We woke to a cool overcast morning. There had been a few light sprinkles last night but our pack-up this morning was dry. We started with an easy downhill bushwhack into Glen Affric at the Alltbeithe hostel/bothy. The boys were game for a quick river crossing across River Affric to shave off a little distance, which we were able to do relatively incident free - one of my boots slipped in but I didn’t get a soaker. At this point the clouds started to break up and we got some more of that Scottish sunshine that has been so kind to us this trip. We were joking tonight that we are so tanned that we are going to have to make sure to share our pictures with everybody in order to make sure they know we weren’t actually in Hawaii or the Bahamas!!
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| Carnach |
The four or so kilometres off-track up Gleann Gaorsaic were surprisingly kind to us and before we knew it we only had the steep descent into Strath Duilleach and a couple more kilometres up the track to Iron Lodge where we are pitched up tonight. The view of the buildings at Carnach and Loch na Leitrich as we descended into the glen were very picturesque in the sunshine.
Our tents are set up underneath a huge maple tree tonight - three Canadians camping under a maple seems appropriate I think! There must be several dozen bees hard at work in the tree as it sounds like a bee hive down below in our tents. The flowers on the tree must be good because nobody has bothered with us since we arrived.
Our tents are set up underneath a huge maple tree tonight - three Canadians camping under a maple seems appropriate I think! There must be several dozen bees hard at work in the tree as it sounds like a bee hive down below in our tents. The flowers on the tree must be good because nobody has bothered with us since we arrived.
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| Maple Tree!!! |
After dinner we went down to the river and had a good face and hand wash. It felt very refreshing. After that we walked up to a waterfall nearby, before coming back and having dessert and a hot beverage. It was a very nice wind-down for the night!
Today was interesting in that there was very little conversation during the walking. Things picked up at dinner, but it was very quiet during the day. I don’t think anybody minded, but it was just different than the rest of the week.
We did some more reflecting on the trip today and agree that 450 km in 18 days was ambitious. If I were to plan it again I would do it in two trips with a little more flexibility than this time. Live and learn, I guess. Next time we won’t make the same mistakes.
Feels like it might be chilly tonight. I’ve got everything I need either on me or keeping warm in my sleeping bag. I’m off to the loo one more time and will be bundled up for the night by 20:00. Not bad!! Thanks for reading, and good night everybody!
We did some more reflecting on the trip today and agree that 450 km in 18 days was ambitious. If I were to plan it again I would do it in two trips with a little more flexibility than this time. Live and learn, I guess. Next time we won’t make the same mistakes.
Feels like it might be chilly tonight. I’ve got everything I need either on me or keeping warm in my sleeping bag. I’m off to the loo one more time and will be bundled up for the night by 20:00. Not bad!! Thanks for reading, and good night everybody!
Health update - Blister situation is very positive right now. Legs are feeling decent all around. Ben is still struggling with his sore achilles, but was leading the way over the last few kilometres today. I will be keeping my eye on it and decide if we need another rest day when we get to Kinlochewe.
Best camp meal so far:
Zach - Ham and cheese buns with tomato soup
Ben - Same
JM - Same
Favourite hiking snack so far:
Zach - Fruit pastilles
Ben - Double Decker chocolate bar
JM - HobNobs at tea time
Route details:
We deviated from the SNT as per plan today. Once we got to Glen Affric we headed north through Gleann Gaorsaic. We picked up a trail at NH 033 247 and followed it as it descended into Strath Duilleach near Loch na Leitreach. We followed the glen NE and are wild camping beside Iron Lodge at NH 043 293.
Best camp meal so far:
Zach - Ham and cheese buns with tomato soup
Ben - Same
JM - Same
Favourite hiking snack so far:
Zach - Fruit pastilles
Ben - Double Decker chocolate bar
JM - HobNobs at tea time
Route details:
We deviated from the SNT as per plan today. Once we got to Glen Affric we headed north through Gleann Gaorsaic. We picked up a trail at NH 033 247 and followed it as it descended into Strath Duilleach near Loch na Leitreach. We followed the glen NE and are wild camping beside Iron Lodge at NH 043 293.
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