West Highland Way – Clive's Blog

West Highland Way – The Train Back to Glasgow

15 October 2011 / Photography, Travel, Walking / coffee, Fort William, Glasgow, hiking, iPhone, iPhone camera apps, iPhone photography, Scotland, tea, walking, West Highland Way

Due to the Nevis Range being in the way the way back to Glasgow, by train, from Fort William requires us to go north to Spean Bridge and Tulloch first – a big detour. Hopefully the rain will clear from the windows so we can see the views.

in the station

More wet blurry photos to come!

the stations are quite high on this line

lunch – venison pie and tea

the West Highland Way from the moving train – near Tyndrum

We are now in a coffee bar, in Glasgow. Richard is hallucinating that the waitress looks like “Penny”. Time to go home.

West Highland Way – The Train Back to Glasgow Read More »

West Highland Way Day 8 – Fort William

15 October 2011 / Photography, Travel, Walking / Golite Jam 2, hiking, iPhone, iPhone camera apps, iPhone photography, Scotland, walking, West Highland Way

Time to cross the finish line. The rain this morning is the worst we have seen all week. But we braved it and walked the last mile to the new official (commercial) finish of the West Highland Way.

West Highland Way Day 8 – Fort William Read More »

West Highland Way Day 7 – Kinlochlen to Fort William

14 October 2011 / Photography, Technology, Travel, Walking / Golite Jam 2, hiking, iPhone, iPhone camera apps, iPhone photography, Scotland, walking, West Highland Way

The day started with what is probably the best breakfast of the trip, it included fresh bread, scones, smoked salmon and a large selection of berries and fresh fruit. Richard’s West Highland cooked breakfast could barely fit on the plate.

Having dropped down into Kinlochleven yesterday we had to climb back out this morning through the forest to the old military road.

above and below the Ben Nevis range

We were slower today than we had planned – so we got to Fort William too late to pass the “official finish line” and take photos. So we will finish this walk tomorrow.

But we did pass the “old finish line”!

West Highland Way Day 7 – Kinlochlen to Fort William Read More »

West Highland Way Day 6 – Bridge of Orchy to Kinlochlen

13 October 2011 / Photography, Travel, Walking / Golite Jam 2, hiking, iPhone, iPhone camera apps, iPhone photography, Scotland, tea, walking, West Highland Way

Twenty-one miles today – Rannock Moor and Glen Coe. The weather forecast is fair for the day so I have unloaded the gaiters and over trousers.

I got to the B&B in Kinlochleven at 5pm which meant eight hours and twenty minutes on the track. I had a couple of ten minute breaks and tea on the summit above the Devil’s Staircase. The drop down from there to Kinlochleven was very steep and longer than I expected.

above – Rannoch Moor

above – Glen Coe

And when I finally sat down with a mug of tea at the B&B, “The Big Bang Theory” was on the TV

West Highland Way Day 6 – Bridge of Orchy to Kinlochlen Read More »

West Highland Way Day 5 – Crainlarich to Bridge of Orchy

12 October 2011 / Photography, Travel, Walking / Golite Jam 2, hiking, iPhone, iPhone camera apps, iPhone photography, Scotland, tea, walking, West Highland Way

The first thing to do today is to get back to the path – which is about half a mile away but it is nearly all “up”.

I am completing this post whilst sitting in front of the log fire, in the lounge at The Bridge of Orchy Hotel lounge.

The day did start with a few spots of rain but by midday it was dry but overcast with the tops of low mountains shrouded in cloud.

We crossed the main road at Tyndrum – where we stopped for a tea and sausage roll in the conveniently placed cafe.

Tomorrow is a twenty-one mile day so we are in a hurry to get to Kinlochleven before dark.

West Highland Way Day 5 – Crainlarich to Bridge of Orchy Read More »

West Highland Way Day 4 – Inversnaid to Crainlarich

12 October 2011 / Photography, Travel, Walking / coffee, Golite Jam 2, hiking, iPhone, iPhone camera apps, iPhone photography, Scotland, walking, West Highland Way

It is now about 3.30pm and we are about four miles away from Crainlarich on the old military road – and the path is such that I can write this whilst walking.

The first five miles of the day were some of the most difficult we will have to walk this week. A narrow fractured, undulating path, where you had to watch where you walked. It took us over three hours to cover five miles. It was similar terrain for the end of yesterday and that too slowed down our progress. This afternoon once we reached the military road our pace picked up.

We had some great views this morning over the loch and even found somewhere to get coffee, Beinglas Farm.

Another thing we saw (and smelt) were goats along the side of the loch, and you really could smell them before you saw them!

West Highland Way Day 4 – Inversnaid to Crainlarich Read More »

Inversnaid Bunkhouse

10 October 2011 / Photography, Travel, Walking / hiking, iPhone, iPhone photography, Scotland, walking, West Highland Way

The bunkhouse is a converted church, with a mezzanine floor, which is the dining room/common room. As part of the conversion they have retained the stained glass.

Inversnaid Bunkhouse Read More »