West Highland Way - Page 4

Kinlochleven - Campsite 5 km before Fort William

In the supermarket we refueled up here again a lot of food, before we went, this time each for himself, on the last part of the WHW’s. Kinlochleven is located in a deep valley, logically I walked up steeply to the Lairigmor. The trail ran almost endlessly through the Lairigmor, past wonderful romantic ruins. It rained again and was extremely windy. Only later a piece of forest offered itself for a break.

Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Great Britain (1,344 m) already in sight, it went steeply uphill and then into a beautiful natural forest. After a cut down forest again up, and you had a magnificent view into the valley to Fort William, always on the right the Ben Nevis. Couple of mountain bikers passed me, time for some photos. After that I ran a quiet road into the valley and turned about 5 km before Fort William to the camp site.

Only a few people camped on the huge campground in April, I had already thought about running to Fort William. But I still had time, nothing pre-booked and thought about how I want to spend the next few days. Up Ben Nevis or a piece of Great Glen Way? I had time to think and after a few beers I postponed the decision until tomorrow 🙂.

Campsite 5 km before Fort William - Fort William and 10 km Great Glen Way

Already in the cold night I was looking forward to a warm accommodation today. So early scrubbed the last kilometers, I went into the city, past the entrance to the Ben Nevis ascent. If I still do the ascent, it is without my backpack, so first look for accommodation. Past the old end of the WHW, I ran first into the beautiful city center, always with a view to cheap overnight accommodation. Oddly enough, there were hardly any free B&B’s, probably it wasn’t a season yet, because the number of hikers can’t be the reason, I hadn’t seen so many.

At the WHW-Bank I thought about again, yes, the way was gone now, end, finito. It went by way too fast. Only on the other side of town I found a cheap accommodation, a hotel, but cheaper than most B&B’s. So checked in, it was only morning. Fort William is located on the shore of Loch Linnhe, Scotland’s longest sea bay, and I wanted to wander along the sea after the Highlands. So I decided to walk a bit along the bay into the Great Glen Way. Passing the downtown supermarket and the Old Fort, the first part of the trail ran through the suburbs.

Only after that I came to the shore of Loch Linnhe, there was still a stranded cutter, a few kilometers further I turned right onto the path along the Caledonian Canal. So I ran a few more kilometers on the straight track, late in the afternoon I had to slowly start the way back. And who did I meet there? Rick, this is where he started the last leg of his crossing of Britain. We chatted a bit, he was in no hurry, he always walked as far as he wanted and then camped. I also had time, it was now wonderful sunshine, and so I walked through the city and later into the warm hotel bed.