Ben Macdui and Cairngorm from Aviemore

A weekend in Aviemore, camping at Rothiemurchus. We caught the bus from Aviemore to the Ski-Centre Saturday morning. Climbed Ben Macdui and Cairngorm then finished back at the Ski Centre, caught bus back to the campsite.

Munros included on this walk: Ben Macdui, Cairn Gorm
Date walked: 19/07/2014
Time taken: 6.5 hours
Distance: 17.5 km
Ascent: 932m

The Moray Coast Trail - Sun, Sand & Seagulls

The Moray Coastal Trail is a waymarked long distance trail in north-east Scotland that covers almost the entire 50 miles of Moray's coast, linking the settlements (Forres, Kinloss, Findhorn, Burghead, Hopeman, Lossiemouth, Kingston, Garmouth, Spey Bay, Portgordon, Buckie, Findochty and Portknockie) between Forres and Cullen. My friend and I walked the trail over 3 days and 2 nights, staying overnight at campsites.

Date walked: 11/07/2014
Time taken: 3 days
Distance: 88 km

White mounth munros circuit from Ballater

Munros included on this walk:
Broad Cairn, Cairn Bannoch, Carn a'Choire Bhoidheach, Carn an t-Sagairt Mor, Lochnagar
Date walked: 07/07/2014
Time taken: 11 hours
Distance: 29 km
Ascent: 1228m

I completed the White Mounth Munros circuit in bust boots, started from Ballater and walked 8 miles out to Glen Muick. From Glen Muick I wandered 2 miles along Loch Muick to Glas-allt-shiel bothy where I had lunch before starting the big ascent by the waterfall to bag Lochnagar, Carn a' Choire Bhoidheach, Carn an t-Sagairt Mor, Cairn Bannoch and Broad Cairn.

It took me 11 hours in total, I must have walked about 26 miles, a long day but got great weather for it which was a bonus. I had the mountains all to myself only passing 1 person who was out for a jog. I had planned to make it back to Ballater for the last bus but later realised there was no way that was happening. Luckily I managed to get a phone signal and called a mate to come and pick me up, which cost £30 for the privilege. If I had known it was going to take me as long then I would have brought my camping gear.

Loch Ness 360

A 79 mile (approx) walk around Loch Ness
starting from, and finishing at Inverness Castle.
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After an un-satisfying 7 day trek of the Rob Roy Way, a wet and wearisome experience, another short hike was required to lift the spirits.

Initially I was considering the Trail of 7 Lochs, a 50 mile long distance route which runs in a circuit between South Loch Ness and the East Highlands.

I soon stumbled upon a webpage documenting the Loch Ness 360 trail, a 79 mile (approx) walk around Loch Ness starting from, and finishing at Inverness Castle.

As I had previously done the Great Glen Way and parts of the South Loch Ness Trail, I already knew most of the route and the hike would be easy to follow.

The Rob Roy Way in 6 days

The Rob Roy Way is a Scottish long distance footpath that runs from Drymen to Pitlochry. The path was created in 2002 and runs for 92 miles. The route crosses the Highland Boundary Fault, a geological fault where the Highlands meet the Lowlands

 

Photo album
https://get.google.com/albumarchive/100408387173570597610/album/AF1QipOTGPf-oW072Jkj63PKqphasek4qmKsTGFDARxL

After walking the Great Glen Way, The West Highland Way, The East Highland Way, The Speyside Way, The Formartine & Buchan Way, The Deeside Way and The Three Lochs Way, the next long distance route would be the Rob Roy Way.

The original plan was to walk the full 94 miles, from Drymen to Pitlochry via Amulree, but things didn't go quite to plan (do they ever?) and we ended up walking the 77 mile route, adding on an extra 12 miles by starting from Milngavie on the West Highland Way.

Personally I would of quite happily walked the extra miles to Amulree but my hiking buddy was on holiday in Scotland and felt there would be no time left to relax after a days walk. So be it.

Southern Upland Way - Portpatrick to Bargrennan

The Southern Upland Way is Britain's first official coast to coast long distance foot-path. It runs 212 miles (340 km) from Portpatrick on the south-west coast of Scotland to Cockburnspath on the eastern seaboard. It offers superb and varied walking country, still undiscovered by many enthusiasts.

Photo Gallery
https://get.google.com/albumarchive/100408387173570597610/album/AF1QipNqNjv0QYWg_Lo5Agzf6u13HswLSrU9gNqoXJKF

Friday 16 May 2014 - Portpatrick to Knockquhassen Reservoir
The old man (my father) dropped us off at Portpatrick Harbour about half past 3.  We took a few snaps before making our way up the cliffs.  We walked along the coastal path for about two and a half hours before following the minor road for the rest of the way.  It turned out to be a nice evening.

We continued walking late into the evening and eventually about 9pm we came across Knockquhassen Reservoir which turned out to be a good spot for some wild camping. 

Saturday 17 May 2014 - Knockquhassen Reservoir to Beehive Bothy
We were up at the crack of dawn, the rain had appeared overnight, light showers mostly.  We took down the tents and got everything packed away before making our way to the anglers hut to make Breakfast.  We set off in the rain, returning to the Southern Upland route.  The rain soon calmed down and it stayed dry for the rest of the day.

A couple of hours passed and we reached the outskirts of Stranraer, then it was minor roads and some woodland trails before arriving at Castle Kennedy. 

Once at Castle Kennedy we stopped for supplies at the Petrol Station before making our way down to Castle Kennedy Gardens, where we had lunch.

