Hi all. Just letting you know that I’m starting my big north west walk tomorrow (Friday). I’m being dropped off at Ullapool in the morning then will be completely out of civilisation until I get to Inchnadamph, hopefully on Monday afternoon. If I can get mobile reception I’ll also get resupplied here. If not I should be able to get this the following day at Kylesku. All things going according to plan, I’ll be climbing my beloved Quinag on Tuesday and be safely in Durness by the end of the weekend.
I will not have any internet for the duration of this trip so you won’t hear from me. No worrying!! Phone contact will also be patchy but I will text my local support crew as often as possible, so rest assured someone is keeping an eye out for me.

There was a good chance I’d have company on this walk but that has fallen through. I’d got used to the idea though and got a little scared about attempting it on my own, especially after the 2 days around Glen Roy were so hard. However, I’ve thought it all through and am reassured that it will be simply amazing. Plus, a little stubborn determination and craziness kicked in – I planned for this thing to be solo from the start. Of course I can do it!

I have stripped my gear down as much as possible (no need for spare ‘town’ clothes where I’m going), have found a brilliant pair of lightweight gaiters (for heather bashing) and have got enough food for 11ish days, taking enough for 5 full days to start, expecting resupply after 3.5.
Pretty happy with my food too, coming close to my 10,500kJ per day target at only ~580g/day.
While having enough food is clearly a priority, so is having a light pack as I’m planning to traverse (ie go over, not just up and back down, in which case I could leave my pack at the bottom) a bunch of reasonably high, steep hills with tricky (and sometimes unproven) descent routes.
Anyway, you can see my planned route in “The Plan” page somewhere. I’ve rechecked my maps, reread my guide books . . .
Not much more to do except a final pack and start walking!!
Talk to you in 10ish days!!

Hi guys,
Have written a proper post but can’t get it to load. Heading off on my NW walk tomorrow (Friday). I’ll be off internet for ~10days but will be in contact with my local support crew so will be safe.

Sorry about the silence . . . I’ve been completely without wifi for this walk – either not in civilisation or too tired (or not bothered) to go and find some.
This has been a very different walk from the first one. The first two days were off the standard walk routes, with much of it entirely cross country. This was MUCH harder than I expected and what I was going to see was not as impressive up close as I’d hoped. Still not sure it was worth it (at one point I almost just sat down and gave up but realised that wasn’t going to help me get out of there!) but I certainly learnt a lot that will help on my NW walk and saw some countryside that hardly anyone gets to see.

My first real “wild camp” – After my first cross country day, no sign of other people, just after a ‘wild’ river crossing, and I even saw deer here when I arrived. (most of my other camping spots had clear signs they’d been used before.)

Glen Roy – You can see the “parallel roads” that I did this crazy section to see. Caused by the different shore levels of the water that filled the valley when glaciers plugged the end. Sadly they are almost imperceptible up close and practically useless for walking on. And the photo doesn’t quite convey the horror of the ground conditions, or the beauty of the swirling mist but does somewhat convey the height of the hill and the beauty of the glen.

The 3rd day was fairly boring in comparison. Mainly canal paths so very scenic but quite hard on the feet. This was also the day the sun came out. First day since I’ve been here it hasn’t rained on me! I had time to kill (keys to my Inverness accommodation not arriving until Tursday evening) so I even went on a boat trip on Loch Ness at Fort Augustus.
Day 4 had a new ‘high’ section, just opened, and WOW, it gave some stunning views. Also much more enjoyable walking.

Here is an obligatory photo of me, to show I’m still alive! This is looking over Loch Ness, to the SW from roughly half way along. The camera is precariously balanced on a ledge, hence the odd ‘foreground’.
Loch Ness is huge, more water than all the lakes in England and Wales combined, over 200m deep with incredibly steep sides and a very flat bottom.

Day 5 was the final 25ish kms into Inverness. Mostly pleasant enough but nothing like the views of the previous day. Then, as I still had time to kill, I added a 6km round trip to visit the sea lock, where the Caledonian canal joins the Beauly Forth. I’m pretty done in now!!
I have a few days in Inverness to recover so may be able to post some photos for you and will certainly try to let you know before I head out on my next walk (planned for Friday).

Hope you are all well!

PS when I say the first two days were hard, think constantly wet, knee high scrub, tussocky uneven ground, ankle deep bogs and incessant slopes. Plus, 400+m hills are not to be taken lightly!!

I’ve made it! Here is a picture of me at the start

Milgnavie, start of the West Highland Way.

and a picture at the end

Fort William, at the end of the West Highland Way.

All of my gear has worked really well and my feet (and legs) have held up much better than I expected, although I may have hurt my back a little today trying to run down the hill to Fort William! The only thing that I mucked up was planning my distances so I got here in 6 days instead of 7 or 8!!

Mum, I’ve taken lots of photos of crannogs for you (and some of sheep).
Steve, I’ve taken some photos of crazy sized backpacks for you.
Ben, I’ve taken lots of photos of rocks for . . . well, for me actually but you might like them.
Bridget and Michelle, I’ve taken some photos of when I’m holed up in my tent due to rain . . . or usually midges!
Everybody else, I didn’t know what you specifically wanted photos of so have tried to take photos of EVERYTHING!! (Actually I’ve tried really hard to limit my photo taking but have failed miserably. Or failed very happily, depending on which way you look at it)

Anyway, I’m having a ball and have enjoyed almost every minute of every day, although I must admit I’m pretty happy to have had a shower today!

And just so you know, I got up the mountain. There was a path almost all the way up, with just the last bit being a crazy scramble. Even better though, it wasn’t just a climb up a mountain but a walk along the ridge to 5 separate peaks, then a crazy steep, long descent. The photo below is from Stob na Broige, the last peak on the ridge. The red peak you can just see in the distance is the first, and highest, peak and also the one shown in the other photo I posted earlier (Stob Dearg, or literally Red Peak).

View back along Buachaille Etive Mor ridge from Stob na Broige to Stob Dearg. (The Big Herdsman of Etive, from the Peak of the Boot to the Red Peak)

This post was supposed to be two days ago but it wouldn’t upload and I haven’t had wifi since then. I like it though so you can have it anyway, then I’ll do a new, up to date one.

This country needs to stop being so stunningly beautiful. It is really hard to maintain a decent walking pace when I keep having to stop and take photos or look at the view!! Anyway, I had the first glimpse today of the mountain I’m planning to walk up tomorrow. A little bit scared. OK, more than a little!

That is it behind the Ladies Scottish Climbing Club. And I’m not planning on climbing, but walking (or scrambling!) up!

In the meantime, here is my pitch for the night, where I’ve just killed 5hrs eating and drinking preparing for tomorrow’s ordeal.

Pitch near the Kings’ House Hotel, with the big Buachaille in the background.

(The mountain is Buachaille Etive Mor. I’m camping just behind Kings House Hotel – the closest I’ve slept to other people in 4 days!)

I’m going well. Miss you all!

Here is a photo of me on top of conic hill, near Balmaha . . Just to prove I’m here and really doing this. This shows the line of islands across Loch Lomond caused by the Highland Boundary Fault which separates the highlands and lowlands.

Half way through day 2 and going well. Sitting in a pub in Rowardennan for lunch and got to watch the Wallabies draw the All Blacks.
There’s apple crumble to be eaten and walking to be done so I’ll talk to you later!