Blogs from Inverness-shire, Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe - page 8

Lots of photos (42 I think) today. Some will be embedded into the text as that's the way this app works. The rest will be accessible via a button below the text. Today its worth looking at the photos. They will either convince you to go walk/climb Ben Nevis or convince you not to walk/climb Ben Nevis. It's almost 8 hours of walking, surprisingly almost as long descending as ascending for me. I know I walk fastear uphill and slower downhill relative to others but it become pretty apparent today. My knee gave me a little concern on the downhill section (that's everything after reaching the summit!) so that didn't help but generally the walk is really good. It is busy. The uncommonly good weather and the fact that there is a race up and down ... read more

Between Greenock and Inverness was a day at sea in which we would sail though the Hebrides archipelago, past the Isle of Sky and around the northern tip of mainland Scotland. Both the Inner and Outer Hebrides could be seen in the distance as Caribbean Princess navigated the Sea of the Hebrides and The Minch. (The Minch is the body of water between the Outer Hebrides and the Scottish mainland.) South Uist in the Outer Hebrides was clearly visible, but distant. We did pass very close to the Isle of Skye in the early afternoon and were afforded an excellent view of its wild, rockbound and mountainous landscape. Neist Point and its lighthouse, Loch Pooltie and the Duirinish Peninsula could be seen. As the afternoon progressed, islets in the Outer Hebrides appeared as well as the ... read more

The rain came back! That's good because it means I can sleep longer and take a taxi instead of walking to the station. I booked an early (noon is early!) train to Inverness from Queens Station in Glasgow. The cab driver, Douglas, has a daughter named Kirstin, who might need braces, lard hope she den't. He told me about some promising destinations to keep in mind this trip and said not to worry about the drive, to jest keep te the left. Rolling farmlands, verdant countryside, lush wood. The occasional castle. The cutest little boy exclaimed to his father: "DA! DED YE SEE THE WEE LAMBS?!" and I just about wept right there. Wee is a real thing and it's every day and it breaks my heart with goodness. Inverness is a stone town on a ... read more

Todays trip takes us up the Great Glen. 2 lochs split Scotland diagonally from Fort William to Inverness. Another beautiful day. First stop is the Urquhart Castle ruin on the side of Loch Ness. Massive visitor center here now. Large museum and theatre display the long history. Site dates back to 12th century with the current building starting in the 13th. After being destroyed by retreating Government forces in the late 1700's the castle was left in ruins. We are off to the Culloden Battlefield maintained as a war cemetery. 4 or 5 hours to properly view all of the presentations and museum artifacts. It takes a lot of reading to understand the root causes of this confilct. It was a lot more than just a group trying to put a King (James) back on the ... read more

"The trail is completely unmarked and passes through extremely wild and rugged terrain, far from services and facilities for much of the distance. Although many sections follow paths and tracks, there are also some sections which are pathless and a high degree of navigational skill is required. Walkers need to be self-sufficient and to carry food needed between resupply points. There are also several unbridged river crossings which can become dangerous or even impossible in spate conditions.The route has the reputation of being Britain's toughest long distance walk." En toen was daar het moment, dat de knoop was doorgehakt en Martine, Irma en ik besloten, dat we er voor zouden gaan! Een uitgebreidere voorbereiding dan bij alle eerdere voettochten die we hadden gedaan: globale planning, zeer precieze paklijst, opsturen van een voedselpakket naar de eerste B&B, ... read more