Author Topic: Mad Dog and an Englishman go walking . . The West Highland Way in November  (Read 7090 times)

Cairn hopper

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Nice update. Keep it coming. Hopefully you didn't feel you might end up stuffed in the Drovers Inn lol.

IanyZen

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Day Five  - Crianlarich to Bridge of Orchy
 
No better way to start the day with black pudding & sausages .. yummy. I’m buzzing.
Ducking, diving, weaving, leaping, sprinting, dodging, slipping, sliding . . such fun. The conifer plantation with spongy floor, slippery leaves & soft paths was the best playground ever & with the low branches there was no following or catching me. This was heaven.
 :smitten:
I skimmed across the path so Ian could catch a glimpse to shut him up from whistling me when I was out of sight… I’ll never know, why  he’s thinks I’ll lose him.. Fat chance.
He may have a shower every day, but he’s been in the SAME walking clothes for five days! Merino wool ain’t that good.   ::)


Still I must be careful of the pools.  No one wants a repeat of this on the PW a few years back!





He and Ruth wandered and chatted . . . all the way, oblivious the ace Wigwams at another dissolute campsite.
No worries, as it gave me a chance to say ‘Hola’ to everyone in a dog-friendly café.
It’s difficult at my age, but I put on my best cute puppy face to gain a few snacks from those around.  ;) 


Ian got excited about this –
 

 
Chocolate fish ‘n’ chips – even better than fired Mars Bars . .  :D
 
Ruth sadly had to leave us at Bridge of Orchy . . covered in rain mist . . .
With camp site swamped, this would be a dodgy night –
“Come on Ian, don’t be so tight, we’re on holiday, we’ve earned it. I know before the hotel online cost more than £100 a night . . with all you can eat buffet breakfast … you never know, just ask ..  I’ve been practising my cute face… got it down to a tee”
– oh, if only I could speak!
Great minds think alike, ‘cause he bl**dy well, did just that, and we were in, for much less as well.   O0
Even better . . he washed his clothes!  ;D
Good luck on your next adventure
Ian & Zen

Dovegirl

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Enjoying this!   :)

IanyZen

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Day Six  - Bridge of Orchy to Kingshouse
 
Apart from descending Conic Hill, unsurprisingly we had seen virtually no one on the Way - An Italian cook, a few pooches with runners, a family on the Loch shore . . that was it… I’m not grumbling, as
I’m gonna be King of Rannoch Moor . .  for the day!
And Ian, your role is to find another night’s stay, fit for a King . .
Good luck with that one with Inveroran & Kings House Hotels closed!
Saw a few of these -









One of two locals out for a stroll





Slippy paws - couldn't get it right, sorry.



Just how many photos do you want of me !






Reminds me of a teddy bear.  :D
 
 
Ian was not impressed with Kings House Hotel’s alternative café / bar  .  . designer mini-sandwiches with designer prices, more at home in Edinburgh, than Rannoch Moor.
I was even less impressed – I was left outside in the cold.  >:(
The new hostel (on left below), just opened a week before, looked inviting . . alas not for dogs.  >:(





We trudged back up to the Glencoe Ski Centre to stay in a Hobbit House . . . oh,  I had dreams of this –
 



 And got this !
 
 
 
Still, it was warm and cosy & I was welcome.





Buenos Noches  :)
Good luck on your next adventure
Ian & Zen

Cairn hopper

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Love it. This has really cheered me up before bed. Sadly you don't have much ground left to cover.

Good night.

IanyZen

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Day Seven – Kingshouse to Kinlochleven


Out of breath from the breathtaking 360 scenery. I wanted to climb every hill and listen to my bark bounce off each.
We settled for a meandering path through the valley before meeting our Angel of the North, from Lancashire, or God’s country as Ian’s dad would proclaim . . up the staircase.







Our Angel    :angel:
 
Ian takes so long to make a brew & whip up some lunch, I’m resorting to chewing on this.



