West Highland Way (for softies)

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 03 Mar 2009, 22:26

Has anyone done the WHW? Last year I walked the last 72 miles of the Southern Upland Way from St Mary's Loch to Cockburnspath. This May four of us are going to do the second half of the WHW from Crianlarich to Fort William.

We intend to make it easy for ourselves. Forget gruelling schedules, heavy packs and wild camping. This is fifty miles over 4 days with B&B accommodation and our rucksacks carried ahead of us.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 03 Mar 2009, 22:32

Homer did the Caledonian Challenge a couple of years ago. 54 miles in 20 hours.

BeachBum · Post by **BeachBum** » 03 Mar 2009, 22:35

Bob Jefferson wrote:... ...St Mary's Loch to Cockburnspath. ... ...

St. Mary's Loch and the Loch of the Lowes is in a nice neck of the woods, being just a wee jaunt from Selkirk we often used to go there. Very nice on a summers day. A bit of a hop, skip & jump is gray mayers tail which was another stopping point for us.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 03 Mar 2009, 22:41

Marya wrote:Homer did the Caledonian Challenge a couple of years ago. 54 miles in 20 hours.

Sounds mental. Is that 20 hours non-stop?

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 03 Mar 2009, 23:22

The 20 hours included short breaks to eat and change their socks. But yes, non-stop and mental. Didn't appeal to me funnily enough!

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 03 Mar 2009, 23:27

They ate their socks!?!? Sounds like a Japanese endurance game.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 04 Mar 2009, 01:24

I really hope she doesn't mean that they exchanged socks then ate them! I mean I like the heels off a loaf but heels off socks is too far. Especially other peoples. And especially if there were one legged members of the party.it simply doesn't seem fair some only getting half as much to eat. Did they make toest?

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 04 Mar 2009, 09:39

Mr E did the WHW about 20 years ago. We took a caravanette and the ladies drove from one campsite to the next while the nutters walked it (with only one very small rucksack containing food between them)! Amazingly though, it didn't rain once!

Bazza · Post by **Bazza** » 04 Mar 2009, 13:35

I've done it three times, wild camping and camping by pubs along the way.

It's an easy enough walk, although the last day - Kinlochleven to Fort Bill is a bit strenuous. From sea level up to the lairig at 2000 ft, then a further 10 miles on to the finish, with the last few miles on concrete.

But with no packs, it should be easy enough!

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 04 Mar 2009, 20:34

I had planned to book the 17:37 train back from FW. Does that give us plenty of time to get there?

Bazza · Post by **Bazza** » 06 Mar 2009, 11:52

That train sounds fine. It's very strange speeding back down by train. Five days of hard walking gone in a couple of hours...

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 06 Mar 2009, 22:17

Yes, that had occurred to me actually but I'm looking forward to getting on that train, putting my feet up and enjoying a few celebratory beers.

Robin! · Post by **Robin!** » 08 Mar 2009, 12:53

Good luck with the walk. Tis something I would like to do as well.

Talk Porty ~ Portobello

West Highland Way (for softies)

West Highland Way (for softies)

Re: West Highland Way (for softies)