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Location Date Whitley Bay 1376694000 Kinlochleven 1376521200 Tyndrum 
1376348400 Drymen 1376089200 Milngavie 1376002800
Well, we've been without wifi/3G for a few days now so time for a catch up!
Drymen-Rowardennan, started off nicely. A small scale hike up conic hill rewarded us with our first fabulous views of Loch Lomond, lots of pics taken and enjoyed the Scottish sunshine! However...... Skirting along the edge of Loch Lomond was arduous to say the least! Lots of scrambling over rocks and undulating pathways meant our joy at seeing the '3 miles to Rowardennan' sign was short lived as those 3 miles took several hours - soul destroying!! Finally arriving at the hotel we were welcomed by a roaring fire, cold beer, and great views over the loch. The Rowardennan hotel was our swishest stay yet, really comfortable, and lovely staff who carried our bags upstairs after they sensed we were on the verge of a breakdown at the thought of having to move anything heavier than our weary legs up to the room!
Rowardennan - Inverarnan. A lovely morning walking through Narnia-esque woodland.......only to start more treacherous scrambling over rocks as we came to the end of Loch Lomond! Beautiful views looking back over the Loch, and a great sense of achievement was enjoyed by all! Again, the last few miles of the day seemed to last forever over higher level walking over fields. Eventually we arrived at Beinglas farm which we just LOVE! It has its own bar which refreshed us enough to check into our room which was in a log cabin. After a freshen up and a great meal at the insite bar we nipped over the road for a quick half at the legendary 'Drovers Inn'. That half quickly turned into several! The pub is so quirky with loads of stuffed animals everywhere, 2 old timers with a guitar and a drum were playing and we soon got involved playing the tambourine and having a good old sing song - so much fun! After a night cap back at the farm bar we found ourselves crawling into bed at about midnight - oopsy!!
Inverarnan - Tyndrum. Feeling surprisingly fresh this morning we headed out again in glorious sunshine. Easy, well established paths, undulating at times but not too challenging. Some woodland walking, some moorland, a really nice day that didn't get us too out of breath (lots of nattering done today!). We were able to stride out and arrive ahead of schedule. Checked into the lovely Glengarry guesthouse, welcomed with a cup of tea and homemade flapjack in the conservatory by Yorkshire couple Ellen and Andy. Andy sensed our weariness and offered us a lift 2 minutes up the road to have dinner in the village, of course we couldn't decline this, we are resembling 90yr olds after our muscles tighten after we sit down for more than 10 minutes!
A pint, shower and bed and that's us done for the day at 8pm- rock n roll!!
Ready for our 30k mammoth trek tomorrow to Kings House Hotel......gulp!!!!
- comments
Tracey Ives I'm loving the attire, you will have to be slowly reintegrated into English life!.......And Louise, if you think you're taking that hat to Mexico, you've got another thing coming! congratulations on your trek so far, proud of you all. Good luck for the beast hike tomorrow x
Lynne Hiya Sian....all sounding very familiar....I nearly cried for the last couple of up and down miles to Rowardennan?..yikes, not nice....and as for the tangled roots and slippy rocks for the second half of Loch Lomond, stuff of nightmares.......one bit by a particularly ugly root had a 'men at work' sign by it, was the only thing that made me laugh on the whole section!! I wonder if the big bull was still there just after the. 'Sheep creep' under the rail track before Crianlarich....he was a peaceful old lad, but still a bull!! lad you enjoyed the nice bit to Tyndrum...the next bit to Bridge of Orchy is just as easy walkin and pleasant, and although Rannoch Moor is a long stroll, the scenery is stunning, but BEWARE this was our only midge day on the trek, so keep all the anti bad boy stuff handy. You,re doing great...we,re VERY impressed..and you,re nearly there, Whoo hoo! Ps I did 12 1/2 miles round Rosedale in North York Moors today, of which I,m v.pround and cos of which I will join you in stiff-limbed sympathy!! Xx
Mam/Ann I hope all this walking isn't getting in the way of your pub crawl hahaha. You're more than half way there already. Lots of luck for tomorrow, it will be plain sailing after that. Just around the corner..........
Nina Bayliss Hi Sian, I'm very impressed although it's a toss up as to what you're doing more of - walking or drinking! Thatta girl!!! Apart from the hard work it must be absolutely stunning, well done.
Mummy Rees Wow, we're so impressed and very proud of you all! Is this a walking or drinking holiday we ask? Whatever, we'd be envious if we thought we could manage the walking bit! No comment on the drinking bit! Good luck today, you can do it. Go Go Go!