 
 
 
 
 
Everyone we met on the way stopped for a chat . . . except one mother & daughter who whizzed passed us on top of Devil’s Staircase . . now, nothing unusual in that, only Ian reckons she was Jill, a long lost friend from Aberdeen, who he trekked twice in Nepal with many years ago.
I reckon he’s lost it, not cause he was convinced it was her, cause he spent the next half hour talking to me, a dog, about his adventures in Nepal .. Maybe this wilderness is getting to him.  :D
There’s no way I’m getting on another flight, so you’re on your own!  :-\
 
View from MacDonald Hotel



My paws were feeling a bit sore from the stony uneven path. I was glad it was a halfish day.  :)
Good luck on your next adventure
Ian & Zen

Mel

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I'm really enjoying this trip report.  A nice little read each night before bed  O0

IanyZen

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Day Eight – Kinlochleven to Fort William and  . . .
 
He’s so predictable. I knew today was the last day . . he was polishing off the last scraps in the backpack & I was given my emergency rations.
I love the euphoria but the melancholy of the freedom & enjoyment coming to an end is tough.  :-\
Last time we were in Scotland, we earned a well-deserved free half .  .  
Wonder what we’ll get this time ?. . I’ll take a dram of whiskey . .
I was astounded  . . .
But first, there’s always a sting in the tail . . The Highlands had been easy on us, until now . . .
I’ve been a good dog, respectful of the wildlife, not dirtying the path (just in case Ian can’t scrapit all up), clean my plate, not shaking my self inside,  . . . so why oh why is someone or thing hurling blocks of ice at my head, straight in my face . . bl**dy hurts.
I now understand “Stay clam . . carry on” . . cause all you can do is head down, head on.
Ian wisely followed my lead . . literally as he lost balance on the stepping stones, after I spotted the ideal time for a yank & he ended up [censored] over tit in the stream . .
Surprisingly he just smirked . . Huh, I need a set of his waterproofs.
 
We were kicking up a head of steam .  . only one bus from Fort William allows dogs (at driver’s discretion). I’ve been ordered to look like butter wouldn’t melt in my mouth, but I hate butter. 
Fort William -



Poor chap . . it was so cold, he was rock solid .  .  :-[   Who is he?  
Never could fix that rotation -



The lady in the train station was super nice & gentle and helped get me all dry and clean with her lovely soft towels . . surely not all this attention to impress a bus driver…
You’ll never guess, our Angel appeared at the bus stop to check if I had managed to drag Ian safely through the mountains. Great to know someone one’s looking out for you. Thanks.  O0


Bus journey was a hoot . . whilst Ian was trying to clean the windows to spot Nessie, I had 25 school kids vying to give me attention . . then back on the trains, from Inverness to Perth . . . where were we heading . . . ?
 
Wet, muddy, smelly . . such an embarrassment, with his wet tent sticking out his back pack, we wander into Gleneagles Hotel . . 
Well done son, through work he got us a couple of free nights   O0
. . . ooh, 5 star breakfasts .  . yummy  :smitten:
. He had the luxury room. I didn’t care, cause I was sharing with the gun dogs. We had a blast, regaling hunting adventures & escapades, me from the mean streets of Mexico and them from the Scottish wilds. Oh, I learnt so much.  O0
Can’t wait for our next adventure .  .  to the Alps . . Marmots I’m coming for you!


The nice guys at Virgin  , due to the cancelled & delayed train, have given us a free return journey. . .  Yorkshire or Scotland. . . dilemmas?


I hope you liked my trip report as much as I enjoyed the adventure. hey, but wait it’s incomplete . .


Every Trip Report has a Gear List:

Zen   :smitten:
Good luck on your next adventure
Ian & Zen

Mel

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Brilliant!  Blummin brilliant.  I've really enjoyed each "episode" from your doggie perspective.  Thank you for posting it  O0
 
PS. Loving the gear list at the end  ;D

Cairn hopper

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I've absolutely loved this and I'm sad it's all over. Thanks for taking the time to do this and share it with us.

Jac

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A really Great Read - and so many memories or the WWH and of doing the SWCP with my dog. Very impressed with the gear list - proper dog bowls! I only took a carrier bag.

Hurry up and do the next - wherever.
So many paths yet to walk, so little time left

adalard

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Somehow I've missed this thread as it's unfolded - so I've just had the luxury of reading it all in one go. It's a cracking TR and I thoroughly enjoyed it... Love the "dog's eye perspective" on your walk - genius!  O0 :)

Ridge

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Great thread I've really enjoyed it. O0

Dovegirl

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Very enjoyable and entertaining read   :)   

toadoftoadhall

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Superb.  My son is wanting a dog next  year,  sending him this in the hope he wants to do it, and drag me along.

 

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