Sunday, 3 July 2022. Day 1 on the West Highland Way (WHW) from Milngavie to Drymen. 13.5 miles by Garmin. 658 feet elevation gain. 7 hours and 10 minutes of walking
The luggage transfer service required our bags out at 0730 for pick up and transfer to our next hotel in Drymen. Greg the driver sent a brief outline of his background. He is a royal army veteran having served in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Since our CPAPs were a third piece of luggage we paid 65 GBP to have them included in our group luggage. As mentioned in an earlier blog that meant a 0530 wake up call to get everything broken down, organized and packed up so we could have the bags ready to take outside at 0730. Greg should up on the minuted.
Breakfast is included with our lodging but being Sunday did not start until 0800. We were ready to hit the trail at 0900 but of course this meant walking the 0.8 miles back to the start of the West Highland Way walk. The weather was overcast but not raining with a light breeze. Temperature around 60 degrees so it was a perfect temperature
Rucksack Readers of Edinburgh has published our walking guide. It provides detailed description of the waypoints and landmarks along the way as well as mileage between point on the map. Hopefully I can add a few photos so the reader will be able to see as well as read some of the highlights. Everything everywhere is damp and green along our walk with high grasses and many different varieties of flowers. The first mile is through town past schools, parks and housing areas along a paved path. After a mile we enter the Mugdock woods. The path more gravel and a bit muddy. Tall mature trees are in the woods with ferns, grass and flowers below. We share the path with bikes as well so need to stay alert for them both in front and behind. A group of about 14 from Belgium are with a guide so they overtake us. The first of many who will do so. Two young ladies from Canda - one from Nova Scotia the other from Yukon Territory - walk with us for a ways and chat.
land and more distant views. The dominate feature is Dumgoyle a haystack shaped hill in the distance. At Craigaillian Loch and Carbeth Lochhas a sign describing the building of huts for vacation homes and to get people away from Glasgow during the bombings of WW II. These were know as the Carbeth Hutters. We pass through many gates along the way between fields and lanes. Our next landmark at about mile 6.5 is the Glengoyne whiskey distillery. The white buildings are very noticeable but the black warehouses are almost invisible by contrast. A path leads from the WHW to the distillery if one has scheduled a visit. We are now walking along an abandoned railroad bed with an enclosed aqueduct which provides fresh water to Edinburgh from Loch Lomond. The Blane Valley Railway was closed in 1951.
At mile 7 to the Beech Tree Inn, a pub and stop for a much needed rest, restroom and some food. The fast four in our group are just finishing their drinks an food as we arrive. We have a great bowl of lentil soup. This pub and inn have a great gift shop and some excellent wood paintings and
sculptures. One in particular is featured in our guide book. On our way after lunch we climb and descend crossing over some beautiful streams. But now we are on narrow country roads that are two way but only wide enough for one lane traffic. This is a little unnerving. We divert from the path to head into Drymen.
Our are Winnock Hotel just across the street from our diversion route when we reach the town. Another busy road to cross with no crosswalk or signals. Are bags are at the entry with three flights of stairs to lug them up to our room. We are tired after our walk. Dinner is at 1830 but my wife elects to eat the sandwich we had purchased and shower and go to bed. I have my first fish and chips of this visit to Scotland.
