Walking on the West Highland Way

Well it didn't take me long to start on my next walking project! Having completed the Ayrshire Coastal path last Saturday I walked a bit of the West Highland Way today. This was not me taking the initiative though, it was because it was the low level route for today's hill-walking club day walk. It suited me well because it was a section that was new to me. Over the years I have walked the same section from Inverarnan to Bridge of Orchy many times with school groups, and today I walked from the Inveroran Hotel (north of Bridge of Orchy) to the King's House Hotel, so I am well started on the West Highland Way. To be honest I wasn't looking forward to today's walk but it turned out to be great fun. I was in a supportive and congenial group of four and we all chatted as we ambled along. Also the scenery was spectacular; beautiful open countryside ringed by steep mountains. And the weather was great, warm and mainly sunny, and not a drop of rain despite the forecast. We met and chatted to other walkers and had lunch beside a picturesque bridge. We arrived at the King's House Hotel which had deer grazing outside and had drinks in the lounge while waiting for the others (one group climbed a Corbett, the other a Munro). We got talking to a friendly Dutch man who regaled us in a lovely accent with stories about his hill-walking; "The wind was trying to shuck me up and I fell and twishted my knee!"and also to a pleasant but footsore couple who were walking the route for charity. After everyone had arrived and had a drink or two we set off home with our passengers and now I am heading for bed, exhausted not so much by the walk (it was only 14 km) but by the long day. I would love to walk the whole of the West Highland Way one day.