Great Glen Way diary

Walking across Scotland - The Great Glen Way: Fred's diary

Having signed up to complete the Great Glen Way and raise money for Epilepsy Action early in 2007, my son Martin and I we knew we had to do all we could to raise our fitness level to meet the challenge. All went well for us, in our individual training programmes and we were also heartened by the terrific support we had been given by family and friends.

• Take part in the Great Glen Way challenge for Epilepsy Action

The walk was scheduled to start in Inverness on Saturday 18 August so we left home mid-morning on the Friday and flew up from Gatwick, arriving mid-afternoon. The airport at Inverness is rather different from Gatwick - the most noticeable difference being you could count the total number of passengers at Inverness (not quite on one hand though). After a very leisurely bus ride from the airport into Inverness city centre, through beautiful scenery and in lovely weather, all we had to do was find the hotel we had booked for the night. Finding it proved to be easy. Getting there was not quite the same, as I was so keen to watch the traffic lights as we dashed across the roads - and believe me you had to - I didn’t notice someone had dropped a tin of white gloss paint in the road and I slipped on it ‘big time’. I was carrying my kitbag, with nearly a week’s supply of clothing, boots, cameras etc, so when I hit the deck the earth tremor must have been felt in Glasgow. It was very fortunate I was not injured in any way, but it was not without its problems, such as having one shoe plastered in wet white paint while trying to book into a hotel and not leaving footprints everywhere I went! After a very enjoyable evening sampling the ‘local produce’ we retired early as we knew day one of the walk was going to be a bit of a challenge.

The next morning we rose early enough to see it had rained hard during the night and it was then only raining lightly - just enough to soak you if you did not cover up - but also warm enough to ensure that if you did cover up you would be soaked in sweat. Never mind, we laughed, and reminded ourselves we were doing this walk for pleasure. We left the hotel in high spirits and in only five minutes were in the castle grounds ready to meet the organisers and other walkers, including Derek, who was also walking to raise money for Epilepsy Action.

After a brief introduction and taking a few photographs at the start point, the seven volunteer walkers and two guides started on their way while Ian, the event manager from Charitytreks, headed off in the personnel carrier with all our luggage to Drumnadrochit, where we were to stay for the first two nights of the walk. Depending on who you listened to, Drumnadrochit was 18 miles away, or ‘only 16.5’. But whichever it was, that must have been measured in a straight line as it felt like 30 by the end of the day.

All the walkers were getting to know each other on this first day of walking and as we chatted away, except when we went up some of those little hills and breath was precious, good progress was being made. It was unfortunate that the weather was not good on the first day as it was not possible to see some of the scenery - but we knew it could only get better.

We had been advised that our first night in Drumnadrochit coincided with an open air ‘Runrig’ concert at the same location for umpteen thousand people and this might cause a few problems with our transport from the end of the walk point to our B&B. As it turned out we had no problems but those attending the concert in the pouring rain in an open field did find a few. After we had enjoyed a nice meal and a refreshing drink we returned to the B&B and I think everybody was in bed by 9pm! This timing proved to be just about right as it was the time for ‘Runrig’ to start, but even the pleasant tones of rock and roll music played on bagpipes and drums just outside our window failed to keep us awake for long.

Day two started on a good note - the rain had stopped, the most challenging day of walking was behind us and we only had 15 miles to walk this day! The walk took us high above Loch Ness and we did see and film some most spectacular scenery, both in the forests and across the loch. Although some of us less experienced walkers were finding it quite strenuous, it was a super experience. We also knew that the last three days of walking were to be much easier, mainly along the Caledonian Canal and by the sides of Loch Oich and Loch Lochy.

We started day three with a good ‘Scottish breakfast’ inside us and again the weather was improving by the minute. We were optimistic of a good day. The walk was from Invermoriston, where we had finished the day before, and was mainly along the canal, with a few little hills thrown in to stop us getting complacent. It was also the day when the aches and pains of the first two days began to evaporate into thin air, as Tim, our guide, had predicted. After reaching Aberchalder at the end of the day and having yet another long hot bath at our B&B, we retired to the local hostelry to replenish the calories and liquid lost that day. Early to bed, early to rise as day four was to be another one of those ‘mini-marathons’-17.5 miles to be precise (if you believe what they tell you and I don’t).

As we started day four we knew we were well past the half way point, only 28 miles of 73 to go and the weather was beautiful. It was a glorious start to the day and Ian promised to appear with his ‘little red personnel carrier’ at different points along the way with a fresh supply of water and chocolate bars: we set off with our spirits way up high. Although there was some fatigue and a bit of pain being experienced by some of the walkers, nobody complained, and as the day went on the sound of jokes and laughter became the norm. We did all agree though that the clown who sited the only mileage post we saw as we got closer to Gairlochy, that said 3.5k (approx two miles) when we were sure it was about six miles, was not our favourite person! Gairlochy was however reached and day four was complete.

As we were preparing for the start of our last day of walking, packing our bags etc, Martin said to me: “I didn’t think I’d ever hear me say this, but it’s ONLY 10.5 miles today!” He was right though, that was a fact and, what was more the forecast was for ‘wall to wall’ sunshine and temperatures up to 25 degrees. As agreed for our last day of walking, we donned our Epilepsy Action T-shirts and headed off from Gairlochy to Fort William. This last day of walking proved to be fantastic. The weather, the scenery, the company we were in, was all we could have wished for-and we knew the finishing post was ‘just down the road’. It was a marvellous feeling when we reached the official finishing point for the walk and to know ‘it’s all downhill from here’. We all then went to a local hotel where we could freshen up. After a light lunch and a ‘swift half’, the certificates to confirm we had completed the walk were presented. This was to be the point where we all went our separate ways, some straight home, some to Glasgow, and some, Martin and I included, back to Inverness - but by car this time!

It was a great experience. The organisation of the whole event was first class and Charitytrek and Epilepsy Action are to be congratulated for this. The support we received was incredible and enabled us to raise about £1,500 in sponsorship for Epilepsy Action. However, if I can be a bit sentimental here at the end, it was truly fantastic for me to take on the challenge of the walk with Martin, at a time when I am well into my retirement and he is so busy in the world of work I used to know and we no longer have the chance of so much quality time together.

• Take part in the Great Glen Way challenge for Epilepsy Action