The West Highland Way – Part 1

The guide book had sat in a draw in my study for nearly 12 years, it was out of date and I was 12 years nearer to my grave. What had I been waiting for? I had better get a wriggle on and go and hike that darn West Highland Way before it was too late!

Buachaille Etive Mòr

The West Highland Way is a linear long-distance route in Scotland. It is 96 miles or 154 km long, running from Milngavie north of Glasgow to Fort William in the Scottish Highlands. My wife and I decided we were finally going to tackle it as a traditional through hike.

A through hike that is with the added luxury of staying in inns, pubs, lodges and hotels along the way and with your heavy luggage being transported onward for you each day to the next destination. Still it was a big undertaking which would span across 8 days incorporating an elevation gain/loss of 3,155 metres (10,351 ft) and included tackling the infamous Devil’s Staircase in Glencoe.

Continue reading “The West Highland Way – Part 1”

Scotland’s New LDP

In 2016 I managed to persuade my brother-in-law to join me on a little hiking and camping adventure up in the wilds of Scotland. The idea was a simple one, to walk the length of the newly created Affric-Kintail Way which runs from Drumnadrochit on the shores of Loch Ness, to Morvich in Kintail on the western seaboard, a total distance of 44 miles or 71 km.

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Snowshoeing The Runch Hut Round

Snow Shoeing Dolomites style

I’d never put on a pair of snowshoes before, but there’s always a first time for everything!

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High adventure in the Picos de Europa Mountains

On the summit of Torre de los Horcados de Rojos

I’m just back from northern Spain from what turned into a bit of an epiphany for me. I’d been longing to test my mettle in mountains over 2000m in height for some time now when the Picos range in northern Spain suddenly cropped up on my radar at just the right time. Continue reading “High adventure in the Picos de Europa Mountains”