Wset Highland Way - day 3

6 June - day 3: Balmaha to Rowardennan

We awoke to another wet day. Like yesterday it was only light however today it persisted throughout the day.

View from our window at the Hillview B&B in Drymen

After breakfast our bags were collected and then we were for the trip back to Balmaha where we were starting from today.

Yesterday on the drive between Balmaha and Drymen I was struck by the roller coaster nature of the road. It had not changes overnight.

After being dropped off in the main carpark at Balmaha we headed over to the Oak Tree for a cup of coffee before heading off. We were hoping that the rain might stop but no such luck.

Yesterday I had started the day in full wet weather gear. Part day through the walk I had removed the pants. Today I figured that I would start without the pants and it turned out to be a good decision as the rain was never heavy enough to throughly wet the bottoms.

The route today hugged the shore of Loch Lomond. That meant a number of steepish climbs as there is no "beach" in some areas.

On leaving Balmaha we initially followed a minor road which was barely wide enough for the transit van that passed us. We were pleased to leave the road, until we encountered the climb up Craigie Fort, the name given to that crest. There were good views down and across Loch Lomond however the rain meant that any photos would be gray.

The recent rain meant that one of the creek crossing points which was probably OK most summers was running with water so we had to step across on the rocks. Shades of crossing the Tuggeranong Creek with Astrid. At least we both got over without falling in!

The track then descended, yes, you can only go up for so long before you go down only to go up again, and we entered an oak woodland which followed the shore around Arrochymore Point before rejoining the road at a car park and picnic spot.

The picnic spot was not very popular today. I wonder why?

While walking through the woods we came across more trees that had fallen. One close to the track clearly showed the very shallow roots and then the rock that had been exposed when the tree had fallen. As suspected the soil is extremely shallow in this area.

The track continued to hug the shoreline with some steep sections. The shore ranged from pebbles, the odd bit of red sand and rocks. There were times when there was no beach at all.

This is actually a sandy section of beach (complete with a rock)

We stopped for a coffee at a camping ground we passed which had a shop and a very welcome toilet block.

A pleasant section of track

Some sections of the track had steps (and steps and even more steps)

Jen powering up one of the slopes

Like yesterday, some of the burns (creeks) were in full flow.

There are a number of camping areas around the loch and we utilised one of the spots to eat our lunch. As everything was wet it was lunch on our feet.

The low cloud persisted, as did the light rain, so the top of Ben Lomond was not visable as we approached Rowardennan. Perhps the weather will clear overnight so that we will get views of it before we depart tomorrow.

Stats for the day: 10.98km and 373m of elevation gain.