Day 6 - Loch Laide to Drumnadrochit

 The body is feeling much better this morning after a good night’s rest. The sky is blue with sunshine over the mountains.

We also had different breakfast options this morning which was nice.

Breakfast room

Kody had toasted crumpets with warm berries, topped with Greek yogurt and drizzled with honey. 

I had an omelette with ham.

While we were waiting on our transport Keith, the B&B owner, came out and said come around here and let me show you something. 

They’ve built a little cottage to let. It’s not completely ready yet but very close. It is so well done and perfect if you want to stay for a few days and do some hiking/exploring of the area. 

It has a full kitchen with all the things you need. A fireplace, hot tub out back and lovely garden. 

Taking photos of all the flowers around the B&B

Dwarf orange poppy

Iceland poppy

Welsh poppy

Tulip

Our transportation arrived and we piled in with two women from England and a young man from Utah who’s currently living in Barcelona. The women from England have done about 6 walks in Scotland even though they live right in the middle of Wainwrights C2C walk (Kirkby Stephen) and have never hiked it. 

For people who hike the Great Glen Way in six days, the last day covers more than twenty miles. We elected to hike seven days, so our last two days are 9 miles and 12.5 miles respectively. Our transport drove us north to Loch Laide in the morning, and we hiked back south to Drumnadrochit.

These trees are loaded with pine cones. 

Starting out, we were further west of Loch Ness than the previous two days. The land was a mix of moor, and pasture. 

As we climbed higher and higher, we entered the Abriachan Forest. We actually missed the turn at first and had to retrace our steps. This is a newer trail that Macs has added to the GGW and has become the new highest point on the Way. It hasn’t been signposted with the thistle yet and is why we missed it. We were following the thistle. We could also have been distracted by a couple easily jogging up the mountain as we were struggling to catch our breath just walking. 

Set high above the shores of Loch Ness in the Highlands of Scotland near the beautiful Loch Laide, Abriachan is a scattered rural community of about 130 people. In 1998 the community purchased 540 hectares land from Forest Enterprise. The Abriachan Forest Trust, as a social enterprise, has managed the forest and open high ground to create local employment, improve the environment and encourage its enjoyment by the public. Therefore they built and maintain a network of spectacular paths, family suited mountain bike trails and innovative outdoor learning as well as health and well-being opportunities. One of the more unusual trails they created is the Peat Path to Fitness, a 8km/5miles moorland walk incorporating a range of active challenges starting and ending at Car Park. We saw parts of this fitness challenge as we walked along. Sorry for all the bird pics but Jo Anne said I had to post ALL the pics. 

Colorfully painted wooden birds led the way, already creating a sense of warmth and joyful playfulness. Although the warmth may have had something to do with the sun beating down. 😁 

Carved mushroom from a tree stump. 

Carved bench

Carved sculpture

The views from the top were stunning and 360°. 

And we don’t look too worse for the wear right?

The trail took us on a small high route with a fantastic viewpoint at Carn na Lietire at just over 1400'. It was well worth the effort on this short day. We’ve taken the high route option everyday. We are a glutton for punishment. Actually we just can’t get enough of Gods glorious creation. It is truly magnificent!

Kody was reading an informational sign. 

Very mossy pole

And no we didn’t visit the whiskey still. 

This is the father/daughter from Holland. We saw them several times everyday but only once today. They were walking the opposite direction as us and we couldn’t believe that we met them at the only place on the trail that the two paths intersected. Kody took their photo and we said our farewells. They are flying home tomorrow.  Notice their large backpacks. They are carrying everything with them from Inn to Inn. I’ll take the luggage courier anytime thank you. 

For the latter part of the day, we passed back into conifer plantation land, and drew closer to Loch Ness. 

Common dandelion, couldn’t resist. 

