By: Blonde One
This is a long distance route that cuts across Scotland, covering 96 miles of stunning mountain and loch landscapes. Brummie, our ex-Young Leader, now friend, has always wanted to walk it. I can now see why! I did a short section of it recently and was rewarded with very well marked paths, stunning mountain vistas, lochs shimmering beautifully in the sun and little villages doing their level best to survive being in this harsh winter environment.
The route was occasionally decorated with sculptures celebrating the area. In this case the salmon that inhabit the River Leven and the birds of prey that hunt them.
I too, like Brummie, would love to walk the whole thing. The site Www.west-highland-way.co.uk seems to be full of information to make this wish more of a reality. There are links to accommodation, luggage transfer and detailed notes on each section.
The section I walked headed south east from Kinlochleven. I spent several solitary hours moseying along, enjoying breathtaking mountain views, initially following the River Leven, then the industrial pipes. The ‘Old Military Road was well defined and fairly easy going (once I got to the top of the 450m climb and if you avoid the ice) and took me part way on the West Highland Way.
I was sorry to have to turn back to return to my starting point but the pill was sweetened when I got chatting to a lovely lady – Inga – from Belgium, who was going the same way. We walked the last hour together and compared notes about our Scottish adventures. I think in this case my Mum would be ok with me ‘talking to strangers’ and ‘going off with strangers’!
Once you have done the WHW there are endless opportunities in Scotland for devising your own walks. On my LEJOG I by-passed the WHW. From Drymen I walked up through Aberfoyle, past Callander and on to Killin, Glen Lyon, Loch Rannoch, and Corrour Halt etc.
I must admit I can’t wait to get back up there to do some more.
I couldn’t do the West Highland Way – there are 13 miles across which dogs were not allowed – so I did the Southern Upland Way instead – it was a good walk with lots of interest along the way. I’ve done odd bits of the WHW since. I wonder if the dog rule has changed yet?
Starfire – I hven’t done the SUW but have studied it and walked on parts of it. I reckon it is probably one of the toughest LDPs in GB because of its lack of replenishing stops, and also some pretty wild country. I sympathise with you about the dog thing. I had a Springer Spaniel for many years – he did the Coast to Coast with me, and also 42 miles in a day from Shap to Ravenglass across the Lake District – he was a great pal. In later years he went on strike in Borrowdale doing the Cumberland Way and we had to take the bus home from Keswick.