Following our last year's trek from Montrose to Blair Atholl, our trans-Scotland (East to West) project has just been completed.
The second half started at Blair Atholl and ended at the port of Oban. This took 6 days, covering - almost the same distance as last year - 87 miles. This time I was accompanied by Roger Harrison and, for the last three days, his son Will. The route from Blair ran West through the Perthshire forests to Kinloch Rannoch and Bridge of Gaur, then North West to the Loch Ossian Youth Hostel. Next was the Rannoch Moor crossing to Kinlochleven. For this we had our one rainy day, quite appropriate for the wilderness famous for its inhospitable bleakness.
From Kinlochleven we headed for the historic Duror Bothy, believed to be the ancestral home of James of the Glens, for those familiar with the "Appin Murder" featured in Robert Louis Stevenson's Kidnapped. However, no ghosts here. Only mice.
The last day was a flat march to Port Appin and the ferry across to the island of Lismore, then walking to the other end of the island to catch another ferry to Oban.
This time of year is the best for walking in the Highlands - relatively dry and too early for the midges. The snow-flecked mountain scenery was stunning, the morning temperatures brisk but warming rapidly in the Spring sunshine.
A thoroughly satisfying and exhausting trip!
Tom Coates
