Bridge of Orchy to Kinlochleven

Weather today: Warm am. Showers pm.

Daily Miles Covered: 21

Total Miles Covered: 854

Things of Interest: RBS Caledonian Challenge

Personal Comments: It was an early start today with quite a few hills to contend with, but nothing I haven't done before. 7.50am and I was set. A short climb had me looking back on the valley I spent last night, what a gorgeous view it was. You can easily run out of superlatives describing these mountains, so if I go o.t.t., you will have to forgive me. 3 miles on I came to Loch Tulla, it was like a mirror, reflecting the surrounding mountains, making it a double show. Beyond the hotel at Inveroran the road ran out and began a gradual climb towards Rannoch Moor. All around were mountains to look at north south, everywhere. On the north facing slopes of some of them, snow still lay, making it look like the summer hadn't arrived in the high country. At King House Hotel, A watering hole on The WHW. I noticed walkers coming towards me, I thought ah! its Saturday, people will about. It turned out to be a sponsored walk from F. William to Ardlui, 54 miles in 24 hrs., what! I thought there would be 50 or so walkers, no, 1800.
I was meeting people for 13 miles on the track. It lasted all the way to Kinlochleven. I said "hello", "not far now" " how's it going" to almost all of them. Yesterday I had the way to myself, but what a difference a day makes. In K/leven Harry and I found a spot for the night, and soon a pub for the football. F. William tomorrow, and a day off Monday.

Crianlarich to Bridge of Orchy (Argyll & Bute)

Weather today: Sunny, Warm, Breezy at times

Daily Miles Covered: 13.4

Total Miles Covered: 833

Things of Interest: The West Highland Way

Personal Comments: Another day dawned, and yet again no sign of rain. Back on the The WHW took me through a dense forest of pine trees to start off, uphill as you would imagine. These dense woods do nothing for me, but I know people love them (Ok J.T.) There were plenty of fords on these tracks, but no water at all was flowing down them, we are in the middle of a dry spell, long may it continue. Onward out of the woods and across the A82, quickly, there was the most delightful River Fillan to walk along. Dappled sunlight filtered through the broadleaved woods this time, and was it beautiful. The water was crystal clear trout lazily swimming above the gravel beds, we live in a fantastic part of the world.
Tyndrum was my next place to visit, a stopping off point for supplies for people going further north. I didn't linger just a banana and then Harry accompanied me for a couple of miles. The railway that goes to Fort William was beside the track for a short while and I believe at a certain viaduct they filmed the train going over called The Hogwarts Express in The Harry Potter film.
The track now is easy to follow with mountains towering above on either side drawing me down the valley to Bridge of Orchy. When I got there I secured a pitch for the night and another day completed.

Last Friday at the 700 mile mark unfortunately Phil unluckily succumbed to a problem with his hips. He didn't know it at the time as he bravely battled on for 3 weeks, he had arthritic septaecemia. He was in great pain daily but refused to give in, but his body was in charge, and in Peebles he had to call it a day.
He is now in The Royal Blackburn Hospital on an antibiotic drip for the infection, and currently comfortable. Well done Philip Chippendale, a marine if ever I knew one. Get well soon.

Rowardennan to Crianlarich

Weather today: Sunny warm afternoon

Daily Miles Covered: 21

Total Miles Covered: 819.6

Things of Interest: Loch Lomond

Personal Comments: Following the W H Way north the path was lined with rhododendrons and azaleas of every colour imaginable coupled with an array of wild flowers, this is what gladdens my heart. L. Lomond on my left told me I was going in the right direction, it would be there until lunch, 10 miles or so. The midgies weren't a problem if you kept moving, but once you stopped, they were all over you like a rash, and causing one! The path was tough today, scrambling over boulders, up slopes down them, the progress was slow. Inversnaid hotel was the first time I emerged from the trees into the sunshine about 6 miles on. A large complex in the middle of nowhere, looks like a place, where it would cost you £1 to change your mind! At the top of L.Lomond I had lunch, 30 minutes of complete tranquility, the water gently lapping the shore,and the sun beaming down, heaven. Having done 10, I still have 11 to go and the day is getting warmer. The way became more tough as it climbed and climbed. Water was in short supply as the feeder streams to L. L. had all dried up. 2litres was my ration for the day, just about enough. 4.00pm. came and went and Crianlarich was nowhere in sight, I swear it was going away from me, that's what happens when you're tired. 5.00pm I made it, and a welcome brew put me right again, I hope there aren't many more days like today.

Drymen to Rowardennan (Stirlingshire)

Weather today:Still fresh, cool

Daily Miles Covered: 11.8

Total Miles Covered: 798.6

Things of Interest: Loch Lomond

Personal Comments: Overnight stop was on a car park belonging to The Buchan Hotel, thanks very much. There was need to go too far today, as Rowardennan was at the end of a cul-de-sac. Leaving Drymen by the road was the only route, until I met The West Highand way again at Balmaha. My first view of Loch Lomond was through a small pine forest, I nearly burst into song " O you tak the high road, an' I'll tak the low road....................." There was some activity further down the road, when 4 fire engines passed me at high speed, I found out later there was a small forest fire, as I passed it, emphasis on the small. L. Lomond was now with me all the way, through forest and occasionally on the shore. The mountains around here are magnificent, towering high above the loch, and sweeping down in a concave swoop. The loftiest is Ben Lomond, at nearly 1000m. it stands sentinel above L. Lomond on the eastern side. I think it is the most southerly of all The Munroes (Mountains in Scotland above 3000 ft.) I reached my destination with aching feet today for some reason, I thought they had gone. As I write this, my view looking northwards up the loch has to be the best view I have had since I set off. Now I know why I chose The West Highland Way. Tomorrow will be tough, 21 miles or so over high ground, an early night me thinks.

