BS: West Highland Way

Subject: BS: West Highland Way
From: Sir Roger de Beverley
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 03:52 AM

I'll be walking the WHW with my son from Sat 1st May until Weds 5th May.

Can anyone suggest good places to stay (and maybe even get in a bit of singing)on that route. I'm booked into Milngavie on the Friday night before we start but nothing yet after that.

Roger

Subject: RE: BS: West Highland Way
From: Oaklet
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 05:20 AM

Mamore Lodge at Kinlochleven and the Youth Hostel at Rowadennan on Loch Lomond were good. The Kings House in Glencoe is good and the bunkhouse at the pub in Bridge of Orchy is terrific. We missed the hotel at the top of Loch Lomond which reputedly had music and more than enough stuffed animals.

Good luck Roger.

Subject: RE: BS: West Highland Way
From: Sir Roger de Beverley
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 05:47 AM

Many thanks for that. I've been looking on the WHW website for places to stay but it helps to have more info.

R

Subject: RE: BS: West Highland Way
From: MC Fat
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 08:13 AM

The Hotel at the top of the Loch would that be Ardlui ?

Subject: RE: BS: West Highland Way
From: Sir Roger de Beverley
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 08:17 AM

bloody hard lui I would think

R

Subject: RE: BS: West Highland Way
From: Grab
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 12:09 PM

My memory is 10 years back now, so this may be out of date! :-) And I don't know about the singing either bcos I wasn't into folk music then.

Rowardennan hostel is a good choice, especially if you're camping - it's a good stop to dry out and wash clothes. I'd previously stayed at the campsite at Balmaha with my folks, and it's *very* midgy - beware. In fact, Scotland is generally midgy, so don't forget to bring mosquito coil to burn in your tent. If you shut the doors and burn an inch or so of coil, it'll kill all the little beasties that came in the tent with you, and you can stay midge-free (at least until you get up next morning).

At the top of the loch there's a shortage of camping. There's a place further back down the W side of the loch past Ardlui, but that's a bit of a pain (although I was lucky and managed to get a lift). IIRC there's a bothy a bit further on up that end of the loch which would be an option, and I think there's a B&B there as well. The lochside isn't easy walking so don't plan for a long day there.

There's a shortage of stops across Rannoch Moor, but if you've got the cash then the Kingshouse Hotel is your best bet. I just stuck my tent outside the (locked) university climbing hut just up the hill from the hotel (there's a stream behind the hut for washing and stuff). Rannoch Moor is a wide cart-track and easy going, so if the weather's good then you can make good time and do a long day there. Or you could cut it short at Bridge of Orchy, but then you've got a very long day to Kinlochleven.

Not an end-of-day stop, but there was a good transport caff at the station at Crianlarich.

And there was one campsite, I think at Kinlochleven, which had a sauna and pool. Very nice after a long day, or to wake up the next day.

I really do envy you - I've got to go back there sometime. As far as I'm concerned, the best place in the world is the top of the ridge over into the Kingshouse bit of Rannoch Moor - the view down the valley is heartbreakingly beautiful.

Graham.

Subject: RE: BS: West Highland Way
From: GUEST,Shlio
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 04:23 PM

I'm probably walking the WHW in summer, so please post back and tell us how it goes.

The only thing that might stop the walk is various members of the family been worried about the midges - they're generally murderous around that area. I remember a few years ago trying to pack up a tent early morning - we were breathing the darned things.
Oh - and we need more walking practice first. I haven't done any serious walking since last summer.

Subject: RE: BS: West Highland Way
From: LadyJean
Date: 17 Apr 04 - 01:08 AM

Pat a Westie for me, meaning, of course a west highland white terrier.

Subject: RE: BS: West Highland Way
From: Sir Roger de Beverley
Date: 06 May 04 - 09:50 AM

Have now successfully finished the walk. We did it rather too fast for comfort as I had to get back to work - the 27 mile section from Tyndrum to Kinlochleven was a killer but we did it in 9 hours flat.

the weather was generally good and there were no midges. I can recommend the beer from the Atlas microbrewery in Kinlochleven - they have it in the Nevisport Bar in Fort William

Roger

Subject: RE: BS: West Highland Way
From: GUEST,Shlio
Date: 06 May 04 - 05:43 PM

Congratulations. I just hope the midges don't return for the summer...

Subject: RE: BS: West Highland Way
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 06 May 04 - 05:46 PM

My Liege, did you finish the traditional way - by doing Ben Nevis? If so was there snow on the top?

Subject: RE: BS: West Highland Way
From: Sir Roger de Beverley
Date: 07 May 04 - 03:22 AM

There was quite a bit of snow on Ben Nevis and several other peaks. However, we admired it from the distance of the Nevisport Bar.

R

Subject: RE: BS: West Highland Way
From: GUEST,Scabby Douglas
Date: 07 May 04 - 05:02 AM

The midges normally get into their stride from mid-summer, so this was probably a good time to have done the walk.


Well done...

Subject: RE: BS: West Highland Way
From: John J
Date: 07 May 04 - 07:33 AM

Well done Roger. We're off up to Scotland for a bit of a walk next week, I can't wait!

John