On our last day together, we had potted porridge for breakfast again and left the hostel at 8.45. The weather had broken overnight – it was overcast and cool for the longest climb of the Way out of Kinlochleven and up onto the Larig Mor. We welcomed the cooler weather but the dampness attracted the …
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Climbing the Devil’s Staircase
Sleeping in the hobbit houses proved to be hard work. Collette had very little sleep – she was too hot – she opened the door and the others got too cold. I found it difficult to get to sleep and tossed and turned rather and after some fitful sleep eventually gave up on at 5.15 …
Sweating across the moor
Wednesday 15th was the hottest day of our walk – with a top temperature of 23C – extraordinary for Rannoch Moor and Glencoe. Not far away in the Cairngorms, Aviemore was breaking records with a temperature of 27C while London, I noticed, had a much more moderate 19C. Topsy-turvy weather. What’s more there is very …
Panning for gold?
Our sixth day was another long one, with 13 miles to walk from Crianlarich to Bridge of Orchy. Well rested and set up with a porridge breakfast, we set off from the youth hostel at 8.30. The climb back up through forest to join the West Highland Way wasn’t as long & hard as I’d …
Respite day
Following our longest, hardest day, we had our easiest day. We relished in a lazy start after a very comfortable night with the best breakfast yet. It was all freshly cooked, with friendly attentive service. We set off at 9.40 for our gentle walk through the glen to Crianlarich, interweaving with the road and railway …
A hard day’s walk
Well rested after a good night’s sleep and two short days walking, we were ready to tackle the longest, most challenging day. First, we had to say goodbye to Christine who sadly was leaving us to return to London and then quickly turn around to go to a conference in Liverpool. She had a long …
The bonnie banks o’ Loch Lomond
Our third day was the easiest of all – a gentle walk along the east bank of Loch Lomond from Balmaha to Rowardennan. As it turned out, it also gave Collette’s feet a chance to recover themselves as she had been suffering from the outset with nasty blisters on her right heel. The short walk …
Over the top
Our second day of walking was a practise run for the trials to come – a shorter but more demanding walk than the day before – up and over Conic Hill, crossing the Highland fault which divides the Lowlands from the Highlands. After a good night’s sleep in our luxury B&B, we had delicious porridge …
Getting going
Meeting at our B&B in Milngavie, the first challenge we faced was a long, steep flight of steps to the front door – it felt like some sort of fitness test for the walk ahead. When we’d all arrived, Jennie presented us each with a little gift – matching midge nets (!) and a handknitted …
West Highland Way women 