Kinolochleven gives me the best night’s sleep of this journey. I rise feeling more than ready to tackle today’s walk along the Devil’s Staircase route from King’s House back to the village I just spent the night in. My taxi arrives and I take in the majestic Glencoe canyon one last time before being dropped…
Tag: hiking
Rannoch Moor
I wake up feeling different, as though the best version of myself was on display. Strong. Content. Peaceful. Ready. Today I will cross Rannoch Moor. I had absolutely no idea what was ahead of me, but I’ve lived long enough now to recognize that special quality in the air when something magical lies in wait….
The way to Inveroran
Right on queue, I wake up to overcast skies and a light rain falling. I make my way over to the dining area and am delighted to see the older German couple. We talk about the previous days walk, and find out we are all heading to the same place today, Inveroran. The fisherman wife’s…
Walking to Tyndrum
I should add a little context for those following this latest journey along the West Highland Way. My first long distance walking holiday was the Hadrian’s Wall route in Northern England back in 2019. 118 miles walked. That experience made me acutely aware of how this type of walking affects my body in such a…
Pushing onward to Beinglas Farm
Breakfast in Rowardennan introduces me to a lovely French woman and her daughter as well as an older German couple. These two groups have been crossing paths with me since the beginning of my own journey, and it is nice to finally meet them, get to know their names, and a learn a bit about…
Along Loch Lomond shores to Rowardennan
Overcast skies but no rain this morning in Balmaha. After breakfast I walk down to the shoreline to fill my camel back with water for today’s walk. I must look like I know what I’m doing as several people were asking me for route directions and trail conditions this morn. I try to be as…
Over Conic Hill to Balmaha
I wake up more than well rested, and slowly head on over to my hosts breakfast nook attached to the main house. A light rain is falling this morning. A hearty meal of salmon, scrambled eggs and lox more than fill my belly. I eat with three young people from the Netherlands, a married couple…
Milngavie to Dreymen
A rough, mostly sleepless night was not how I envisioned starting my journey along the West Highland Way. This was in part due to nerves, part due to the warmer than usual weather, with a little gastrointestinal distress thrown into the mix for good measure. The food at my first night’s establishment was less than…
Mount Baldy
For years I have read about the trail that cuts through the Mount Baldy wilderness and the surrounding sacred tribal lands. The day had finally come for me to explore the trail myself. I have two options : an eight mile up and back, or a twelve mile loop. I’ve a little over a month…
The Glamper Cabin
Memorial weekend is here, and I wonder where did Spring disappear to so quickly? The warmer temperatures in the Valley drive me northward, destination Flagstaff and the Glamper Cabin for a few days. No TV, internet or distractions. I return to this special spot after a couple of years, this time in the summer instead…
Chesler Park
It was still fairly early as I leave the Slickrock trail and head for the trailhead to Chesler Park, the hike I came all this way out here for. Bouncing slowly along the dirt road for a spell, I finally find the start of the trail. The silence out here is certainly foreboding. I make…
Mesa Arch
There was only one trailhead parking lot area that had an abundance of cars (relatively speaking) in the Island in the Sky district. The trail leading one to Mesa Arch. I bundle up and head on out to see why…. The hike was short, not even 1/4 mile long, so soon I was at the…