WHW

On Easter weekend in 2016 I enacted a vague plan to ride some trails in the Scottish highlands. I decided to start on the West Highland Way and then head over to Loch Ossian. I stupidly took my laptop with the intention of working on the train!

Day 1 (afternoon) - Milngavie to Inversnaid: I got off the train from London at lunch time and got straight onto the local train to Milngavie to start riding about 2pm. There was non-stop rain and I was glad to have full waterproofs (including SealSkinz socks). I just followed the trail signs and avoided taking photos. I assumed that Conic Hill near Balmaha would be a waste of time given the weather so skipped it. Eventually rain hitting my face seeped all the way to my feet. I got to the Inversnaid Bunk House around 5pm then had a good 3 course dinner in the bistro. The hostel was a former methodist chapel and had a friendly manager.

Day 2 - Inversnaid to Glen Coe youth hostel: I was excited to see it wasn't raining when I set out around 9am. The section north of Inversnaid until the bothy at Doune involved more carrying than expected, even though I'd read this would be so. At Inverarnan I was behind schedule so decided to do the gentle drag to Crianlarich on the road. This was scary but allowed a leisurely lunch! I missed the small hill just after the Bridge of Orchy and went over Rannoch Moor. I arrived at the Glen Coe youth hostel and my room mate kindly invited me to share his bolognese.

Day 3 - Glen Coe to Loch Ossian: I returned to the West Highland Way from the youth hostel and climbed over to Glen Nevis, where there are some fun trails descending down to Fort William. I had originally intended to ride across to Loch Trieg without descending to Fort William. However, the manager of the youth hostel at Glen Coe persuaded me that route would be boggy and no fun. I think that was good advice with hindsight and meant I could ride more trails at Glen Nevis then lie down in the sun which had finally appeared. I then took the train round to Corrour and stayed at Loch Ossian youth hostel.

Approaching Glen Nevis (looking back on the path)

Apporaching Glen Nevis

Loch Ossian

Loch Ossian Hostel

Metal-on-metal braking by end of Sunday. I had exactly one spare.