Highland Hotel Fort William

My first weekend in Scotland turned out to be a local holiday weekend (bonus!), half day on Friday and full day on Monday - only in Stirling, not in Edinburgh/Glasgow or anywhere else... So slightly confusing, and it didn't actually work out that way and I only had Saturday off in the end! What better to way to spend it then than to drive ...

... wet I can see how it would be particularly difficult, but perhaps because this section comes at the start of my day, whereas everyone else does it at the end, it's not overwhelming. <br><br>Rob Roy is the focus of the legends for this stage with both Rob Roy's Cave and Rob Roy's Prison on the path. The path to the cave is full of huge rocks and after a few minutes I opt to turn back as I'm pretty sure ...

... hostel.<br><br>On the way I meet Hugh, a retired librarian, who has been doing the LEJOG route in stages over several years. He's abandoned ideas of wild camping tonight and decided to join me at Crianlarich. We stock up at Crianlarich's village shop and I get overexcited at the sight of vegetables! I was getting the impression that vegetables were illegal in Scotland - apart from "tatties" of course! <br><br>Hugh is a very experienced walk leader who leads ...

... really get anywhere - if you follow me. Not that I was really bothered about getting anywhere, but it kind of annoys me, walking one road and having to walk the same back. Anyway, blithering - last couple of photos for now...<br><br> <br><br><br>

Liz &amp; Alec, who gave me a lift last night, turn out to be heading back to Kingshouse this morning so offer me a lift straight back to the start of my walk through the winding valley of Glencoe. The sky is already looking ominously dark so it's on with the waterproofs and I batten down the hatches with my rucksack cover before venturing out across Rannoch Moor. <br><br>The rain starts almost as soon as I hit the moor. It's relentless and the headwind ...

... s not walking so it's a nice surprise to see her again.<br><br>What made me smile today:<br><br>The stunning Mamores<br>The bird that followed me all the way down the fence of the last two miles to Kingshouse<br>All the lovely, friendly people I met en route and at Kingshouse<br>Liz &amp; Alec's offer of a lift - very welcome!<br>Meeting Helen again at Glencoe and hearing how she thought of me when she had to carry her pack from the bus stop to the hostel! <br>

It was a day of rest today. It rained all day long and it was actually a welcomed respite. We have been going every day since we arrived nearly 2 weeks ago. We did attempt to go into Aberfoyle to the local market, however, the roads had a different idea. When we arrived at the edge of town, the road was flooded and we could not go any further. We simply turned around and came back.<br><br><br>

... a sign - 2 miles to go. We'd gone 1.5 miles only. More crying at this point - it was going to take forever, and it had just started raining really hard, making the trail slick and harder going than before. I'll spare you the details of the next few hours - suffice to say it involved some sniffling and self pity - but to Eric's credit, he neither took me out back and shot me, nor left my sniffling rear end behind in the Scottish wilds. Hours later we got to the B&amp ...

... town in a hotel room with a window that opens onto gorgeous Loch Linney. Our dinner last night included watermelon, smoked Scottish cheese, and spring rolls. We traded in our tent that was much too small and cramped for two independant people with massive backpacks for something better that we can sit up in and hide out from those damn midges. The sun is shining and today we are going to the Isle of Skye. We ...