Day 42: Horton-in-Ribblesdale to Malham ? 23.60km ?812m Felt pretty hungry when I woke this morning, so gradually ate breakfast a bit at a time as we packed up. Only felt able to eat a bit at a time, not huge appetite like normal, despite the hunger. We got going at 0730 and left Malham for the long ascent to… Read More »Up hill, down dale
Day 36: Greenhead to Alston ? 30.54km ?848m We were looking forward to a relatively easy day, expecting about 26km and 600m ascent. Not sure where the extra came from, and the conditions underfoot were not easy although at least mostly dry. There were also a lot of gates and stiles as we passed through a lot of sheep grazing… Read More »The real highest point!
Day 30: Just outside West Linton to an Orchard near Innerleithen ? 40.30km ?571m It was a beautiful morning but we were under house arrest by the midges. Katie nipped out for a wee first thing and quite a few followed her back in. We packed up, surrounded, and made haste! Ironically, after being relieved to leave the tarmac behind… Read More »Blisters in the Borders
Day 24: Strathfillan Wigwams Campsite to Beinglas Farm Campsite ? 15.94km ?397m It was raining when my first alarm went off at 0600. It was raining when my second alarm went off at 0630. It was raining every 10 minutes that I snoozed the alarm for an hour. Eventually, at 0730, it wasn’t raining and we decided it was probably… Read More »“You’re going the wrong way”
Day 21: Fort William to Kinlochleven ? 22km ?167m Today we started the West Highland Way going southbound. Established in 1980, it starts in Milgavie, north west of Glasgow, and finishes in Fort William and is 96 miles long. It is a well established route and very popular, but we would be walking against the crowds. We woke early and… Read More »“Oh you’re one of those”
Day 20: Zero in Fort William We had our first ‘zero’ today in Fort William and had a few tasks to complete in town. We were staying at a campsite out of town so we walked about 3km, taking the scenic route rather than the road, and arrived just as the post office opened. I collected our packages whilst Katie… Read More »Fort William ‘zero’ day, and gear changes
Day 16: Glen Affric to Cluanie Inn ? 11.34 ?242m We left Glen Affric knowing that we only had 10 or so km to cover, with not too much ascent, to get to our overnight stop at the Cluanie Inn. I was looking forward to a beer! ? The route, for some unknown reason, took a marginal short cut through… Read More »Mountains, midges, and a milestone
Day 10: Strath Mulzie to Inverlael ? 13.85 ?310m We woke in a cloud filled valley and packed up a very wet tent and donned full waterproofs before setting off. The cloud lifted with us as we climbed out of the valley and we were soon stopping to peel a layer off, then stopping again to peel another layer off… … Read More »Antlers, lochs and (possible) falling rocks
Day 4: Dalnawillan Lodge to Knockfin ? 22.5km ?447m Weather wasn’t too bad today, on and off sun/showers all morning then the afternoon was mostly sun/cloud with the odd light sprinkle. The track passed a couple of derelict lodges before leading us past the Glutt Lodge by Glutt Water (a tributary from source that feeds the Thurso) where we filled… Read More »A tale of Lodges, a Bothy, and an Inn.