Walking Forum

Regions - Trip reports, destination advice, recommended routes, etc. => Scotland => Topic started by: snoopdawg on 13:11:31, 29/07/18

Title: WHW March 2018
Post by: snoopdawg on 13:11:31, 29/07/18
Been a while since I've done a report. In the warm up to do the TGO in May I needed to get some backpacking in to get some mileage into the legs and get used to the load carry again. I decided to do the WHW, a route I hadn't done since 1996. I knew it wouldn't take much planning with it being waymarked all the way and with the provision of shops, no need really to carry more than 2 days supplies at a time. First day began with a train journey up Milngavie and then a visit to Costa for lunch and then it was onward for the first 12 miles to Drymen. I had booked a room at the Drymen Inn for the first night as a storm was predicted and I didn't fancy getting a soaking on the first day. The walk is uneventful, full of dog walkers initially and then farmland and a bit of road before getting to Drymen. The next morning dawned wet after the storm and various parts of the early route were flooded out. Todays destination was Rowchoish bothy. I was going over Conic hill this time as the first time round I gave it a miss due to time restraints. The rain continued through the morning and started to dry out by around 2pm. By late afternoon I was at the bothy and joined 3 German lads who said I was welcome "to stay in the house". Thanks for that.  Later on the 3 of them went for a swim in the loch, in their cotton T shirts and jeans. I went to sleep that night with the sight of steaming clothes by the fire


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From the bothy it was fairly easy going up to the Inversnaid hotel where I took a 5 minute break before continuing on the hard section beyond on which quick progress cannot be made. Passed several teams of bikers on the way lifting bikes over long sections of boulders and ladders. I was heading for Crianlarich YH, having previously booked. Got to the campsite at Beinglas intending to get food only to find it not yet open for the season so it was over to the Drovers inn for dinner before the continuation to Crianlarich.
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Feeling refreshed after the overnight stay at the YH it was back up to the crossroads and onto towards Tyndrum. Only about 16 miles today to the overnight camp at Inveroran, in the event it tuned out to be a lazy day with two coffee stops. Got the first one at Strathfillan camp site and then onwards to Tyndrum for the second before the 6 mile walk up Bridge of Orchy and then over the top to Inveroran before the overnight camp beyond the hotel.
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Morning visitor to the tent. Another fine day and up onto Rannoch moor where I met the first WHW walker I had come across. Down to the Kingshouse, now in ruins, for dinner break on the river bank behind the hotel, an old camping spot. Then it was on over the devils staircase and down the long descent to Kinlochleven, a part which I found the hardest part, rough on the feet and tiring. Booked into the camping area at The Macdonald hotel.
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The last day was wet and it was wet gear that got packed away. It was the final stage to FW where I was booked into a backpackers hostel. Very uneventful, looking at the feet most of the way. Got FW around 2pm and went straight to the hostel to get booked in, only to find that you cant book in till 5pm, there was a sign saying you could shower while waiting so it was all the wet gear out to the tiny drying room and then a warm shower.
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Title: Re: WHW March 2018
Post by: bricam2096 on 15:03:03, 29/07/18
Always nice to read peoples accounts of the WHW  O0

Yes, I got caught out by the Fort William backpackers hostel not being open until 5pm as well the first time I stayed there. On stays earlier in the year in FW I have found the Travelodge and Premier Inn to be only a few quid extra which is well worth it for the privacy, comfort, en suite, earlier check in etc etc.

The section about Inversnaid, I hate it and would happily bypass the whole section if I could  O0

I found March to be a great time to do the walk as the hills still have plenty of snow on them around you and only on a couple of places did I actually walk on any of it.
Title: Re: WHW March 2018
Post by: sunnydale on 14:33:13, 30/07/18
Some cracking photos there s.d.  Love the pic of the jetty & boat with the mountains behind 8)
Title: Re: WHW March 2018
Post by: staggerindragon on 05:27:25, 31/07/18
Aw, nuts.  Didn't know about King's House.  Glad I stayed before it became another boo-tique hostelry I can't afford.


Thanks for sharing your gorgeous photos and report. 
Title: Re: WHW March 2018
Post by: madame cholet on 05:48:14, 31/07/18
Stunning photos thanks
Title: Re: WHW March 2018
Post by: April on 08:28:07, 31/07/18
Wow, stunning photos  O0
Title: Re: WHW March 2018
Post by: pdstsp on 19:33:42, 27/08/18
Stunning pictures!
Title: Re: WHW March 2018
Post by: Jac on 07:55:27, 28/08/18
Great pics. Brought back some good memories :) though from too many years ago.
Title: Re: WHW March 2018
Post by: richardh1905 on 08:11:19, 28/08/18
A good read and some smashing photos there, snoopdawg  O0
Title: Re: WHW March 2018
Post by: PhilD on 21:08:34, 13/09/18
Apologies for the late reply to your Original posting, having just joined though is my excuse


What a great walk report with some fab pics, I did the WHW around 20 years ago in early June, a memory that will stay with me forever was waking very early, 5am getting out my tent and being bombardsed by midges, after 20 mins of attack I’d had enough and set off early towaards Ranoch Moor, it was a beautiful spring morning with a little mist very eerie if I’m honest. Anyway id been in the moor about an hour when I looked to the left, around 200M away was the biggest stag I’d ever seen, it seemed to follow me for around 1/2 a mile, luckily he must have got bored but my pace was a little faster than normal while he followed me


Anyway, very jealous and a walk I’d love to repeat one day
Title: Re: WHW March 2018
Post by: jj99 on 13:41:13, 23/10/18
The snow on the hills adds an extra dimension to the pictures - but I love the picture of the deer best of all. Was it scrounging?I headed south from Lundavra to Rannoch Moor in May - against the massive flow of walkers heading for Fort William. All the people on the trail made it a nightmare, but from reading your report you picked one of the best times to go by avoiding the throngs. Nice one.