The Slackers West Highland Way Diary Day 1 and 2

Day 1 – Milngavie to Drymen

Miles: 12

Accommodation : Ashbank B&B

Star Rating **** (would recommend)

As myself and Charlie had only done 3 legs of the WHW last year to John,s 6 legs (end to end)  , we thought we had  better get the whole thing done this year to get rid of “The Slackers tag” that has been associated with us all year.

We started our walk on a lovely Sunday Morning, the initial walk out of Milngavie isn’t to impressive , but it soon opens up to some better looking surroundings, at approx 12:30 we arrived at the Glengoyne Distillery, where we enjoyed a few free samples of the local produce.

                                         Slackers at Milngavie start of the way

Left the the Distillery and walked about ½ mile to the Beech Tree Inn for our first pint of Guinness  not bad we had walked about 6 miles so needed a pint.

After leaving the pub the shone broke through and the afternoon stroll was indeed very pleasant next stop was at Gartness, a pretty little hamlet with a high bridge over Endrick Water, where they had an  honesty shop outside one of the houses.

                                                  Honesty Shop at Gartness

From here the walk into Drymen is pretty straight forward, we reached Drymen in good time and our B&B accommodation was fantastic.

                                                           The Follower

                                        

Whilst sitting at the Pub in Drymen enjoying the evening sun, we met for the first time (but certainly not he last) the team from Forfar aka the Forfar Bridies,this team of ladies (and George) have our utmost respect for getting to the end. Well Done !!!

We would share some fun times with the Forfar Bridies enroute but alas I never got a picture of them on the trail as they were too fast for us, so if you read this send me a pic for the blogJ

Day 2 – Drymen to Rowardennan

Miles 14

Accommadation – Rowardennan Youth Hostel

Star Rating * (Turkish Jail Cell)

Lovely morning for leaving Drymen, although rain was forecast for later in the Day, had a fantastic breakfast at the B&B, over which we met Julie and Eileen (the borders beauties :-) ) two nurses from the Borders , we walked together for the fisrt part of the walk out of Drymen towards Garadhban Forest, here we parted company as the girls were machine like when it came to walking (not Slackers like us).

                                          Julie and Eileen

                                                                                   

We made our way towards Connich Hill a steep wee climb but with some fantastic views of Loch Lomond worth the climb..

                                           Loch lomond from Connich hIll

As we were descending into Balmaha for lunch at the Oaktree Inn, we met John and Christine Gillan,who were out for an afternoon stroll, Christine had worked at Golden Casket in Greenock for many years, was nice to meet you.... btw we made it J

                                          John and Christine on Connich Hill             

    

After Lunch we made our way out of Balmaha past the Marina enroute to Rowardennan.

                                         Balmaha Marina Loch Lomond

Before long we had reach the shoreline path round towards Millorochy Bay on the east side of loch Lomond, where not long after these pictures where taken it started to rain ..heavily

Shore line East side Loch Lomond

Before long we had arrived in the forest path near to our Hostel,

                                                      
                                          Charlie and John on Approach to Rowardennan

The Hostel itself from the outside is magnificent and set in magnificent surroundings too , however inside it wasn’t the best, more like a Turkish jail cell.

The cooked (uncooked) breakfast was the worst we ever had shockingly bad and at £80 for 4 excl Breakfast not good value…so long fairwell never again.

Dinner at the Hotel was good (steak pie and we were starving) and again we met the Forfar team and Juile and Eileen all pretty wiped out after a hard days walking.