The West Highland Way

Had a great stay at The Garrison Hotel . Enjoyed dinner the night before at a vibrant, buzzing Pizza restaurant. Great food with refectory tables. Got chatting to some interesting fellow travellers.
Slept really well. Wonderful breakfast then did a boat trip on Loch Leven. Really great informative cruise. We saw the start of the Caledonian Canal, salmon farms and mussel farms. We learnt about black houses. These were houses built without roofs and comprising of just 2 rooms. One for a couple of cows and one about 10 foot square for the family. The family would bring their own roof and then pack it with heather to keep it as waterproof as possible and to keep the heat in. The cattle would pee and poo in the other room but their bodies would provide much needed warmth. There was no chimney as this let out the heat. Smoke from the fire , which had to burn all the time through the hard winters, went out through the door. Eventually new houses were built for those living in the black houses but come winter they chose to move back in , cattle and all, as the black houses were warmer. People were living in the black houses until 1974!
Then we learnt more about the Scottish Clearances which was a terrible time for Scotland- both for the working folk and the environment. The Scottish clan leaders forgot their role of protectors to the clans people , took their land away and sent many to Canada and beyond. The ancient woodland was cleared to accommodate sheep and the Clan leaders, now Lairds, became harsh landowners who are still disliked to this day.
We saw a white tailed eagle rare now and protected, and then the seals. We got really close up . Amazing! Then we steered the boat!
A wonderful trip with an engaging and informative skipper!
Lunch and then picked up byAMS. Another attentive and informative driver who used to be in the military, was a sky diver and is an enthusiastic biker. He had also taken part in the run along the West Highland Way that happens every year . Non stop 98 miles beginning at 2.00 am in the morning on the longest day in June! Mad!!
Great to drive back along the route we had walked! So impressive. Pouring with rain now. We were so lucky. It would have been a very different experience if it had rained all the time.
Now at the Glasgow Airport killing time before the flight home.
All good things must come to an end. Here’s to the next adventure!Läs mer