Shiona here. After yesterday's consistent rain, I so wanted a dry day
for our longest day yet, and probably the longest of the whole trip.
During the night there was even more rain but, thanks be, we woke to a
dry one and it stayed that way, allowing us fabulous views all day
across Loch Lomond. The WHW is very popular and we are meeting fellow
walkers who have come from Germany, Israel, USA and Australia, plus a
large group of charity walkers for Kidney Research. We also chanced to
meet some feral goats living on the crags above the loch!
The route took us through some really beautiful places, along forest
tracks and down on the shore next to the clear waters of the loch. We
forded stream after stream, some of them gushing down the hillside into
the loch so lots of muddy areas to get through and stepping stones to
balance on. We even had to climb a wooden ladder to traverse a
particularly large boulder on the cliff path. Although the WHW is
generally well maintained, recent rain has caused the paths to
disappear and clambering over tree roots and boulders was a real
challenge. Thank goodness I brought my walking pole and we both have
gaiters (we had to explain to the Israelis who thought we were talking
about alligators!)
We had a lovely half way stop at the Inversnaid Hotel, sitting at a
bench with a drink, eating our packed lunch and soaking up the sun
before setting off to Inverarnan and the infamous Drovers Inn. What a
great place to spend the night! All of us staying there were walking
the Way so the bar was very popular. The service was top notch, the
food and bedroom great, plus we had a sing along led by a couple of
folk singers. We slept well!
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