Last 2 Days

Doing a blog from a mobile phone in the highlands of Scotland can be quite difficult as the signal masts or few and far between. We often had a signal up on the hills but not when we got to our B&B stop.

It id now Wednesday and we have completed the walk, but I will try to recall the events of yesterday for the record.

We got up early and had breakfast, such as it was, at 7.30. I had cereal (rather too long since it's sell-by date) and toast. J and K just had toast. J had to get them go change the milk twice as it was sour. That cost £4 each

We watched the 8.15 sleeper train arrive then got on our way. Kevin and myself could not wait to be on our way. Kevin because of the lack of hygiene in the place and very poor facilities, me because I disliked the man running the place - he talked through his backside, was opinionated, slow and lazy! Most of what he said was complete garbage! Julia complained that we were too critical and the experience enriched our lives and made us appreciate what we had... I suppose she had a point but The Sleeper could have been 100% improved with a little care and some elbow grease.

During the morning we saw our first eagle and went through more "kissing gates" but again I missed out as I had no one to kiss!

The walk was again spectacular. We went across Rannoch Moor, open, wind swept and very boggy. We had planned a short day and were looking for somewhere to eat our lunch, out of the wind, when it started to rain and sleet. We were only a couple of miles from our destination at Kingshouse Hotel but decided to take shelter in the Glencoe Ski Centre cafe, where we shared a bowl of chips and had a coffee each. Once the rain eased we completed our walk down to the hotel and had our showers etc before retiring to the bar.

The weather got steadily worse and the bar filled.up with soaking wet people looking in vain for accommodation.

We had an early supper and went to bed VERY early (asleep before 8pm!)

This morning we were up at 6 and left the hotel at 6.45. We had ordered packed lunch in lieu of breakfast so got away before the crowds. We ate a little at the bottom of "The Devil's Staircase" then slowly walked up the steep zig zag path. The cloud cleared and the day brightened. We saw another eagle and a small brown furry creature too quick for Kevin or myself to recognise it. SpectAcular scenery again and we got to Kinlochleven at 10.55 just too early for Kevin to have a pint, so we settled for coffee and bacon sandwiches - even Julia had one (she was already regretting her earlier, rash decision to finish the trek today with a walk which Kevin'd map said was 22 miles, but which my research showed to be 25.)

The walk out of Glencoe was breathtaking though light rain set in for a while. Kevin kept saying it was only 5 more miles and all downhill. He was, of course wrong!!

The 3 areas of forest we were supposed to walk through had been logged and the landscape looked like a Mansfield. Very barren, harsh and lifeless. The sun came out again and we finished the walk at 6.45. I am not sure how any of us found the energy or grit to keep going today as it was very, very long and hard, but we did it !

We got our certificate, which I will add to the blog when I get home, along with some photos.

Tomorrow we are going on the "Harry Potter" train for a day of rest.