EHW end-to-end in 5 days (God Knows How)

[Buggiba]

Four of us left Fort William on a Sunday morning at 0620 hours. Dry but very icy. Lunchtime found us in Spean Bridge, just in time for the Fish + Chip Shop to open . Had to retrace the last mile of our walk to get back on track . Arrived in Inverlair in rain, leaving us to walk the 2 miles to the nearest accommodation at Tulloch Station in miserable conditions . Arrived at excellent bunkhouse at 1740 hours.
Day 2. Up at 0400 hours and walking at 0520 . Had to walk the first 2 miles in the dark to get back on the track for 0600 (first light). A long day ahead of us - 28 miles - as there is no accommodation between Tulloch and Laggan!! A pretty level stretch alongside Loch Laggan as far as Feagour. The last 5 miles in to Laggan is a different matter. A long haul up to the viewpoint, followed by a similar descent, and then a long road stretch in to the teeth of a biting wind. Arrived at the Village Hall at 6pm. Knackered.
Day 3. A nice lie-in today. Set off at 0920 hours in sleet. The Guide Book offers an alternative route for bad weather days. As there was a severe weather warning in force we opted for this alternative and took the 'road' route. A pleasant enough walk which offered a trip to the Ralia Cafe prior to entering Newtonmore. The Hostel, located behind Craigellachie House, is excellent, and the proprietors most caring.
Day 4. Up and walking at 8am, still sleet and snow showers. Pleasant walk over the Wildcat Trail. 15 miles today, via Kingussie to Kincraig. Sun came out as we passed the Ruthven Barracks. Hard going after lunch, through forestry and boulder fields. Arrived at Loch Insh Watersports Centre at 1630 hours, just in time for the restaurant and bar to close .
Day 5. Last day and only 10 miles to Aviemore. Walking at 0845 hours and a pleasant start to the day. Entered the forest to be greeted by confusion. None of the waymarkers alluded to in the guidebook were in evidence. Only thanks to the OS map and a compass did we find our way out. A walk up past Drake's Bothy and down to Loch an Eilein Castle before the final push to Aviemore brought our 5-day hike to an end.
Overview: With the exception of the part of the way that passes along the Badenoch Way the waymarking is virtually non-existant. Much of the content of the guide book is vague, confusing or misleading and, on occasions, foreshortens stretches of the way. Most of the views are distant vistas, not as proximate as the scenery on the West Highland Way. Many of the forestry stretches are undergoing deforestration and this significantly detracts from the overall views. The East Highland Way, in my opinion, is in great need of total waymarking, as soon as possible.

[The Rodmiester]

I found this EHW marker last Saturday, when going for a wee daunder from the Bunkouse at Monessie Gorge, that must be one of the very few then!

[Buggiba]

One of about nine pukka EHW waymarkers that we saw in the entire 82 miles . Here's another one.

[bigkenzo]

Just completed the EHW and can't agree more - the deforestation going on detracts from too much of the walk.

[basscadet]

Oh my Dad and I saw a chap with an EHW guide book in Spean Bridge a couple of weeks ago, but neither of us had ever heard of it, so we were speculating about the route.. We came to the conclusion that it must be in the east highlands and run from Blairgowrie to Tomintoul or something like that Family o tatties us Carrolls'

Aye, there are far bonnier ways of walking from the Fort to Aviemore for sure

[goth_angel]

My husband did this two years ago, first two days with me then the rest with a friend. I'd agree about the lack of waymarking. He seemed to have quite enjoyed it probably because the weather was better than when he did the WHW when it poured most of the week