Well, I have a new set of wheels. After a lot of soul searching, (and tears), I decided to buy a smart SPORT wheelchair 
Not yet up to paralympian standard and needing Jeff (Mr SusieThePensioner) to push me most of the time, at least I’m now more mobile!!! I did note that paralympians wore padded gloves so, have found a new use for my cycling gloves 
The walk is in part of the Knapdale Forest, Argyll, and includes the Scottish Beaver Trial. In Gaelic, Knapdale means Cnap (hill) and Dall (field).
This particular walk isn’t for wheelchairs but, having read the description and spoken to a Forestry Commission Ranger as well as a couple in the car park, we decided to attempt at least the first part. Especially as it said, “the almost level route”. We therefore set off with happy anticipation.................
Reading the instructions gives you no idea of the actual terrain to be tackled. We started from the car park at quite a height above the loch and, for at least the next mile went up and down, and down, and up, and round, and up and down.
After half a mile we passed the abandoned settlement of Kilmory Oib. It has at least 17 buildings, including houses and byres for animals, as well as an early Christian cross-marked stone standing by a well. It’s believed to have become abandoned sometime during the 19th century.
Then we reached an old mill which was used to grind corn. A stream from the loch was made for the mill by cutting the rock.
Eventually we arrived at a wonderful vantage point, plus seat, at the end of the loch
By this time we were both worn out with our strenuous efforts; Jeff pushing me, me having to walk uphill and also, helping to turn the wheels when the going got tough 
Fantastic aerobic exercise though! 
We enjoyed our lunch overlooking the loch but had dallied rather a long time; it was now 3 o’clock
We decided to carry on round the loch and try and complete the walk; a big mistake 
Should have cut our losses and returned the same way even though it would’ve been mainly uphill. Hindsight is such a wonderful thing................. 
The “good” path soon became unsuitable for the wheelchair and started winding up and through the wood. It eventually dropped back down by the loch and, we thought, great, the walk description read “an undulating path” so we should make progress
However, a new path has been created and the instructions just didn’t seem to match what was now in place
Making good progress? Oh no, oh dear, far from it...............as I struggled along I kept hearing lyrics from Chris Rea’s song “This is the Road to Hell” And that’s just what it was; sheer hell and torture for me. I could hardly put one foot in front of the other, my knees were so stiff and painful, my shoulders were hurting and my fingers virtually seized up. Every few feet the path twisted and turned one way, then the other, up and down with a few tricky bits thrown in; natural rock steps that were too steep and I couldn’t step down or up without having to think through the logistics of how to actually overcome these barriers. I’m sure this section was a lovely walk along by the loch but I was in so much pain I was past caring and just wanted to be able to sit back in the wheelchair 
Hallelujah! After 2.5hrs we reached a much better path, suitable for the wheelchair, then the road and eventually the car park at 6 o’clock
We did however, see the beaver dam at Dub Loch, sadly, no beavers and, we didn’t feel like waiting around. Oh well, perhaps another time This walk, for anyone else, would be an interesting and enjoyable 2-3 hours; through the woodland and along by the loch
, I hope you (and Jeff) get plenty of use out of them and looking forward to seeing your reports and pictures
