Monday 17 November 2014

Great Glen Way - The High Route from Fort Augustus to Invermoriston

Hello

As we have lots of Great Glen Way walkers staying with us I am keen to walk as much of the way as I can to help answer any questions they may have. Today's section was from Drumnadrochit to Invermoriston on the much acclaimed High Route.

Fort Augustus and Loch Ness are just 30 minutes up the road from our guest house in Spean Bridge so by 8:30 I had started walking from a sleepy Sunday morning Fort Augustus.

The blue GGW signs let you know you are on the right track, more of this later.

The walk out of Fort Augustus is largely all up hill and in some sections very uphill. I would suggest not to overdose on breakfast. The photo below shows the small hill with the huge pine trees

Being the tail end of Autumn there is still lots of colour around


















Eventually a gap in the trees gives the first great view back down to Loch Ness

A little higher and looking South the sky is really clear down there.










Now the High Route separates from the Low Route but not where I thought so I had a little circular detour of about a mile. At the first white marker post you see which I think is opposite a viewpoint bench do not, do not, do not take it.
This is the path I was on which was fascinating because it was very dark and the path was untrodden. Look at the pine needles on this section. But if I had not taken the wrong turn I would not have seen this nor my first red squirrel of the day.



This is the Allt Na Criche burn which you walk up alongside to get to the High ground in a series of zig zags which seem to go on for ever.






First view from above the tree line back down the Great Glen with the curve of the Caledonian Canal in the middle.










All the views South had been great and I thought could not be bettered until I turned a corner and here was the view North










At this point my camera battery gave up so I used my mobile phone camera but it really did not do a great job towards the end of the walk.
This was the view from the shelter on the path which I guess is about half way on the route.

The walk along the top section is really quite easy on a great path and as I was nearing the end of the top section I thought I would enjoy the cheese sandwich I carefully made the night before. Oh dear tea, crisps, chocolate bar but no sandwich - still in the fridge! (note the 1990's Boots thermos flask)


 My first glimpse of Invermoriston - amazing from up here

The path down is pretty steep and I am glad I did not come up that way

Wildlife, right this photo below is of a red squirrel - can you see him in the middle. On the day I saw 3 red squirrels, 8 grouse, 3 ducks, two pheasants (worth counting?) and two birds that I don't know. They are blackbird sized, light brown in colour with white under their wings, very timid (they fly away as soon as they see you and don't stop flying!) and always seem to be in a pair.




 Down in Invermoriston and proof that it is so cold there they have heaters outside


The signpost with no paths







Monday 27 January 2014

Good advice on car hire when visiting our guest house in Spean Bridge, near Fort William, Scotland (or indeed anywhere!)

Hello

I was thinking ahead to when our visitors start arriving and trying to think what other information would be useful to them.

Well I know when I go on holiday finding the best car hire and watching out for potential problems can be a bit of a head ache so why not read this article on Money Saving Expert.com which goes into great and useful detail.

I know I have saved a fortune on "excess policy" costs by using this site and so have some of our guests including those from continental Europe coming to Scotland.

So go ahead and have a good read before its too late but one other tip - get a road map. Sat Nav is all very well but a map will always be by your side and the battery will not fail (:-)

And some ideas of what to do when you are here http://distanthills.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/what-have-spean-bridge-guests-been-up.html

Enjoy your week ahead

Peter
www.distanthillsspeanbridge.co.uk/travel