My trekking trip to the Scottish Highlands, Easter weekend 2014
It was a lovely sunny weekend in Scotland which was unusual for the region. So I took the chance to go trekking in the Scottish Highlands.
I was staying in the village of Kinlochleven. The village is hidden away at the head of Loch Leven set amongst the mountains and moors of the Scottish Highlands. The village was going to be my home for the long bank holiday easter weekend.
I was staying in what can only be described as a Hobbit burrow. Basically a large wooden barrel on it side that has bunks for up to four people and a monkey, as well as a microwave and a TV.
Me posing next to my Hobbit burrow.
With sunny blue skies I was eager to go trekking along the path to Nevis Forest.
I was needing a coffee before my trek.
The path to Nevis Forest follows the West Highland Way northwards for about 12 miles from Kinlochleven.
A map of Nevis Forest.
The map shows the route I was taking on the westward side of Glen Nevis with Ben Nevis on the east side.
Me at the start of my trek.
I was glad to have my factor 50 suncream on as I didn’t want to get burnt cotton.
Overlooking Kinlochleven.
The trek starts with a climb up the mountains overlooking Kinlochleven.
Me admiring the views.
It was a clear sunny day to be up in the mountains.
It was good to see such good weather in the mountains.
I was lucky enough to see wild deers.
Red deers in the Scottish Highlands.
Eventually the path starts to descend into Nevis Forest.
The climb through the forest was hard going.
Overlooking the tree tops was Ben Nevis, the largest mountain in the UK.
Looking across Glen Nevis and viewing Ben Nevis.
It is not often to get a clear view of the mountain with such good weather….
The snowy peak of Ben Nevis.
….and the mountain still had snow on the summit.
Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in the British Isles. Standing at 1,344 metres (4,409 ft) above sea level.
I had climbed this mountain back in 2010. For details of my climb in 2010 see the link below:
www.britisharmysgtmonkey.wordpress.com/2012/03/09/my-climb-up-ben-nevis-in-scotland
I saw the extremely rare six foot long Scottish Crocodile basking in the sun (or was it 6 cms!)
I saw the extremely rare six foot Scottish Crocodile.
It was time to head back to Kinlochleven.
The sun sets over the highlands.
After my trek I needed a Scotch whisky before crashing out for the night.
Having a whisky before beddy times.
I headed back home to continue readying my troops for WW3 and the pending NATO invasion of the Crimea.
Scotland long distance walks: West Highland Way – part 6
Today was day 6 and the last day of my long distance walk. I was going to trek from Kinlochleven to Fort William, a distance of 24 kms (16 miles).
Once again it was a clear skies day. I slept well inside my tent last night with a few beers.
The path to Fort William is a good path at this last stage. There is a steep climb out of Kinlochleven, then there are no more serious gradients. The path through Nevis Forest is a bit rough, then on to some tarmac descending into Fort William. The sight of Ben Nevis is impressive. The highest mountain in Britain, I had climbed this mountain back in 2010. For details of my climb in 2010 see the link below:
www.britisharmysgtmonkey.wordpress.com/2012/03/09/my-climb-up-ben-nevis-in-scotland
I have no photographs to show you as my camera died last night! So there you go, no battery and no photos.
Anyway I made it to Fort William and celebrated completing my walk in six days.
My backpack weighed a mere 14.5 kgs when I got home. It was 25.9 kgs when I started the walk.
When I got back home, I checked my feet for sores and blisters.
My feet were sore with blisters
I had blisters….
Having finished my walk, I had to examine my sore feet.
….as well as my foam going mouldy!
I was examining my feet for blisters.
Luckly for me, I know first aid.
I put a plaster on my sore feet.
I did my walk. A cuddly toy completing the 96 miles route in six days.
I would like to thank all the people who supported me in my long distance walk.
– The End –
For more information on the West Highlands Way please visit:
Scotland long distance walks: West Highland Way – part 1
Last year, I had completed my first Scottish long distance walk. This year I was determine to walk the famous West Highland Way.
The West Highland Way was Scotland’s first long distance route established in 1980. It is also the most popular of the Scottish National Trails. It is 154km long (96 miles) and run from Milngavie on the edge of Glasgow to Fort William at the foot of Ben Nevis. Many walkers after finishing the walk make the extra achievement of climbing Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Britain.
A map showing the West Highland Way route.
The path uses many ancient roads, including drovers’ roads, military roads and old coaching roads, and is traditionally walked from south to north.
About 85,000 people use the path every year, of whom over 30,000 walk the entire route and I was going to be the first cuddly toy to walk the entire route.
This walk is very popular in the summer when the weather is generally fine. However with Scottish midges being the pest that they are, it was for this reason that I had decided to do the walk in September/October. However, at this time of the year the weather can get bad – very bad! It was vital that I had the right outdoor gear but with my army training and my collection of Ray Mears books, I knew that I was ready for this walk.
As with my long distance walk of last year, I was determine to carry all my camping gear along the way. My backback weighs 25.9 kgs. That is 100 times my own body weight but I was determine to carry all my own gear and not use the commercial baggage services that are popular on this long distance walk (that is cheating!)
