We decided to walk the West Highland Way again as April weather can be hit or miss in the hills. Therefore, a straightforward walk from bed to bed keeps things simple, no choice but to go each day particularly when you’ve started by driving to Fort William and leaving the car. Yesterday saw us at enjoy a leisurely train journey from Fort William, today the walk back began.
Setting off from Milngavie, we met lots of dog walkers and the odd runner enjoying the trails. The weather was dry, defying the odds of the forecast.
A few miles out, the rain started to spit and the waterproof trousers went on. Thankfully it didn’t come to much, a light shower at worse, clearing quickly. As we progressed the cloud stayed low on the hills nearby and we hoped it would remain there!
Passing by the wee house I noticed the menagerie has grown. They’ve now got a giraffe and a zebra alongside their farm animals!
We were surprised by the number of other folks that were out on the trail. Having usually started on a Saturday we thought it might have been quieter, today being Wednesday.
Our coffee stop was at Turnip the Beet, a wee bit further than the Beech Tree (but in my opinion the better option).
The route to Drymen is a mix of trails with some limited walking on minor roads. We blethered our way along the roads with others, some stopping at Drymen, others like us continuing on.
Bypassing Drymen, we continued on up to the forest, the roadside section thankfully short. The track from the roadside leads onto a good fire road and this makes for easy walking. Drizzle continued and we stopped to shelter under some trees for a quick snack.
We met a group of Nordic walkers out for the day and chatted to them for a bit. They don’t make boots like they used to: one of them said his boots were 40 something years old!
Around this point we had some heavier rain. In the grand scheme of things (and based on the forecast we set off with) it wasn’t too bad at all. Hoods up, waterproofs still on, we continued on in pretty good cheer, optimistic that it might clear for us by the top of Conic Hill.
Wonders will never cease! As we reached the top of the path that bypasses Conic Hill and I stopped to put a plaster on my heel, the clouds parted and Bruce dashed off to get to the high point ahead of the rain coming again. It didn’t. It just got better and better, the sun even came out!
The path builders have done a sterling job creating a path that will avoid erosion on the descent to Balmaha. It looks like work is going to begin on the ascent path soon with bags of boulders and stones laid out on the hillside.
The descent on tired legs needs care to avoid any mishaps. Down, down, down it goes, the great feeling of knowing that a cold beverage of choice awaits pretty much at the bottom.
Final stop: The Oak Tree Inn. Good food, a very comfortable room, couldn’t ask for more.
Clare, happiest outdoors! 