After a moderately peaceful night camping by the River Tay and the B846, I leave Aberfeldy on the riverside path to follow the Rob Roy Way to Pitlochry where I finish this 6 day trip. 9.5 miles, easy day.
I already walked the next section between Pitlochry and Blair Atholl the previous year, in reverse order so decided to skip it this time round and start the next 6 day expedition from Blair Atholl. However, just for a bit of fun I threw together a video of the section, walking in reverse motion from Pitlochry to Blair Atholl!
I cover the next 20 miles between Glen Almond and Aberfeldy, joining back up with the Rob Roy Way (Amulree alternative) and passing Loch Freuchie. I stop for Noodles at a random shooting hut before descending into Aberfeldy where I set up camp by the River Tay.
Comrie (Water of Ruchill) to Glen Almond - 16 miles/11 hours
Following the Walkhighlands description I continue on the trail towards Loch Freuchie, re-joining the Rob Roy Way at Glen Almond. I pass through the village of Comrie for supplies and quick lunch stop before heading back into the hills. I spend the evening camping in the beautiful Glen Almond. 16 miles approx.
On day 3, I cover the next 13 miles of the trail between Loch Venachar (near Callander) and Comrie.
I lose track of the official route at Auchinner farm and find myself following the minor road, on the wrong side of the river (Water of Ruchill) towards Comrie. Luckily I find a church and after a small prayer I am presented with an excellent camping spot by the Water Of Ruchill, a few miles short of Comrie.
Drymen to Loch Venachar/Callander - 18 miles/10 hours
On the second day of my trip, I walked approximately 18 miles between Drymen and Callander, passing through the small town of Aberfoyle. I later found a nice camping spot by Loch Venachar (2 miles from Callander) but had to pay for the privilege of using it due to the new Loch Lomond National Park byelaws.
The Scottish National Trail is a 536 mile/864 km-long long distance
walking route running the length of Scotland from Kirk Yetholm to Cape
Wrath. The Trail offers very varied walking, following
long-established footpaths for much of the distance but becoming
progressively more difficult as it heads north, finishing with a tough
stretch of backpacking - with some pathless and demanding terrain - on
the final stretch of the Cape Wrath Trail.
In Summer 2017 I spent several weeks completing sections of the Scottish National Trail.
My
original plan for 2017 was to backpack the whole of the trail but due
to lack of funding I could only manage sections where wild camping was
an option. I aim to complete the remaining sections, through the Scottish Borders and The North Highlands in Summer 2018.
I ventured out on three separate occasions and completed the route over the course of 15 days, as follows:
Trip 1 - Blair Atholl to Fort Augustus (6 days, 5 nights) Trip 2 - Milngavie to Pitlochry (6 days, 5 nights) (skipped Pitlochry to Blair Atholl because I made a video last year) Trip 3 - Fort Augustus to Morvich (5 days, 5 nights)
Along the way I made a video diary/vblog which you can view here on my blog page.
Day 1
On the first day of the trail, I set off from Milngavie along the West Highland Way. Upon reaching Drymen I stopped for supplies at the store before heading to a woodland area where I set up camp for the first night.