My walk starts in Milngavie on the edge of Glasgow.
The start of the West Highland Way.
It was a bright sunny day when I got off the railway station and I was hoping that this dry and sunny weather remains for the rest of the week.
The start of my big trek!
The path officially starts in Milngavie town centre, where a granite obelisk is located. However since almost all trekkers start at the railway station it has become that the railway station has become the unofficial start of the walk.
The first stage of my walk takes me from Milngavie to Drymen. This stage is 19 kms (12 miles).
The walk takes me through a park.
Walking through a park.
The urban landscape is left behind at Milngavie as the route enters Mugdock Country Park.
Leaving urban life.
It is easy to navigate the route as the path is well marked.
The route is well marked.
This section of the walk is wasy going as it navigates the lowlands however it can be muddy in places.
The walk takes me through Mugdock Country Park.
I was getting hungry so I decided to take a break on a river edge.
Me taking a break in the woods of Mugdock Country Park.
The walk was interesting and I saw many strange and wild mushrooms.
I was not going to eat this!
The walk takes me to the lowlands.
The hills of Campsie Fells came into view.
Suddenly I trodden on some poop! It was animal scat. Referring to my Ray Mears tracking book I tried to identify this animal.
I spotted signs of Scottish wildlife.
I identify this scat as coming from a cow!
Then I saw it!
A cow!
Scottish wildlife as it best!
The hills of Campsie Fells were getting very close now.
The hills of Campsie Fells were closer now.
I came across a funny sign!
Warning of dangerous monkeys!
Apparently monkeys here are dangerous!
Then I saw it, a wild cuddly toy monkey….
I saw the cuddly toy monkey.
I called out to the Monkey in my native jungle Borneo dialect.
The wild monkey was wild!
It did not communicate back! I guess it only speaks Scottish that I don’t understand.
The hills of Campsie Fell.
I stopped for another rest.
I was admiring the view of the hills.
I was enjoying my wild mushrooms snack but it did make me poop funny later that day.
I was enjoying the views.
The path passes Glengoyne Distillery but I was not going to sample a malt whisky as I was set to remain dry on this trek.
The path passes Glengoyne Distillery.
As the sun went down, I approach Drymen and enter Queen Elizabeth forest.
The scenery was stunning.
The sun sets on my first day so I set up camp in the woods.
The sun sets.
It was a dry and mild night.
To be continued….
For more information on the West Highlands Way please visit:
Poll – Where’s Monkey?
Today was the deadline for the Where’s Monkey poll so now we will reveal the answer to the photograph.
Monkey is on the highest mountain of Britain but where is he?
We can now reveal the answer to our reader’s poll.
It wasn’t Mt. Everest or Mt. Sinai. It was in fact Ben Nevis in Scotland.
Read about our wee monkey adventures up Ben Nevis here:
https://britisharmysgtmonkey.wordpress.com/2012/03/09/my-climb-up-ben-nevis-in-scotland/
Congratulations to all of those with the correct answer. One of you successfully guessed the correct answer. Please contact our webmaster on our usual webmaster email to claim your prize which is a signed photograph of our wee monkey personally signed by our wee monkey. We will email the photograph to you.
This is the last of our “Where’s Monkey” competition for a wee while as we are starting a new competition tomorrow morning.
The new competition is “Where is this toilet in the world?”. As you all know, our wee monkey is a keen traveller and has been all over the world. Obviously, when nature calls our wee cuddly toy need to spend a penny and as such visited many toilets around the world. Some of them have been a charming experience and some of them had been horrible experiences. Our wee monkey has photograph some of these toilets of the world and tomorrow competition we will ask you to guess where is our feature toilet photograph. As with all of our competitions on this fantastic website, the prize will be amazing.
The “Where is this toilet in the world?” competition will be published at 8am tomorrow morning (UK time).
The webmaster team
My climb up Ben Nevis in Scotland
Me and Auntie L. woke up to a lovely sunny summer morning. After a heavy bacon and sausage sandwich, I was ready to climb Ben Nevis – the highest mountain in the UK at 1344 metres.
At the start of the Ben Nevis path.
I was not happy at having to carry a 35 litre backpack weighing 12 kgs. I am only 30 cms tall! I wish Auntie L. would carry her own pack.
The hike up the mountain was long and slow going. Auntie L. was not at all keeping up with me.
We stop at a waterfall halfway up and ate our peanuts. I like them.
On the way up Ben Nevis.
Another check of the map (see link: http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/maps/map4_2fw.shtml) and then we proceded on. A very steep climb from here onwards and into snow. YES snow!
At the top of Ben Nevis.
Auntie L. who is my adopted auntie was not keeping up with me and this made me a little annoyed *HUFF*. Anyway we got to the top and we ate our sandwiches.
At the top of Ben Nevis.
Many people go up this mountain and it is a bit of a tourist trap, but it is the “BIG ONE” in the UK.
Admiring the view from the summit.
It took us about six hours for the ten miles trek.
I had made it to the top.
For more information about Ben Nevis please visit:
britisharmysgtmonkey 