WHW Tue 3 / 5 .... Sat 7 / 5
Posted: Sun May 08, 2011 5:37 pmA wee quick post just now , some more details & fotos to follow later on - tonight or tomorrow.
Updated eventually 22/5.
Day 1 20 miles
We set off on Tuesday at 7am from Milngavie, me my mate Steven & his dad Davie. Sunny & hottish great. Wee detour via Drymen for lunch & a pint , then back onto Way.
The start in a sunny Milngavie.
coming out of the trees towards Conic Hill , strong warm sun.
First night spent at The Oak Tree Inn in Balmaha. Nice pub.
Day 2 14 miles
Balmaha to Inversnaid
Again sunny & hot , stayed at the bunkhouse , enjoyed it very much.
wonderful views up the loch.
Looking over the Loch Lomond towards The Cobbler
Day 3 19 miles
Inversnaid to Tyndrum
Wet , wet , wet . a very tough day all in.
Stayed over at The Tyndrum Lodge Hotel.
sheltering from the rain at Doune Bothy and enjoying a purely medicinal wee half.
lunch at The Drovers and a chance to try and dry out a bit.
further on at Dalrigh in the woods , near Tyndrum - some of you will find this very funny , perhaps some won`t !!
Day 4 19 miles
Tyndrum to Kingshouse
This was the part of the Way i`d been looking forward to most & the weather was overcast then cleared up very nicely.
Ben Dorain in the clouds.
Bridge of Orchy , just before the part of the Way i`d been looking forward to most.
not far to go now , i can almost see the pub from here !
Stayed over at the Kings House Hotel - no breakfast though as we were away at 5am the next morning to complete the last leg.
Day 5 25 miles
Kingshouse to Fort William
taken about 5.20 am - i was off at 5am - the big bookill in the dark a wee bit eerrie as i was on my own Steven & Davie were about 15 mins behind me - i`d went ahead slowly to ease my feet in for the last leg.
an "unfortunate " foto of me at the top of the Devils` Staircase , i look partied out from last night !! But it was a combination of a very early rise , no breakfast - again , and the miles factor.
No beer involved in this fotos preparation.Honest.
After an early start in the rain we got a nice breakfast at The Ice Factory in Kinlochleven , after Kinlochleven we had to dodge the moto / scrambler / trialists taking part in the Scottish 6 Day Trials all the way through Lairigmor. The weather improved , i thoroughly enjoyed this section too. A last long , long day.
The Way creeping through Lairigmor , most enjoyable and a busy section of the route
The Way for me was a great way of seeing quite a bit of Scotland -an achievement,we`d planned it last year & had the digs booked for over 6 months.
A chilled bottle Corona & a paper cup of champagne at the finish a wee silent tear & a hug & kiss from my wife.Bliss
I`d also decided to do it as a sponsored event for CHAS - Childrens Hospice Association Scotland , i`m not sure exactly how much i`ve raised yet - it`s somewhere around £500 ish + or - . All for a good cause.
Thanks to all who donated.
Finally thanks to Steven & Davie for "showing me the way " it was their 3rd time & my 1st. I`ll be back.
****************************************************************************************************************************************
I actually raised about £ 720 in total it`s being used to buy intergrated digital radio / Cd player / i-pod docking stations for the kids bedrooms at Robin House in Balloch with the remaining cash being handed over as a cheque.
Updated eventually 22/5.
Day 1 20 miles
We set off on Tuesday at 7am from Milngavie, me my mate Steven & his dad Davie. Sunny & hottish great. Wee detour via Drymen for lunch & a pint , then back onto Way.
The start in a sunny Milngavie.
coming out of the trees towards Conic Hill , strong warm sun.
First night spent at The Oak Tree Inn in Balmaha. Nice pub.
Day 2 14 miles
Balmaha to Inversnaid
Again sunny & hot , stayed at the bunkhouse , enjoyed it very much.
wonderful views up the loch.
Looking over the Loch Lomond towards The Cobbler
Day 3 19 miles
Inversnaid to Tyndrum
Wet , wet , wet . a very tough day all in.
Stayed over at The Tyndrum Lodge Hotel.
sheltering from the rain at Doune Bothy and enjoying a purely medicinal wee half.
lunch at The Drovers and a chance to try and dry out a bit.
further on at Dalrigh in the woods , near Tyndrum - some of you will find this very funny , perhaps some won`t !!
Day 4 19 miles
Tyndrum to Kingshouse
This was the part of the Way i`d been looking forward to most & the weather was overcast then cleared up very nicely.
Ben Dorain in the clouds.
Bridge of Orchy , just before the part of the Way i`d been looking forward to most.
not far to go now , i can almost see the pub from here !
Stayed over at the Kings House Hotel - no breakfast though as we were away at 5am the next morning to complete the last leg.
Day 5 25 miles
Kingshouse to Fort William
taken about 5.20 am - i was off at 5am - the big bookill in the dark a wee bit eerrie as i was on my own Steven & Davie were about 15 mins behind me - i`d went ahead slowly to ease my feet in for the last leg.
an "unfortunate " foto of me at the top of the Devils` Staircase , i look partied out from last night !! But it was a combination of a very early rise , no breakfast - again , and the miles factor.
No beer involved in this fotos preparation.Honest.
After an early start in the rain we got a nice breakfast at The Ice Factory in Kinlochleven , after Kinlochleven we had to dodge the moto / scrambler / trialists taking part in the Scottish 6 Day Trials all the way through Lairigmor. The weather improved , i thoroughly enjoyed this section too. A last long , long day.
The Way creeping through Lairigmor , most enjoyable and a busy section of the route
The Way for me was a great way of seeing quite a bit of Scotland -an achievement,we`d planned it last year & had the digs booked for over 6 months.
A chilled bottle Corona & a paper cup of champagne at the finish a wee silent tear & a hug & kiss from my wife.Bliss
I`d also decided to do it as a sponsored event for CHAS - Childrens Hospice Association Scotland , i`m not sure exactly how much i`ve raised yet - it`s somewhere around £500 ish + or - . All for a good cause.
Thanks to all who donated.
Finally thanks to Steven & Davie for "showing me the way " it was their 3rd time & my 1st. I`ll be back.
****************************************************************************************************************************************
I actually raised about £ 720 in total it`s being used to buy intergrated digital radio / Cd player / i-pod docking stations for the kids bedrooms at Robin House in Balloch with the remaining cash being handed over as a cheque.