The start was delayed by 2 hours due to heavy sleet and snow falling which luckily did not lie. The forcaste said things would improve as I went west and indeed I cannot complain about the weather I recieved.
Cycling along the canals was easy going through pleasant countryside and I arrived at Milngavie, the start of "The Way" around 6.30. I bivied at the end of Mugdock Woods about 20 minutes cycle from the start.
Highlite of the day was seeing a wild mink which came to within 3 metres of me whilst I was stopped.

I awoke to the call of a lone female red deer, a very strange noise much like a bark. The weather was looking good.
The push, due to steepness and erosion, up the last part of Conic Hill is worth it for the views out over Loch Lomond.

Loch Lomond from Conic Hill.


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The North East end of Loch Lomond was a nightmare due to the terrain. I pushed, dragged, lifted, carried and even scrambled on two occasions for 3 1/2 hours. I gave up trying to cycle early on due to the frequency of unrideable obstacles.
I arrived at Doune bothy at 7PM and after heavy and cold rain for the last 1/2 hour and the fact that my shoulders were killing me it was a lovely sight to behold. I spent a very pleasant evening with Martin and Jim, 2 Glaswegians and Chris, an American.

Doune bothy in the morning.


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Next day I did very few miles due to tiredness from my exertions the day before and the pain in my shoulders, I only made it to Tyndrum before calling it a day.

The military road above Crianlarich looking towards Ben More and Glen Dochart.


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My Tyndrum bivi in "the wettest woods in the world".


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This bivi spot took a 1/2 hour to find due to the 5cm deep moisture laden moss that carpeted the woodland floor.

Weather wise looking like another great day with Rannoch Moor and the descent off The Devil's Staircase to look forward to.

The climb onto Rannoch Moor.


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Rannoch Moor looking east to the Grampians.


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The going on Rannoch Moor was easy with a lovely descent off the top, however, the weather threw 20 minutes worth of heavy hail at me as I neared the high point.

Rannoch Moor in the hail.


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I had a rest before the push up The Devil's Staircase which is not as bad as it sounds.

Top of The Devil's Staircase looking over Glen Coe to Stob Dearg. The group are Manchester Geology students on a 10 day field trip.


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The descent off the top to Kinlochleven was great with many a rock garden to contend with. Near the bottom of the technical stuff I had a bad spill, hitting my head hard on the ground but luckily missing a big boulder. I was dazed for about 5 minutes and sat recovering for anotherb 10. I set off at a more sedate pace and on arriving at Kinlochleven decided to call it a day despite only 15 miles to go, I was still feeling a bit wobbly after the crash and decided to play it safe.

Kinlochleven bivi with me "n" tinnie.


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Same bivi looking west to Sgorr Dhearg behind the tree.


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The weather was great on the last day but it started with a 20 minute push up an eroded path to a landrover track.

At the top of the pushwith Bein Na Caillich in the foreground.


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The same spot looking in the direction of travel.


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The rest of the going was easy with the occasional techy bit thrown in followed by an easy descent through woods to the road leading to Fort William.

All in all a great ride but if your tempted then get the ferry past the north east part of Loch Lomond. South/North is the best direction of travel to get the best descents. Technical bits are dominated by paths with both loose and buried rocks and boulders, rock gardens and paths eroded down to the bedrock.

I am no longer a bivi virgin but feel I am still to be baptised by setting up and sleeping under a tarp in the rain.

That looks superb Ray ... great intro' into lightweight

ray,

looks like a hell of a ride!

nice work fella.

Ray,

the bit you mention about the ferry. roughly where are you saying it's easier? get the ferry at Inversnaid or Ardleish? Looking at the map which came this week. Plan WHW onto Great Glen Way.

Hi DNF, I took the higher forest road from Ptarmigan Lodge to Rowchoish bothy so don't know what the lower path is like. It was from Rowchoish bothy all the way to Ardleish that I struggled. The bit from Inversnaid to Ardleish is definatley the worst bit. Hope this helps and enjoy the trip. The descents off Rannoch Moor into Glen Coe and from the top of The Devil's Staicase to Kinlochleven were my favourite bits. :D

Ray,

That's a far way on the map, you struggled with! The question is if cross at Rowardennan is that a successful WHW trip?

If your worried about thinking you haven't done the WHW then you could do the Rowcoish bothy to Inversnaid bit which on it's own is sort of bearable and will give you an idea of the terrain. It's just the Inversnaid/Ardleish bit (which is far worse) added on that really did my head in.

I don't think I'll worry, as a friend said you are just 'crossing' Scotland, 3 national trails and 8 days riding. I'll be the nicest smelling person on the Virgin train out of Glasgow on the return leg