West Highland Way - Day 4

Wednesday 7 June - Day 4: Rowardennan to Inversnaid

After a good night's sleep we were up earlier than anticipated and were down for breakfast at 7.

The Rowardennan Hotel dated from a bygone era. The walls in the accommodation section were not straight and the slate on the roof, which we could see from our window, was weathered

 The Rowardennan Hotel breakfast was good.

Our boots had been put in the drying room overnight and they were warm and dry when we collected them.

The rain had cleared overnight which was a good sign. We set out in sunshine albeit with a strong wind which was whipping up waves on the loch.

Rowardennan is the starting point for climbing Ben Lomond, the southern most Munro (mountain over 3000 feet). I think that the mountain shown below in Ben Lomond.

On day 3 we had to contend with light rain throughout the day while we walked. There had been rain overnight for the previous couple of days, too. This meant that we were treated to a myriad  of waterfalls on our walk today.

Apologies in advance ... but there were lots of waterfalls and these are only a few!

About 2kms into the walk the route divided. The lower track hugged the shoreline with steps and scrambles over rocky outcrops. We opted for the high route which took us through a forest with views across the loch when the foliage permitted.

The track in the final 5kms was challenging. It was rocky and uneven with numerous crossings of streams.

One of the gentler crossings on the track

We made good time on our 11km hike and stopped for lunch at the Inversnaid Hotel before heading up to the Inversnaid Bunkhouse where we are staying tonight.

The Inversnaid Bunkhouse is a converted church in a lovely setting up above the obscured Loch.

The Inversnaid Bunkhouse

The flower of the day ... rhododendrons ... they grow wild throughout the areas that we have passed through.

All up, we walked 12.6km with an elevation gain of 425m

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.

Waet Highland Way - Day 2

Monday 5 June - Drymen to Balmaha

We awoke to a bleak, gray, wet day. There had been overnight rain and light rain was still falling as we went down to breakfast at 8 o'clock.

We were in no rush today and, as we were returning to the Hillview B & B for a their second night, we kitted up in our wet weather gear and left packed only the bare minimum of items for the days walk.

By the time we got going the rain had almost stopped and we could have discarded our wet weather gear quite early.

The first part of the day, once we cleared Drymen, was initially next to and then through the woodland of Garadhban Forest. Parts of the forest had been harvested while tall trees remained in places. The soil depth appeared to be very shallow as we saw a number of large trees that had fallen and the root system was virtually flat.

From time to time we had views over Loch Lomond.

There were also views over the surrounding countryside which was particularly pretty when the sun was out.

There are two ways to reach Balmaha. One is around (sort of over) Conic Hill and the other is a low route. This seemed perfectly reasonable as the song about Loch Lomond refers to the "high road" and the "low road". Jen and split up as we decided that she should not push herself by going via Conic Hill. I think that this was a wise choice. So while found her way to Balmaha on the low route I tackled the high route which included climbing to the top of Conic Hill.

Conic Hill

 

The track skirting Conic Hill

The views from Conic Hill down onto Loch Lomond were excellent. The track to the top of the hill was challenging particularly on the way down.

Ah, Loch Lomond!

Conic Hill had a number of interesting features. Entering the area was through a very high gate in a fence that stretched up to 6 feet high, too.

These measures are to protect the Conic Hill sheep (which don't look all that different to those we saw when doing the Coast to Coast).

There were plenty of wee burns gushing forth water from the overnight rain as well as the odd larger waterway roaring down the side of Conic Hill.

The roar from this waterway was almost deafening

 Here I am standing atop Conic Hill with Loch Lomond behind me.

As well as the loch there was plenty of other pretty vistas.

Todays flowering plant is an Ajuga

All up today, I walked 12.17km with an elevation gain of 386m. Steps came in at a tad over 21K