Solitude and Freedom: Solo West Highland Way Trek

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Hello everyone👋I’m Fungo, a trekker from Hong Kong. I’m excited to share my unique experience of solo trekking the West Highland Way in Scotland during winter. I am excited to share with you all. Enjoy the read!🫡






Introduction:

It was a friend's casual remark that brought me the opportunity to visit Scotland. When I think of Scotland, the first thing that comes to mind is "Highland Laddie," a classic Scottish bagpipe song that was a familiar tune during my two years in the Marching Band in high school. Only then do I think of the magnificent mountains, lakes, and beautiful scenery. Hiking is a travel style I love; it allows me to relax, challenge myself, and understand myself and the environment around me. Winter in Scotland gives a mysterious and tranquil feeling, as if the whole world is covered by snow, filling me with a desire for adventure. Therefore, I decided to embark on this hiking journey to explore the beauty of winter and enjoy an unforgettable adventure!




Why Choose Winter?

In recent years, the pandemic has put me on standby. However, one night in October 2022, my friend Hugo, whom I had known for years suddenly said to me, "Hey, come travel to the UK, I'll give you free accommodation." Just like that, I started planning a hiking trip to the UK. Free accommodation in London saved me a lot of money. That night, as I tossed and turned in bed, I kept fantasizing about the beautiful scenes after arriving in the UK. So I started preparing, choosing routes, collecting information, and finally decided to challenge winter in Scotland.

Among the many hiking routes, I chose the "West Highland Way" in Scotland because it is one of the most popular and well-known trekking routes in Scotland. This route is 96 miles long, along the mountains and lakes of the Scottish Highlands, passing through some of the most beautiful scenic areas, including Loch Lomond and Glencoe Valley, and you can also look at the highest peak in the UK, Ben Nevis, etc.

Preparation Before Departure:

Two months before departure, I gradually purchased appropriate equipment and shooting equipment. Including tents, winter sleeping bags, sleeping bag covers, sleeping mats, "Jetboil"system stoves, hiking boots, waterproof gloves, scarves, masks, hard shell jackets, soft shell trousers, waterproof trousers, down jackets, waterproof socks, waterproof gloves, thermal underwear, headlights, hiking poles, etc...

My gear


This time, I finally didn't travel alone. A family of five happily set off for UK.


Specific Description of the Trekking Journey

Starting Point Introduction:

Starting from Milngavie in the south, all the way through the western highlands of Scotland, the end point is in the northern town of Fort William. It usually takes 6 to 9 days to complete. Milngavie is the starting point of the West Highland Way, located half an hour north of Glasgow city center. Starting from Milngavie, there is a monument marking the starting point of the route.






Different Stages of Road Conditions and Scenery:

In the initial section, you can admire the amazing lakes, mountains, and valleys, and also experience Scottish culture and history in the towns along the way. In addition, the initial section of the West Highland Way is also a relatively easy section to walk, so it is suitable for beginners and novices.

Drymen: A small town with many typical Scottish stone houses and small churches.
Rowardennan: Located at the northern end of Loch Lomond, there is a beautiful limestone beach and a cafe here.

Conic Hill: A mountain in Scotland, located near Balmaha, is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Lake District National Park. From the top of the mountain, you can admire the beautiful scenery, including the beautiful Loch Lomond and the surrounding mountains.

Balmaha: A beautiful town located on the east bank of Loch Lomond, there is a traditional Scottish restaurant, a famous visitor center, which can provide a lot of information about the region.




































Midway Section:

You can admire the magnificent mountains, beautiful valleys, and ancient towns, making this a section worth exploring. Additionally, this part of the journey is relatively challenging, requiring a certain level of physical strength and training.

Bridge of Orchy: This is a small village located near the famous Bridge of Orchy Hotel. This area boasts stunning mountain views, especially in winter when you can see the snow-covered mountains.

Kingshouse: This is a renowned small village known for its beautiful highland scenery. It has an old pub and a famous inn, making it a great place for travelers to rest and relax.

Dalrigh: Is a hamlet in Scotland near Tyndrum. The name means "The King's Field" in Scottish Gaelic.
Tyndrum: This is a famous town and a great place to stop and rest. It has many pubs, cafes, outdoor gear shops, and convenience stores around.






















Final Section:

From the small town of Bridge of Orchy to the final stop at Fort William, the route traverses some magnificent mountains and beautiful scenery.

Devil’s Staircase: This is a challenging section on the West Highland Way route and is one of the most famous sections for hikers. The name of this section comes from the workers who built this section. They once said, "This is a ladder built by the devil," hence the name.

Glen Nevis: This is a beautiful valley located near Bealacharigh. It is the last point of interest for hikers, where there are magnificent mountains and beautiful scenery.

Glen Nevis Waterfall: This is a beautiful waterfall located in Glen Nevis. This waterfall is about 100 feet high and is one of the most popular waterfalls in Scotland.

Old Military Road: This is an ancient road built in the early 18th century. It was used to transport troops and supplies. Now it is a road used by hikers and cyclists.






































Robin
























Swaledale sheep





End point:


At the end of the WHW route, located in the town of Fort William, there is a statue called "Man With Sore Feet"

This statue was erected to commemorate all those who completed the West Highland Way. It depicts a hiker sitting on a bench, taking off his shoes to check the blisters and abrasions on his feet, showing that he has completed a tough journey.

The statue was made by Scottish artist David Annand and has symbolized the end of the West Highland Way since 2010. It has become an important landmark in the town of Fort William and is also a symbol of the West Highland Way hiking trip.





