14 May 2013: 14km. Started 11:00. Arrived 16:30.
Phil had some transporting to do and Zeta had gone to work so I had a planned late start again which was fine given the short distance of my walk. I had accommodation booked in Kinlochleven as Zeta had encouraged me to book it the previous day. I spent the early part of the morning looking at my new route and dividing it up into day sections. Zeta had helpfully found a tourist magazine with some accommodation listings.
Phil cooked me a delicious full breakfast but only ate a slice of toast himself. He confided in me about events leading up to their move to Scotland. With all they had endured, the way that they have thrown themselves into this new life and the cheerful way in which they help anybody is almost unbelievable.
My late start fortuitously resulted in me having the best of the weather. It was still raining and required me to set off from Kingshouse in full waterproofs. However the patches of blue sky were promising. The Dutch men who had stayed at the pod near the ski centre passed the Kings House Hotel as I set off. The terrain was reasonably easy initially but then ascended steeply up the Devil’s Staircase. A group of army novice walkers from Chester barracks and their two trainers overtook but they were only carrying small rucksacks. My hip was feeling much less uncomfortable – the relative rest the previous day had obviously helped. At the top, the weather was good and I was rewarded with some excellent views. The summit was actually quite crowded – the army team in a group shelter nearby, two ladies who knew “all about me” as Phil had been transporting them and transferring their luggage and a man who I had seen in the bar at the Kings House the previous day. He showed me a better way of getting my rucksack on – actually it was too heavy for me to do it but worked later in the expedition after I had posted home some excess possessions.
The summit view disappeared as the weather took a turn for the worse again so I started my descent. By the time I walked into Kinlochleven past the hydro scheme and aluminium works, the weather was better again. I passed an old lady in her garden – who told me she couldn’t manage it any more – a familiar story.
My room was huge and immaculately decorated. No wonder it had seemed expensive. There was phone reception so I managed to book some accommodation in Fort William after several attempts. I couldn’t get a booking for the following night at Gairlochy on the Great Glen Way. Each person I phoned suggested another but eventually my “chain” led to a successful booking in Spean Bridge with a lift from the path in the evening and back down in the morning.
Where's Kathryn? 