The West Highland Motorway

After my recent shorter adventures I was very much looking forward to another week with one of the wandern-schottland.de groups. However, this time I was not only going as customer enjoying the scenery being led around and just relax. No, this is the chance of getting more insight into leading groups and leading those trips, as I am one of the potential future guides. Let's see how much experience I can gain and if I still want to do this sometime. (I have no doubt I do, haha)

The group was being picked up Saturday night at EDI airport but since I had a flight Friday night to Glasgow I decided to climb a munro around Loch Tay and jump on our minibus somewhere on the way to the house.
There's not much that can keep me from climbing a hill. However, 50mph gales, hail showers and fresh snow abover 600m can. So I changed my plans last minute and instead of giving Ben Chabhair from Inveranan a go I walked the West Highland Way from there to Tyndrum instead.
The day had started quite sunny with thick clouds here and there. Of course another shower hit, when I just jumped of the Citylink bus. I used a bit of protection from the elements at the famous Drovers Inn, set my map and got into my waterproofs.
A couple of years ago I had done a day walk from Loch Lomond to this exact spot, so keeping on from here was nice. The campsite near the WHW was busy and quite a few people set off. At first the path was a broad gravel road. More like a bridleway along the valley. The nearby A82 and the big pillars of a power line didn't really help the feeling of remoteness. Add numerous walkers in their bright clothes to that.
I enjoyed it a bit, but even the (off-season) Kerry Way was much more lonely. I loved the walking itself and realized once again how much I miss going on another long distance trail. It's definitely not going to be the WHW though.

On the WHW out of Inveranan

Looking back just before Crianlarich

Decided to take the Crianlarich link path and had a nice break in the tea room at the train station, dodging another one of the heavy showers. So far my new hiking trousers had stood their ground, only getting a bit moist but drying quickly when the sun was back. As I made my way up to the WHW again I donned my waterproofs as shower were getting more frequent.
Enjoyed the path from Crianlarich to Tyndrum much more. At first it led through a coniferous forest and the smell of dripping trees and the soaked earth was amazing.

A gap in the woodland

Just as I stepped out of the forest onto a larger farm another hail shower hit... of course. Even the sheep huddled together and looked miserable. I whistled a tune and kept on going. My shoulders and hips started hurting a bit now from the heavy load on my back. I had packed a bit more than normal since I was staying in a nice house, so I really laboured hard. Thinking of Denali my backpack had the weight mountaineers carry up there. Phew. Though. Plus they pull a 25kg sleigh. Hm.

Walking towards Tyndrum

Eventually, arrived in Tyndrum around 3:30pm with knackered shoulders and knees. Bloody hell. The last bit was a fight to be sure. Had a Scotch Broth at the Green Welly, did some shopping for gas and eggs and then spend 2 hours in the local watering hole waiting for my pick up.

15 miles 2400ft of ascent, 22kilos on my back. Ouch

Stepping onto the minibus I found some friendly face from previous trips which was a very pleasant surprise. The house is a large proud manor house with an extensive garden, lovely rooms and interior and best of all: A snooker table!!!! With proper queues even. Ha!!!! If you're looking for me you know where to find me. Whoop whoop!
Dinner was awesome as expected and when everyone introduced themselves I thought "This is going to be fun!". Really lovely people and we all started chatting freely straight away. No awkward silences. Ah, this is going to be cool! Despite a disappointing weather forecast for the week, I'm sure we're going to have a lot of fun!