Date: Friday 10 May 2019
Route: Oban to wild camp by Loch Etive near Glennoe (NN 045 339, 5 metres)
Distance: 26 km (Cum: 26)
Ascent: 500 metres (Cum: 500)
Time taken: 8.5 hrs including 2.5 hrs breaks
Weather: sunny periods then 2-3 hours rain. Gradually improving in the afternoon
On a lovely sunny morning, we enjoyed a very good and sociable (other guests were fascinated by the TGO Challenge event) breakfast at Lagganbeg, then we strolled along to the youth hostel to sign out and meet with Markus. We walked with him all morning, until Sue and I paused for lunch in the shelter of an overhanging tree. Markus walked on to Taynuilt with Michael Colditz, whose route I vetted a couple of months ago. We didn't see them again.
Meanwhile, Richard and Rosie accompanied us to Taynuilt, where we spent a most relaxing hour and a half with them and Caburn in the warmth of the Robin's Nest Café. John (80) arrived as we were leaving. We do hope he has a successful Challenge this year after narrowly failing to finish last year.
By the time we left the café the sun was shining and all our waterproofs had dried. We strolled on easily to the shore of Loch Etive, where William had already set up camp. He encouraged us to join him. We found a perfect spot for our Hilleberg Nallo tent about 50 metres away from William.
Scott, a first timer who we'd encountered along the path, continued on past us, and Richard and Rosie did likewise. We can see their palace on a nearby headland. Peter and Rachel soon turned up and filled in a space next to William.
We thought this would be a very quiet place to camp, but a cuckoo has decided to broadcast next to our tent. Better than a black grouse leck I suppose.
Sue proceeded to cook an excellent dinner whilst I rested my back and composed this diary entry.
The day's walk was almost all on hard surfaces on narrow lanes. We have been blessed with a wonderful array of wild flowers in the hedgerows, and it took just an hour for the resident cuckoos to announce themselves.
Flowers include:
bluebells, primroses, wood anemone, greater stitchwort, bugle, herb robert, tormentil, lesser celandine, wild garlic, ladys smock, wood sorrel, dog violet, and more that we can't remember.
Today's pictures:
Signing out
Dipping our feet in the sea at Oban
Sue, John and Richard outside the Robin's Nest Café
Day 1 camp beside Loch Etive
Next Day
Previous Day
Index
Route: Oban to wild camp by Loch Etive near Glennoe (NN 045 339, 5 metres)
Distance: 26 km (Cum: 26)
Ascent: 500 metres (Cum: 500)
Time taken: 8.5 hrs including 2.5 hrs breaks
Weather: sunny periods then 2-3 hours rain. Gradually improving in the afternoon
On a lovely sunny morning, we enjoyed a very good and sociable (other guests were fascinated by the TGO Challenge event) breakfast at Lagganbeg, then we strolled along to the youth hostel to sign out and meet with Markus. We walked with him all morning, until Sue and I paused for lunch in the shelter of an overhanging tree. Markus walked on to Taynuilt with Michael Colditz, whose route I vetted a couple of months ago. We didn't see them again.
Meanwhile, Richard and Rosie accompanied us to Taynuilt, where we spent a most relaxing hour and a half with them and Caburn in the warmth of the Robin's Nest Café. John (80) arrived as we were leaving. We do hope he has a successful Challenge this year after narrowly failing to finish last year.
By the time we left the café the sun was shining and all our waterproofs had dried. We strolled on easily to the shore of Loch Etive, where William had already set up camp. He encouraged us to join him. We found a perfect spot for our Hilleberg Nallo tent about 50 metres away from William.
Scott, a first timer who we'd encountered along the path, continued on past us, and Richard and Rosie did likewise. We can see their palace on a nearby headland. Peter and Rachel soon turned up and filled in a space next to William.
We thought this would be a very quiet place to camp, but a cuckoo has decided to broadcast next to our tent. Better than a black grouse leck I suppose.
Sue proceeded to cook an excellent dinner whilst I rested my back and composed this diary entry.
The day's walk was almost all on hard surfaces on narrow lanes. We have been blessed with a wonderful array of wild flowers in the hedgerows, and it took just an hour for the resident cuckoos to announce themselves.
Flowers include:
bluebells, primroses, wood anemone, greater stitchwort, bugle, herb robert, tormentil, lesser celandine, wild garlic, ladys smock, wood sorrel, dog violet, and more that we can't remember.
Today's pictures:
Signing out
Dipping our feet in the sea at Oban
Sue, John and Richard outside the Robin's Nest Café
Day 1 camp beside Loch Etive
Next Day
Previous Day
Index
4 comments:
Just found you after my own return the other day. Wishing you both well. I'm battling away doing the slideshow of my trip with captions.
Thanks Conrad. Enjoy composing your slideshow.
A very good start at 26km. Looks a good camp spot, easy procurement of liquids. Weather looking descent onwards. Enjoy and hope you are not having back problems.
Thanks Alan.
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