Big Respect

As we progress along this route with our main packs transported by day, proper beds, breakfast cooked for us, packed lunches bought and evening meals in pubs, we have developed a great new respect for our son who did this aged 17 with 4 other venture scouts working toward his Chief Scouts Award carrying everything including canvas tent and steel poles.
To Andrew, and all other doing it that way; Well done, we are not worthy.

Day 3 - Rowardanan - Inveroran

Tired. Lying on bed and legs are tingling. 3 days now and 16.5 miles today with another 12 tomorrow,
Today was taxing but enjoyable. The early lower path along Loch Lomond is now closed having been reclaimed by the Loch over the winter. This is probably permanent as it seems the Loch made it's intent very clear.The high road forest track is still a good route and though uphill covers the few miles much faster than the lake shore route would have; this was all probably a good thing as it was a full day anyway.

In the northern section of Loch Lomond the path is often a scramble and is very slow and hard on muscles stepping up and over and round rocks and tree roots.
Saw (and smelled) amazing wild mountain goats on the steep oak wooded slopes. also, at the end of a 12 mile stretch of often barely walkable path, we met 3 mountain bikers who already looked fed up going the other way - how they would go on carrying the bikes through the twist and turns and under low rocks and branches I really don't know. They may still be there?
We keep seeing 4 or 5 groups of people who are on the route at the same time, Often passing each other as we stop for a break or meal. Two couples have been at some of the same B&Bs as us and even when we're not we've bumped into each other at an evening meal in the pub.
We left Loch Lomond behind late afternoon and started to enter more wild and open land with views of the high hills. The last views back down the Loch were beautiful though a little gray. The weather continues dry but with mist hiding the tops. Even though we are only carrying day packs very hot backs are the order of the day.
No Internet or mobile signal again so a bulk blog upload soon I hope,
Day 3 GPS track - Dist: 16.64 Miles  Total Ascent: 2397 ft

Day 2 Drymen - Rowardanan

The first thing to say about today is that it was longer than expected. The last 2 miles seemed to last forever and nature throws in a 400 ft climb in Ross Wood just before the end  to add pain. Two couples from our first B&B are here tonight and we all met with another chap in the local hostelry and everyone agreed that today has been a tough day with the last 2 miles seeming to last forever. We also all GPS clocked it at about 15.5 Mi having expected 13.5 - 14.
Conic Hill was our first real highpoint of the walk so far with great views across Loch Lomond. They should have been AMAZING views but unfortunately it was not a clear day and many hills were obscured. The ascent was an effort but the 1000 ft steep decent was a bit of a killer. Some wiseguy had spent a fortune on granite paving which was useless as it is smooth and steep so everyone avoids it and extends the erosion. Go and talk to the guys in the Peak District - they understand how to put rock down and leave purchase for your boots!
Today felt properly on the walk where as yesterday felt like just getting away from Glasgow. Wonderful views of lochs and mountains are surfacing and it was a nice mix of forest, open country, hills, lakeside and woods.
Arrived at Coille Mhor guest house knackered and hot thinking we had to walk the mile down to the hotel for food later to be greeted by an offer of a lift. I love these owners! Excellent Tatties, Neaps, Haggis and whisky sauce with lashings of Chenin Blanc and the world seems a better place. As the light faded, looking up the Loch from the Rowardennan Hotel, the hills layer in front of each other into the distance behind silver waters, a wonderful view to end the day. Early to bed then prompt away for a long day tomorrow.
A final note about this place. Not just no Internet or mobile signal at all but no TV, not even analogue. They have TVs but just playing videos and DVDs. (no posting this tonight then)
Day 2 GPS track - Dist: 15.42 Miles  Total Ascent: 2222 ft

Day 1 Milngavie - Drymen

Day 1 completed. An almost strangely smooth day with breakast, book in luggage transfer service, buy sandwiches and set off followed by a very straightforward walk.

We had our photo' taken at the start obelisk by a guy who played with Alex Fergusson at Queen's Park and allowed ourselves to be convinced to buy a "passport" to get stamps along the Way - remeniscent of our kids Eurocamp passports to be stamped at different campsites when on holiday in France. Getting a stamp later proved a reason to visit Drumgoyne distilliary where we picked up a miniature to be enjoyed one evening.
The early part of the walk was through Mugdock wood, which sounds like a Harry Potter place and for some reason I kept thinking, "There's been a Mugdock" - it just seemed to fit the "been a Murrda" from TV.
Much of the walk was along old rail trackbeds and seemed to be getting away from the start point rather than a walk in itself. About 4 miles in, the country opens out and though much of the rest of the day is rather monotonous trackbed, the mountains are appearing ahead and Loch Lomond to our left.
Though we started with mist on the hills and had our hoods up in light rain for about 20 mins, the end of the day has patches of clear sky and is very mild.
We have just walked into Dryman about 0.5 Mi each way for a meal and a couple of pints in what claimed to be the oldest pub in Scotland.
Wi-Fi in this B&B so uploading now.
Total today 14 miles plus about a mile for the pub tonight.

At the Start

Sitting in the guest house, Best Foot Forward, after an excellent and surprisingly cheap meal in very pleasent surroundings at The Cross Keys, I'm not sure when this will be uploaded as there is no open Wi-Fi nearby.
We travelled up via Manchester to Glasgow Central where we pointlessly walked down to the Clyde before returning and settling in the Arrol bar on the station concourse for lunch and to pass time. We later took the 25 minute local train to Milngavie, the starting point for the walk arriving at the B&B for 4 o'clock to a very pleasent welcome from Morag.
Carrying our full packs today made us very glad that we are using the luggage transfer service. 25 mins home to local station and the walk in Glasow and then to the guest house was quite enough. Tomorrow morning we split into day pack and main pack.
Chatted on the train to guy next to me who was quite excited and wondering how different Scotland would be. As we pulled into Glasgow he disappointedly observed it was just like coming into Manchester or Liverpool. The more we travel, the more we observe how everywhere seems to compare to somewhere else you know.
Milngavie is an odd town. This afternoon and evening (Wed) there was hardly anyone about. It's a pleasent little pedestrianised centre which feels like it should be touristy but seems to be just an everyday very small town. Not figured it really but it's pleasent. The WHW start obelisk is in the middle of the shopping area. I think our start photo tomorrow could well be taken by the Big Issue seller.

Here in the Sun

Sitting in this sunny warm Sunday afternoon, we've just looked at the weather for the next 2 weeks and it's forecast to rain Every Day of the walk, with SNOW in Fort William! Basically miserable.. however, mid-range forecasts are usually wrong so here's hoping. A good reminder of warm gear and waterproofs but rather deflating
We did our last preparitory walk yesterday; 15.8 miles but with little ascent at 800ft; for those that know the area, home to The Cage at Lyme Park and back.  It was very warm and showed that hot feet suffer more as mine are a little sore this morning. Anyway, 4 days to the walk so need to start getting things together.
Next blog will hopefully be from Milngavie having completed our journey up.

Getting Closer

For the past 2 weeks we have upped the anti' after having worked out our route properly. We have based on Day 3 which appears to be the hardest. Last weekend, we did 14.6 Mi and 3,800 ft total ascent out of Edale and over the Mam Tor - Lose Hill ridge then Win Hill, Ladybower reservoir shore and back to Edale. Yesterday, 15.8 Mi and 2,750 ft on the Cheshire - Staffordshire border from Danebridge. Each weekend, we have followed the big Saturday walk with a 5 mile walk on the Sunday just to revisit feet and muscle strain.
We're feeling more confident. One more weekend to go then it's for real.