Milarrochy

The rain started to fall around 0200hrs and it hasnt stopped and the forecast shows it isn’t letting up until the weekend at least!

We headed into Drymen to visit the local shop to get ourselves another meal. We are aiming to carry two days of food with us to save on the weight and have enough to keep us going between amenities.

As we followed the road out of the campsite that lead up a small incline we could see on the horizon our first glimpse of Loch Lomond.

To get back on the trail from the town centre we pretty much had to go back on ourselves, however consulting the map decided to take the Rob Roy Way which crosses the West Highland Way at Garadhban Forest.

The Rob Roy Way follows a single track road up a very long drawn out incline. Even the cows were sheltering from the rain and thinking how mad we are to be walking in it!

We passed an elderly man walking his equally elderly dog along the road. We were soon back on the West Highland Way, as it turns off into the Garadhban Forest; we took the opportunity to catch our breath and have a snack.

We met up with two walkers who pitched next to use in Drymen. The two chaps were from London and are only going as far as the top end of the loch; not the whole hog to Fort William.

We discussed whether it was worth tackling Conic Hill. This is a 360m hill that is optional for the trek before you descend into Balmaha. The views of Loch Lomond are meant to be great however with this weather it was under cloud cover.

The forest cleared as we turned a corner in the path giving us a better view of the Loch. I jump up on to a tree stump to grab a better look. We parted ways with our temporary walking companions and trudged on.

Then out of a hedgerow popped the elderly man and his equally elderly dog. We couldn’t believe he got a head of us; he didn’t pass us. We concluded he must have been a fell runner in his day.

We were getting closer to Conic Hill and would soon have to make the descision whether to climb it or not. Although there was no cloud cover, the rain was starting to come in. We decided to take the low road as we didn’t want to go through all the trouble for no reward.

The forest path joined the road that leads to Balmaha with Conic Hill watching over us to our right and Loch Lomond to our left. At one point we were sure we saw that elderly man and his dog on top of the hill!

We made it into Balmaha and according to the map there is a pub. After our hopes were dashed yesterday we approached it with some trepidation. This time lady luck was on our side.

We off loaded our really soggy packs in the foyer and took a table in the bar. Pint and food ordered. I had a pizza and my dad had the steak pie; he highly recommends it, if you ever call in the Oak Tree Inn at Balmaha.

As we were leaving, the two chaps from London arrived and they had tackled Conic Hill. They did however say it was like walking through a cloud; I think we made the right call.

We stepped outside and the heavens opened even further. It was full on Scottish weather now. The path led to the shores of the Loch which it followed for the last mile to our campsite at Milarrochy.

We pitched our tent up between two cabins and because the backpackers hut is closed due to Covid we are allowed to use the sheltered veranda to a cabin.

The tent was still sodden from this morning including the sleeping area. Using sponge we got as much water out as possible and left it to air as best we could with the rain.

Our gear is all spread out on the veranda to allow it dry as much as possible for tomorrow. The rain still fallng; I looked at the forecast again in hope it might have changed, but it hadn’t.

It is somewhat daunting that the rain will not ease. Tomorrow is going to be the hardest day on the entire trek; this is not made easier by Covid.

Today we should have finished this stage at Rowardennan. There is a hostel there, however when I went to book it a month ago it was already full. I enquired about camping there; their response was due to Covid the camping facilities are closed for 2020.

All other possible B&Bs were full and there is nothing nearby. This is a fairly sizable spanner in the works. We’ve had a short day today but tomorrow is going to be 20 miles, in the rain!

Tomorrow night’s stage end should be Crianlarich however that would mean something like 27 miles from Milarrochy. So we have booked a campsite at Beinglas, just passed Inverarnan.

This was recommended by a fellow walker yesterday; he said it has excellent facilities but more importantly, it has a pub!

We have also booked a B&B in Crianlarich for the night after. This will make it an easier day following tomorrow’s 20 miles and the prospect of a dry warm bed for the night will be very welcome.

Great news on the sponsorship front, the total when I last checked was 1095 pounds! A massive thank you to everyone that has donated. It is giving us the encouragement we need!