In the Beginning

West Highland Way 2009

The Journey Day by Day by Brian and Carrie Ross

In the Beginning

Brian, photographer is in full remission still and I, author, wife, grandmother Carrie have still retained some fitness from the Coast to Coast. To get an insight into why we began climbing hills rather than lying on a beach, read the Coast to Coast diary first.

Having learnt much from the C2C, I approached this walk with the same emphasis on research. Brian had walked the WHW before, and knew that the Kingshouse Hotel would be the potential bottle-neck, so I booked that first.

The WHW is just under 100 miles, about half as long as the C2C. Therefore, how long to take was easy to work out, 7 days. As we wanted B&Bs all the way, we were limited with where to stop; it is not simply an equal 14 miles a day. The next question, WHEN, was governed by an already full calendar and the dreaded midges. We decided to go for the first week of June, when the whole Way is open and before the main midge season. I read every on-line journal, searched Tripadvisor for B&B reviews and booked. I decided against Sherpa as they only transport luggage from Drymen and we wanted to walk the whole route; so we elected for Travel-Lite as they are based at Milngavie (pronounced Moolguy). Transport back appeared easy, with a choice of bus or train back to Glasgow from Fort William.

Never having been to Glasgow, we decided to spend the weekend there before starting off. There was just one small problem left, how could I watch my beloved Chelsea in the English cup final whilst in the centre of Glasgow when Rangers were playing in the Scottish cup final on the same day? The Scottish Tourist Board came up trumps, pointing us to a sports bar called Europa in the city centre. We were ready.

Travel-Lite web address: http://www.travel-lite-uk.com

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5 Mugdock Road, Milngavie
G62 8PD

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