Clive – Page 770 – Clive's Blog

West Highland Way Day 4 – Inversnaid to Crainlarich

12 October 2011 / Photography, Travel, Walking / coffee, Golite Jam 2, hiking, iPhone, iPhone camera apps, iPhone photography, Scotland, walking, West Highland Way

It is now about 3.30pm and we are about four miles away from Crainlarich on the old military road – and the path is such that I can write this whilst walking.

The first five miles of the day were some of the most difficult we will have to walk this week. A narrow fractured, undulating path, where you had to watch where you walked. It took us over three hours to cover five miles. It was similar terrain for the end of yesterday and that too slowed down our progress. This afternoon once we reached the military road our pace picked up.

We had some great views this morning over the loch and even found somewhere to get coffee, Beinglas Farm.

Another thing we saw (and smelt) were goats along the side of the loch, and you really could smell them before you saw them!

West Highland Way Day 4 – Inversnaid to Crainlarich Read More »

The Saga of my iPhone Phone Speaker Continues…

10 October 2011 / Technology / iPhone, iPhone problems

It is working again!

I have done nothing to try and fix the problem since last Thursday evening – but it works again.

I think it is time an “Apple Genius” had a look at it – I’ll go to an Apple shop when I get home from the walk.

The Saga of my iPhone Phone Speaker Continues… Read More »

Inversnaid Bunkhouse

10 October 2011 / Photography, Travel, Walking / hiking, iPhone, iPhone photography, Scotland, walking, West Highland Way

The bunkhouse is a converted church, with a mezzanine floor, which is the dining room/common room. As part of the conversion they have retained the stained glass.

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West Highland Way Day 3 – Sallochy Bay to Inversnaid

10 October 2011 / Photography, Travel, Walking / Golite Jam 2, hiking, iPhone, iPhone camera apps, iPhone photography, Scotland, tea, walking, West Highland Way

The rucksack is heavier today, as we are carrying our overnight stuff, food and equipment we need for tomorrow, because we are not having our case transported today (it costs too much to ship it to Inversnaid). It was because of this extra load that, at the last minute, I decided to bring and use my Golite Jam backpack. The Jam has a very good compression system so it makes a very comfortable daypack for the other days. The large external pocket is particularly useful for my waterproofs, sitmat and gortex gaiters.

To start the walking day we have a taxi ride to Sallochy Bay, where we finished yesterday – I know exactly which rock I was sitting on when the taxi came and that is my starting point for the day.

No 3G signal today so the post is being made from the Inversnaid Bunkhouse, where we are staying tonight. It is a converted church. The room is OK, but we have not yet found a kettle so it looks like if we want a cup of tea we have to buy it – we will ask later.

The walk today was great – we followed the banks of Loch Lomond all day, so it was an easy 10 mile jaunt, the long days start tomorrow. There was plenty of sun today and some great looming clouds and mists.

Tomorrow we needed an early start but breakfast does not start until 8am – we will have to manage.

West Highland Way Day 3 – Sallochy Bay to Inversnaid Read More »

BBC Weather

10 October 2011 / Travel, Walking / hiking, iPhone photography, Scotland, walking, West Highland Way

Just getting ready for the day and of course we watched the BBC weather.

Look no rain.

BBC Weather Read More »

The Clachan Inn, Drymen

9 October 2011 / Travel, Walking / Drymen, iPhone photography, Scotland, West Highland Way

We are having our evening meal at The Clachan Inn, Drymen – Richard reliably informs me this is the old licensed public house in Scotland.

The food was excellent – I had the Chef’s special lamb burger followed by hot chocolate fudge cake and ice cream. Having to return to Drymem because we could not get accommodation further down the walk has worked out for the best.

Drymen has:

a large amount of accommodation covering all price brackets – but I think you should book with Carol at Elmbank
lots of places to eat
a Spar store with long opening hours – being a village store it is small but stocked with all sorts of things – Richard bought some glue there
the taxi firm in the village will run you around – it cost us £15 to get back this evening – and they have taken a booking for tomorrow to take us back

So my suggestion is forget Rowardennan and stay two nights in Drymen at Elmbank.

The Clachan Inn, Drymen Read More »

West Highland Way Day 2 – Drymen to Sallochy Bay (and back by taxi)

9 October 2011 / Photography, Travel, Walking / coffee, Golite Jam 2, hiking, iPhone, iPhone camera apps, iPhone photography, Scotland, tea, walking, West Highland Way

Small change of plan today, we have shortened today’s walk (to save on the taxi fare!) but what it really means is that day three will be a ten mile day rather than seven.

The accommodation here in Drymen is very good, we have a three bedroom apartment, all the bedrooms and living room have flat screen TVs, the kitchen is well supplied with tea,coffee, milk and the makings for breakfast. There is central heating, and two shower rooms. Richard has done really well to find this place. It has allowed us to sort ourselves out following the first days shake down walk. (Parrot count so far zero – see our Coast to Coast blog.)

We booked our taxi back last night with a local taxi company here in Drymen.

Before starting we watched Jensen Button win the Japanese Grand Prix.

The Pottery pub where we had dinner last night – the photo was shot just before setting off today – blogging in the rain again, at least for the first part of the day – that’s my positive attitude showing through.