Friday: Rowardennan to Inverarnan

We had a lovely evening catching up with Sheila and Eddy, who retired to the west of Scotland before we went to the west of Wales, but managed to get out of our welcoming Airbnb in good time for the ferry back to Rowardennan. Loch Lomond was tranquil, the sun was shining and all was set fair for a good day’s walking.

The first section was straightforward, and we took the high road which got us to Inversnaid about an hour before the couple who took the low road, which twisted along the side of the loch. Over lunch at Inversnaid I made the mistake of reading the guide book, which said that the following section was the most difficult part of the entire West Highland Way. We spent the afternoon clambering and sliding up and down boulders and tree roots, with plenty of mud and innumerable streams flowing down the hillside. I find this terrain challenging as there isn’t much spring left in my legs, but Ian happily charged off ahead leaving me whimpering in the rear having banged my head on an inconveniently placed tree.

At one point it was warm enough to strip down to t-shirts, but while we were having a restorative cup of tea it started hailing so we put a few extra layers on us and our bags and set off again. Eventually we reached the top of the lake, finishing the day in a lovely valley, in the evening sunshine, with snowy peaks ahead of us.

Tonight we are in the Drovers Inn. Stuffed animals everywhere. The Haunted Room is next door, but since ghosts can allegedly walk through walls, who knows what might happen? We have the Argyle Suite: 3 single beds and a washbasin. Facilities are somewhat basic but it is happily trading on 300 years of dodgy history.