of the Apple Support suggestions – “turn the volume up!”. So I am off to Scotland with a phone that only half works, I will be using the blue tooth earphone and hope the charge on the iPhone lasts all day!
You can follow our adventure, day by day, by following the links below to the daily blog entries and photos…
West Highland Way – All packed Read More »