West Highland Way Sept 2015

[Dreadhead]

Just had a cracking week walking the west highland way with my matey who is heading overseas on his own travels soon, so we decided to get this done last minute before he headed off.

We had a vague plan, map, filled our packs with everything necessary but kept it as light as possible, and met up in Milngavie for a late start around noon and just bashed on with it.

My biggest mistake was wearing walking shoes, as I've been wearing flat soles light shoes or boots for years so was totally out of my comfort zone, coupled with the pack weight (around 18 kilos) my feet were two blistery stumps by day two. Ryan had a cheap pack which was falling apart after a day and we both ended up with slight knee/leg injuries on top of it. By day three we capitualted and called the baggage transfer service to take our packs and used our sleeping bag bags as small day packs, and I ditched my walking shoes for my favourite wee pair of vivobarefoot slipon running shoes. from then on out we both enjoyed it a lot more without the extra weight and being in more comfortable kit. It was a simple case of jumping in at the deep end and doing ourselves damage. After that we took it more slowly, and found it so much more enjoyable, spreading the trip out over 8 days.

It was a trip of stunning scenery as it was dry all week, met plenty of lovely people, kept most of them awake with our laughter, and enjoyed plenty of tasty pints after the long days. Bumped into a beast of a mountain goat walking up alongside loch lomond which was a great surprise too!

Will definitely be doing this walk again, though next time with more time to prepare and carry our packs the whole way. Anyway, here are a bunch of photos.

WHW 2015 4 by Hamish Odinson, on Flickr

WHW 2015 5 by Hamish Odinson, on Flickr

WHW 2015 7 by Hamish Odinson, on Flickr

WHW 2015 10 by Hamish Odinson, on Flickr

WHW 2015 11 by Hamish Odinson, on Flickr

WHW 2015 12 by Hamish Odinson, on Flickr

WHW 2015 14 by Hamish Odinson, on Flickr

WHW 2015 17 by Hamish Odinson, on Flickr

WHW 2015 18 by Hamish Odinson, on Flickr

WHW 2015 23 by Hamish Odinson, on Flickr

WHW 2015 28 by Hamish Odinson, on Flickr

WHW 2015 29 by Hamish Odinson, on Flickr

WHW 2015 30 by Hamish Odinson, on Flickr

WHW 2015 31 by Hamish Odinson, on Flickr

WHW 2015 33 by Hamish Odinson, on Flickr

WHW 2015 34 by Hamish Odinson, on Flickr

WHW 2015 36 by Hamish Odinson, on Flickr



Thanks for reading.

 

[bopdude]

Stunning pics, thanks for sharing

 

[sandbender]

I enjoyed those, thanks for posting.

The weather looked good, the last time I did the WHW it rained from start to finish.

 

[GGTBod]

Cool stuff Hamish the pics are belter, thanks for sharing

 

[Shewie]

Lovely pics Hamish

I fancy doing a winter WHW sometime, not too much snow but nice and crusty undefoot

 

[woodspirits]

looks like you had a great trip and the weather was with you too!

 

[Dreadhead]

thanks fellas. Aye I really fancy doing it around november time, as the midges were still out in force. Perhaps next year

 

[Bowlander]

Great pics and report. Quite fancy doing the Highland Fling Ultra.

Sent from my SM-A500FU using Tapatalk

 

[dewi]

Looks like a great trip and I'm loving the panoramic piccies... really cool.

 

[Stevie777]

Nice pics of holibags man. well gel..


ps. What's that horned beast on the path...wild or an escapee.?

 

[Dreadhead]

cheers

The horned beast was a Goat, think it's just left to roam by a nearby farm

 

[fluffkitten]

Great pictures.

Its a wonderful path that and I'm glad you could find away to do the whole of it.
The goats are feral and have been there for ages, always surprises me that they aren't mugging hikers for food.

 

[Scrofula]

You guys weren't in the bar of the Inversnaid Hotel on the 17th were you? You look familiar.

 

[Dreadhead]

Great pictures.

Its a wonderful path that and I'm glad you could find away to do the whole of it.
The goats are feral and have been there for ages, always surprises me that they aren't mugging hikers for food.

Thanks, and aye it was a nice encounter

You guys weren't in the bar of the Inversnaid Hotel on the 17th were you? You look familiar.

Aye we were indeed, most likely nursing sore feet and a quick lunch

 

[Scrofula]

Thanks, and aye it was a nice encounter





Aye we were indeed, most likely nursing sore feet and a quick lunch

I was the crusty old fart having a couple of beers with a lad carrying a fully loaded bergan.

 

[Dreadhead]

I was the crusty old fart having a couple of beers with a lad carrying a fully loaded bergan.

haha small world indeed! Wish I had rested up that day, I was dead by the end of it. That lad with the bergen was really struggling by the end too but good on him for soldiering on with his huge pack!

 

[StJon]

Luvin' the pics, brings back good memories. Never done it end to end but completed all sections. Weather makes a difference regards enjoyment on some sections, and they midges...

 

[lonefish]

Awesome pictures, beast of a goat

 

[Dreadhead]

thanks fellas