Twechar to Drymen

Weather today: Best described as very fresh

Daily Miles Covered: 20

Total Miles Covered: 787.8

Things of Interest: Disused railways

Personal Comments: Kirkintilloch was my first port of call down the canal. I reached it at 9.3o, where the wind was nearly blowing cars over. I soon found a disused railway to take me northwards for the first time in 4 days. Milton of Campsie came next, tucked away under The Campsie Fells. The railway took me beyond it, so I didn't get to see much of the village. These disused tracks are a delight to walk, with dappled sunlight filtering through the canopy overhead, makes the whole scene beautiful. Further along at Strathblane the track disappeared behind a hotel, so I asked a local chap and he pointed me in the right direction.
Harry was there so I was spoilt with a cup of tea , most welcome. Drymen was my final destination, on The West Highland Way, 10 miles away, but I had already done 10, so it was tough in the afternoon. It was flat walking so the miles came and went, and as I hit the point where the track met the WHW., I felt another chapter unfolding in the walk. The wind was just as strong later in the day, so steady progress to Drymen was done. From now on The WHW will accompany me to Fort William in 6 days or so

Polmont to Twechar (East Dumbartonshire)

Weather today: Cloudy, breezy, warm when sunny

Daily Miles Covered: 17.7

Total Miles Covered: 767.8

Things of Interest: The Falkirk Wheel

Personal Comments: Off again on the canal at 8.30, very breezy for June, I believe its cracking the flags in Accrington. The Falkirk wheel has been on my to see list, so I am looking forward to seeing it. 7 miles to go first. All the wild flowers that love water are out now, bedecking the canal with a floral display, that would be hard to beat at "Chelsea". Water Lilies just coming into bloom, plus Meadow Sweet, Sweet Cicely with it's efficacious smell of aniseed and Water Avens drooping, nearly touching the water, fantastic. There are no locks on this canal, so it's level all the way to Falkirk. Just before Falkirk though there was a 400 m. tunnel. Now this tunnel lies beneath Falkirk town, and it's dark damp and dangerous. Harrison Ford would have thought twice about going through, but I'm here so in I go. All went well until the last 100m. when I heard the sound of rushing water, it was cascading through the roof of the tunnel, and it wasn't rain water!. Well, I wasn't going back so that was the fastest I've moved since Lands End.
The Falkirk Wheel is a masterpiece of civil engineering, lifting boats from one canal to another. It uses 10 kilowatts of power thats 5 electric kettles worth to you and me. It takes 4 minutes to complete, due to a perfect counterbalance system. Afterwards I took to the Forth and Clyde canal, have a guess which cities this canal links, correct. Running out of steam late in the afternoon, I make Twechar a lovely little out of the way place, where we find again, somewhere to watch the football. Tomorrow I leave the canal to make progress towards The West Highland Way

East Calder to Polmont (West Lothian)

Weather today: Cloudy start, very warm afternoon

Daily Miles Covered: 16.9

Total Miles Covered: 750.1
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Things of Interest: Union canal

Personal Comments: Having done b/b in West Calder, I said my final goodbye to Ross who had done a stirling job for the past 5 weeks. Janet took him back to Preston, I'm sure I'll see him later on. Harry took me back to E. Calder to the same spot from yesterday, got togged up and set off. Almondell country park took me down to a riverside path, which was festooned with red campion and cow parsley, a delightful combination. I soon spotted a footbridge to take me across the river, and then a minor road to The Union Canal. Now as this is a heavily populated area and it was Sunday, cyclists from all over the world, or so it seemed, came to ride on this canal. When I have finished this walk, I am going to make a fortune making bicycle bells for the W. Lothian area, because they are definitely in short supply!.
Canals are easy walking as you know, and I find them boring, but on them, the miles roll by, so I found myself at lunchtime at Linlithgow, having sandwiches by the canal. I pressed on after eating to meet Harry coming towards me 2 miles short of my final destination. We carried on to where the canal met the A80, de-togged and went to find a place which had the football on. After that, a fish supper as they say in these parts, and off to bed.

Baddinsgill to East Calder

Weather today: Cloudy Warm

Daily Miles Covered: 9.3

Total Miles Covered: 743.2

Things of Interest: Pentland Hills

Personal Comments: Leaving Broomlee centre where we were treated so kindly, we made our way back to Baddinsgill farm. I said goodbye to Ross, as it was uphill from the start. Last night we had a torrential downpour which wiped out all the tracks on the paths, It seemed that I was the only person who had ever walked on the Pentlands. Not very high, but high enough to have a certain charm, for me. I pressed on knowing that Janet was bringing Harry our final driver, and essential supplies. The sun did it's best to break through, but kept falling behind high thin clouds. It was a lonely place, for once again I never saw anyone. Once across, I had to to follow the A70 for a short while and then a minor road to East Calder. I spotted a track which took me down to the main railway between Glasgow and Edinburgh, I quickly skipped over a fence, and the track, to make it to East Calder, A small town between Livingston an Edinburgh.
An easy day, but not tomorrow.