Scotland 2019, West Highland Way and Great Glen Way, Round Trip

Day 11 Walking, Sunday, June 16 The Holt, Fort Augustus to Bracarina House, Invermoriston  8 miles WALKED in 4 hours, with breaks.  24915 Steps Invermoriston in Gaelic - Inbhir Mor Eason Scottish porridge with blackberry and rhubarb preserves mixed in for breakfast.   Phil, my host delivering breakfast to the sunroom in his chefs coat and hat.   Took the Lowland route through the pine trees and above Loch Ness, which was mostly seen through trees with occasional views.   The air in the woods reminded me of high elevation smells in western US mountains.  Didn’t see any other hikers on the path I chose, but two bikers came up and road off heading towards Inverness.   Where the high level route rejoined my low level path the two Germans from breakfast came striding down.  They too are staying here at Bracarina House tonight, as is quiet Katherine, a very quiet and shy Katherine.   Two of the Best Croissants in this trip were purchased at the pos...

Day 10 Walking (no walk - but hopefully tomorrow). Saturday, June 15 Forest Lodge, South Laggan to The Holt, Fort Augustus  10.5 miles - traversed by City Link bus service.   15752 Steps which unfortunately were not on the Great Glen Way ☹️ Sea birds fly inland up and down the Great Glen following the Caledonian Canal from the Atlantic Ocean to the North Sea using it as a flight path.  Hosts from the Forest Lodge, Laura and Loraine looked alike.  They came to Scotland to run their dream of a B&B. Formerly they were high school teachers, but were burned out by the system.  An unidentifiable fruit was in the breakfast mix. Turned out the tiny sharp tasting berries were fresh black currants.  Betty the two year old rescue pug from Yorkshire  The 5 bikers and driver staying last night were on a sponsored LEJOG ride to raise money for their local hospice.  They were peddling 100 miles each day.  My bus had to slow doen on a long  curving ...

Day 9 Walking, Friday June 14,  Distant Hills Guest House, Spean Bridge to Forest Lodge, South Laggan 12 miles which were easily covered via bus.  12,034 Steps  Lochaber Area of Scotland.   Dinner last night for 5 £.  Side of cooked vegetables, but no potatoes (my request), carrots, red cabbage, white cabbage, and an amazing salad with lots of good green leaves and other raw veggies.  Portion sizes were crazy large, and couldn’t finish it all.  Lots of advice last night from the homefront about what to do with the foot, and everyone’s diagnosis of the problem. Tried ice, tried hot hot wet cloth applied, elevation, ibuprofen, rolling the foot out over a ball - no balls around but the bottle of soap from the bathroom worked fine.  Felt a bit better.  Doesn’t seem at all puffy tonight.  Besides the fruit and cereal buffet at breakfast, which of course a small sampling was taken, I chose Scottish pancakes with whip cream and fruit. They were...

Day 8 Walking, Thursday, June 13 St Andrews House, Fort William to Distant Hills, Spean Bridge 10.5 miles, but did not walk it ☹️ Still managed to rack up 17062 Steps hobbling about Fort William being a tourist of sorts Lots of fresh fruit and yogurt and muesli for breakfast followed by a croissant and cheese. The host seemed surprised that I did not want any toast. Toast? Why would I have toast when there is a croissant offered?? The refrigerator Where the yogurt was kept was well stocked with little Irish butter’s Yum Yum Was able to leave the pack at Saint Andrews house for the time I wandered around Fort William until bus time. That certainly helped with carrying the weight.   I wouldn’t wear the t-shirt, but it was earned.  Spent a long time in the Highland Bookstore. If only there was room in my pack for some reading material!  A small, but great selection of up-to-date books which makes Stevens Point look like the back of beyond with no bookstore at all. I did sit ...

Day 7 Walking, June 12 Edencoille, Kinlochleven to St Andrew’s Guest Housr, Fort William  14 miles, 36071 Steps, 8 hours (6 of them painful) Kinlochleven Breakfast was served continental.  I had a huge bowl of fresh fruit with a minimal amount of muesli, cold hard boiled egg, salmon, American ham, cheese platter, there were various breads and scones on the table but none of that was had. Chatted with seatmates. One couple was from Sussex, another a German couple, and two British Columbia friends walking together. Here come a group of walkers.  Felt great starting off. Collected a sandwich at the Co-Op and joined the line of WHW hikers heading out of town and up the mountain on the other side of Loch Leven. The line to hikers was similar but far different from those that are stuck on that ridge going up to Mount Everest.  Very busy though here in Scotland.  We could still step aside though and let the faster move on ahead. Sunny day to start with but later clouds...

Day 6 Walking, Tuesday June 11 Kingshouse, Glencoe to Edencoille, Kinlochleven 9 Miles, 29930 Steps, 4.5 hours  Buffet breakfast was consumed with a view of the mountains at the fantastic Kingshouse.  Egg, HAGGIS, tomato, mushroom, fresh fruit, orange juice, and Croissant!  Went back to refill juice glass and left it on table and planned to collect more food.  On the return to table found everything had been cleared away. Oh well, just went and got new juice glass and plate with another croissant, cheese slices and salmon.  Took the cheese and croissants with for a mid morning snack.   Kingshouse Hotel The Kingshouse Hotel is located in an extremely remote area and there is nothing else with service for miles and miles.  Reluctantly left the pampered hotel and joined the WHW via a shortcut bridge over the stream flowing down the valley.  Beautiful setting off with mountains rising in a great oval beside and above.  A few hikers passed initial...