Places to Rest at Night and Accommodation Conditions:

Due to the limited budget for this hike, I plan to spend only a few hundred pounds, so I chose to wildcamp. In the peak season, there are regulations that camping is not allowed in the Loch Lomond area, so I chose an appropriate location to camp. In addition to camping, this time I also tried Scotland's unique bothy mountain house.

You can find different types of accommodation in the towns and villages along the way, the types are as follows;

Tent Camping: On the West Highland Way, you can camp in designated camping areas or some camping areas. This is an economical choice and can also make you closer to nature.

Youth Hostel: In the towns and villages along the way, you can find different types of youth hostels.
Bed and Breakfast and Small Hotels: In some larger towns and villages, you can find some bed and breakfasts and small hotels.

LuxuryHotels: In some major towns, they usually have higher-end facilities and services, providing a more comfortable and luxurious accommodation experience, the price is thousands per night.

No matter what kind of accommodation you choose, please remember to book in advance, especially during the tourist season. But this time it's winter off-season, many campsites and restaurants are closed, so it becomes difficult to supply, need to plan the daily supply route in detail.








Doune Byre Bothy



The Scottish Bothy is a traditional mountain hut, mainly scattered in the Scottish Highlands. Bothy is usually built of stone, wood, and thatch. Now Bothy is mainly for hikers to use, they can shelter from the rain, rest and cook here. No charge, no need to book and permit. However, it is important to clean up after using the bothy and leave it tidy for the next person to enjoy. If you're hiking in the Scottish mountains, a bothy is a great option as it helps reduce the burden of hotel expenses.


Inside the bothy, I lit a fire, creating a warm and cozy evening





Dinnertime: I had white rice with a side of potato chips, topped with black pepper.









Here's an aerial view of the bothy



The indoor environment of the bothy was cozy and inviting.









The advantage of the low season is having the campsite all to myself.




The Difficulties and Challenges I Encountered:

I find myself bound by a certain law. Whenever I want to camp, there's always a nagging thought haunting me. I genuinely love camping, but I sense another voice within me, battling the law of my thoughts, trying to captivate me, making me succumb to the desire for hotels


Yes, I decided to stay in a hotel for one night on the fourth day for £50 pounds. The reason is that I made a serious rookie mistake this time, that is, I took my new hiking boots to wear before they were fully opened, and as a result, my left heel started to hurt on the second day. I endured the pain until the fourth day. When I was about to reach the camping place in the evening, I passed a hotel. Seeing the desire in front of me, and then looking at my left foot that was about to be disabled. I decided to rest all day on the fifth day, do nothing, let my feet have enough rest and recovery, and then continue the remaining challenges.



Ouch, that's painful! 😩


Luckily, I didn't develop any blisters.


While taking a break in Tyndrum, I bought a tube of cold gel ointment and Compeed blister plasters, which work like magic for relieving foot pain and preventing blisters when wearing new shoes.



The People I Met and Their Impact on My Journey:

Because winter is the off-season, there are only a few people on the road who are doing the West Highland Way, sometimes there is no one in sight all day. One night when camping, I accidentally broke the tent peg, and I didn't prepare a spare tent peg. Fortunately, I experienced Trail Magic for the first time on this hike. I met two friendly British people. They called my name directly because they saw my daily updates in the Facebook West Highland Way group. When they knew that my tent peg was broken, they immediately offered to help and generously gave me a brand new tent peg. I fully felt the kindness between people.




I coincidentally bumped into this American director for four consecutive nights, and in the end, we exchanged Instagram accounts


While having a meal at Kingshouse Hotel, someone suddenly called out from across the table, "Fungo? Is that you?" It turned out to be one of this group


The Peaks and Discoveries of the Journey:

When I climbed to the top of Devil’s Staircase, I was surrounded by 360-degree stereo snow-capped mountains, and I kept admiring the beautiful scenery around me. The fresh air and the sound of stepping on the snow made me very excited. The snow that fell the night before has not melted, forming a pure white blanket covering the entire ground. The mountains rise on both sides of me, and the top of the mountain is shrouded in fog and clouds.

I tried snow hiking for the first time, and the snowy scene I dreamed of finally appeared in front of me. The scenery here is really as beautiful as the photos I saw when I was collecting information in Hong Kong. I was completely attracted by this amazing scenery, immersed in it, and didn't want to leave for a moment.

When I crossed Glencoe Valley, the scenery here kept bringing me surprises and touches. Even without towering mountains, the scenery here is still very magnificent. Every time I thought I had seen all the beautiful scenery, new peaks or scenery would appear, making me amazed. The feeling of being surrounded by snow-capped mountains has only one word, which is cool.

After today, I’ve come to realize: A mountain doesn’t have to be very high to be awe-inspiring




















Conclusion:


Standing by the "Man With Sore Feet" statue at the finish line, I felt a tinge of reluctance. This journey has come to an end, but I'm looking forward to new adventures and travels ahead.


Today. I completed the winter West Highland Way alone. This is an incredible journey. I am grateful for the encouragement and kindness of strangers. The Scottish Highlands are stunningly beautiful. Despite the harsh weather and rugged terrain, I persevered and am proud of myself.

However, I initially thought this solo journey would be a lonely and quiet one. But when a person of cold temperament goes to a hospitable country, I met many good people and things on the road, including other hikers, locals, and some seniors who have completed the WHW. They gave me support and encouragement, making me feel the kindness of people. Here, I express my gratitude to all the people who helped me complete this journey. Especially those who cheered and supported me in the Facebook West Highland Way group, thank you. Your encouragement and care gave me the motivation to keep going, making me no longer feel lonely on the road. Without the expectations and pressure of others, only my own pace and soul, this is a feeling of ultimate freedom!🫡


If you want to see my vlog of this trek, you can watch it on Youtube channel name: Ｍy name is Fungo