After a good nights sleep and a hearty breakfast I left the hostel at 8.35. John was walking down from the Drovers’ Inn at Inverarnan, and we anticipated meeting up around Inversnaid.
Initially the walking was easy on a good forest track with the inevitable ups and downs. It was another fine day and the early morning mist soon began to clear. In a few weeks’ time it will be a superb walk as more spring flowers come through. The woods will be mass of bluebells, but the primroses and violets made a fine show. The views west are hampered by the trees, so I was pleased to see the distinct outline of The Cobbler on the horizon.
Around 11.15 the Inversnaid Hotel appeared, with a beautiful waterfall which was crossed by a footbridge.
I dumped my rucksack at a table, went and bought tea, and returned to find John just arriving, perfect timing.
In the next section the path crosses some rocky ground in a switchback manner.
Rocky scrambles and tight squeezes were the order of the day.
A tight squeeze… Made it!
At one point a disoriented goose shared the path with us as did some feral goats.
By now we were beginning to think about lunch, so it was a relief when my phone rang and Eben and Jack, my grandchildren, were on the line. The perfect excuse for a stop. Technology is wonderful.
Returning to the fray, a very steep set of steps marked the end of the worst of the terrain. Ardlui appeared on the opposite bank of the Loch, and we were nearing our destination.
A couple more ridges were crossed before dropping down to the Drovers’ Inn where we arrived just after 4.00.
John and I had an early dinner and attempted to rehydrate before John returned home. I am very grateful for the support of my friends. John traveled from Edinburgh to accompany me today, and his excellent company meant the time passed quickly. Tomorrow I will be on my own again, before meeting up with Tricky and Alison on Tuesday at Tyndrum.
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