We soon made a start on the long hike to Beehive Bothy, passing through some boggy fields, woodland and moorland.  We saw some old farmhouse ruins.  We eventually reached Beehive Bothy around 7.30pm, in plenty of time to get organised and have a bite to eat before dark.  Nobody else was around. 
It soon got dark and we attempted to get a small fire going.

Sunday 18 May 2014 - Beehive Bothy to Bargrennan
Up bright are early, we had a quick Coffee in the bothy before heading off on the next stretch towards Bargrennan.  It had stayed dry through the night and for the remainder of the day.  The path through the forest in the next section was difficult to follow due to missing waymarkers in the demolished forest.

The Three Lochs Way to the West Highland Way

Friday 2 May 2014

Four of us met at The Horse Shoe Bar in Glasgow on Friday afternoon.
We visited a couple more bars and had some food before catching the train to Balloch where the walk starts. Having no idea where we were going to camp on the first night, the best idea was simply to head into a bar in Balloch, get tanked up and forget that we were camping.  The DogsHouse Bar seemed as good a place as any, as we ended up spending most of the night there before stumbling our way out with our rucksacks, having no clue where we were going to end up!

Balloch Country Park became our campsite for the night, two of us by the river where the ground was boggy and the other two,  further into the woods where the ground was dryer and where we could be out of view from the public eye.  (I am pleased to annouce that I was part of the latter two!)    :D
It was mostly dry through the night with some light rain.

Saturday 3 May 2014

Up bright and early (and very hungover) we re-grouped and got some supplies at the local corner shop before heading down to the start of the walk by Loch Lomond Pier.  My mate's buddy decided he'd had enough already and made his way back to the train station, leaving just three of us. 

Leaving Balloch behind, we head for the Hills, towards our first port of call, Helensburgh.  It stayed fairly dry in the morning with some light showers later on.
It was a trek over some open hills, across some moorland and through some woodland, including a steep muddy hill and a deforested area before a long dwindling descent down into Helensburgh, arriving in time for lunch. 

After a well earned rest and an enjoyable lunch at Weatherspoons, we set off towards Gairlochhead, amid lots of Hills.  The best way to deal with the hills is just to think about the amount of calories you're losing without having to go to the gym. 
As we head away from Helensburgh we passed some Woods, farmland and moorland before following a minor road towards Gairlochhead, taking us onto the American Road which surrounds the MOD military training area.

Once arriving in Gairlochhead the next task was to find somewhere to camp, but not before a drink or two at The Anchor Inn.  Also phone charging time before heading to camp.
A pint or two later and after speaking to Anchor Inn staff about suitable places to camp, (apparently none)  we head over to the river at the other side of the loch, which was pretty much a perfect little location for a wild camp, although the local kids playing nearby could have been a little more welcoming instead of shouting "happy camping, hope you get p*ssed on!".  Charming!

It was a peaceful night, it rained through most of it but I slept like a log since I never got much sleep the previous night.  It wasn't long before first light and we got up and had some Breakfast (Porridge & Coffee) before packing up again, making our way about 9am and spotting a wild Bear across the river! It looked hungry.

Sunday 4 May 2014

We went to the village shop for supplies then made our way back up to the american road, we still had a good few miles to walk through the military training area, before our first views of Loch Long.
After a long hilly viewless walk in heavy rain and mist, we finally arrived at the village of Arrochar by Loch Long. We head to the Ben Arthur Bothy to put our feet up, certainly the most luxurious bothy I have ever encountered!  We had a few drinks and a meal before deciding to retire for the day due to unforseen RAIN!! ...and pure laziness.
While in the bar, we got chatting to one of the local B & B owners who offered us beds for £25.00 per person.  Having no idea where we were going to camp that night we decided some Bed & Breakfast would be in our best interest.  We could dry our clothes, shower and just chill for the rest of the evening. 

Monday 5 May 2014

Went downstairs for a fantastic cooked Breakfast plus Cereal, Toast, Coffee, Orange Juice... the works!  Great start to the day, and I must use this opportunity to give the [b]Rowantreebank[/b] a mention.  It wasn't the best accommodation I have encountered, the bathroom light didn't work, the ceiling was stained, but it was still better than a wet tent. (and the breakfast made up for its faults)
[url]http://www.rowantreebank.co.uk[/url]

After breakfast we took a walk over to Arrochar & Tarbet station to see Pete off, he had to leave us, expecting to have completed the walk the day before.  There were now just the two of us with the last 6 miles to Inveruglas to complete.

We head off from Arrochar & Tarbet station into the woods taking us round the outskirts of Arrochar with some fine views of Ben Arthur (The Cobbler) and the Arrochar Alps.

After our visit to Inveruglas Pier, we walked 6 miles back to Arrochar & Tarbet station, plus an extra 2 miles to Tarbet Pier where we camped by Loch Lomond.  We waited for it to start getting darkish before pitching the tents so we didn't offend any locals.

In the morning my mate caught the train from Arrochar &  Tarbet Station back to Glasgow while I caught the Waterbus across Loch Lomond to Rowardennan where my plan was to join the West Highland Way, where I would reach Fort William by the following Sunday and head home on the Monday.  Unfortunately due to horrendous rain,  I got as far as Tyndrum before calling it a day, catching the next bus and heading home on the Wednesday afternoon/evening. 

photo gallery here>
https://get.google.com/albumarchive/100408387173570597610/album/AF1QipMyQHG2wYqNjOcIIPM-vlDN0pD1jPuIyKh6QqlU