We are looking forward to a pleasant lochside stroll for today's walk from Balmaha to Rowardennan. It doesn't quite work out like that as the stretch is actually quite undulating and strenuous, which makes us glad we didn't try and walk all the way from Drymen yesterday. Before we set off we consider if it would be possible to get a boat over to Inchcailloch Island which looks a great place to explore. Unfortunately the boat is not running as the water level is apparently too low so instead we decide to check out Balmaha Visitor Information Centre where we can see on a map just how little of the route we've done so far! Meanwhile Jennie gets to have fun pretending to be Scot-born conservationist John Muir (and key advocate for the establishment of a government-sponsored National Parks system in the United States). Passing the marina I have my photo taken with climber and television personality Tom Weir, who I'd not heard of, but was a mountaineer whose life took him from industrial Springburn to higher things, literally the Himalayas. Ok, right, we really need to get walking now! We start out with some nice sunshine continuing the previous day's good weather, although things soon becomes more mixed. No sooner does the rain hit than the sun finds its way through the clouds again and there are some stunning views across the loch. We are continuing to enjoy the flora and fauna. There are tortoiseshells and red admiral butterflies, and interestingly we spy a swallow feeding another. Much of Loch Lomond side is oak woodland, which is really beautiful to see as well. After a rest and a sandwich at a campsite we do start to feel it in our legs as we inch towards Rowardennan along another undulating path and the hotel seems to never arrive. We are also continually passed by faster walkers, but we do get there eventually. Thankfully I have booked a Penthouse Suite so we get a long soak in the bath and a view of the loch. We have a pint outside to celebrate and walk to the edge of the loch to see what lies before us in the days ahead. It almost seems like this is the beginning of Loch Lomond but it only appears that way because the loch has narrowed considerably, although there is certainly a lot more of it to walk along! The midges start to annoy me so we go in. We have decided not to have dinner in the restaurant as we have heard the food is not the best and instead indulge in Pot Noodles picked up from the shop in Balmaha. Jennie orders a glass of milk from the bar to accompany her pot noodle. Luxury.
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