Urquhart castle 

Zoomed in view

The history of Urquhart Castle can be traced back to AD580 when a Pictish Fort is said to have stood on the same site. At that time St Columba is believed to have rested here on his way from Iona to Inverness. The ruins that can be seen today date back to at least the 13th century when, in 1296, it was captured by the English King, Edward I, but was later recaptured by the Scots under the newly crowned King of Scotland, Robert the Bruce, in 1306. But that wasn't the end of the turmoil; there were frequent battles over the castle between the English and Scots and also the Clan MacDonald and the Scottish crown. The castle came to an untimely end during the first of the Jacobite uprisings when the Catholic Stuarts tried to regain the Scottish crown. Government troops, who had been using the castle as a garrison, destroyed much of it in 1692, once they had no more use for it. Historic Environment Scotland now looks after the ruins.

Along the Great Glen Way, where there are not lakes or forests, there are sheep. Sometimes we could see hundreds of the little white wool balls dispersed far up the mountains. Today, we were close enough to listen to the lambs bleating, as we walked two miles on a one-lane country road along fenced pastures.

Massive oak trees

Kody and I had been talking about how we hadn’t seen a single hare and what to our wondering eyes should appear???

Mountain hares, also known as blue hares, live in the Scottish Highlands and are well-adapted to life in mountainous areas. They have powerful hind legs that allow them to run at high speeds and long, sharp claws that help them dig in the snow for food. One of the most striking features of the mountain hare is its ability to change the color of its coat with the seasons, turning white in winter for camouflage against the snow and changing to a grey-brown color in spring and summer to blend in with the heather and rocks.

Just outside of Drumnadrochit is Temple Pier. There wasn't much to see there but it was where, in 1952, John Cobb attempted to break the world water speed record on Loch Ness. He arrived at the pier with his jet-propelled Crusader boat. After many test runs, Cobb went for the record on Sept 29th. Although he became the first man to pass 200 mph on water, it ended tragically when his boat flipped and broke apart killing Cobb. The record didn't count because he did not complete the necessary distance.

The final mile and a half back to Drumnadrochit was on the busy A82, which fortunately had a sidewalk.

These flower pics were taken along that stretch. 

Pentaglottis

Red catchfly buds

White campion

Lady’s glove (foxglove)

More red catchfly

And of course I couldn’t leave out the national flower of Scotland - the spear thistle. This one got Kody as she walked by, very prickly as you can see from the photo! The thorns are particularly sharp and can grow up to 30 centimeters. We have seen thistle pillows, paintings, faux thistle flower arrangements, coasters, mugs and multiple thistle souvenirs. They truly are everywhere. 

Shepherds needle 

We walked on to the Loch Ness Inn (8/10ths of a mile further each way) to eat an early dinner so we wouldn’t have to get out again. 

There was only one vegetarian option on the menu. 

Spiced roasted cauliflower with pickled red onion and a dill, tahini and chickpea dressing. I’ve never seen a head of cauliflower on a plate for dinner before. 

I had beer battered east coast haddock served with chips, peas or mushy peas and tartar sauce, otherwise known as fish and chips 😁. 

We spent a second night at Bridgend House where the hosts have been so very kind. I was given more ice for my foot. I asked how close it was to the nearest place to get a bottle of sparkling water and he said the coop which is just under a mile away. I told him that was a bit too far for me tonight. About 20 min later there was a knock on the door and he said water delivery! He had gone to the coop and bought a two liter bottle of sparkling water. How amazing is that?

Tomorrow is the final day of our walk across Scotland. There is excitement but also sadness as we near the end. It always gets here too fast. 

Stats:

Steps - 29,895

Miles - 12.3

Elev Gain - 1,481’

Time - 4 hrs

We’ve seen and talked about solo hikers on some of these treacherous trails and how dangerous it would be if you fell. I said there’s a verse about that!

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, 

For he has no one to help him up.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NKJV

Working, living, and cooperating with others always brings a better result than trying to do everything ourselves. From our beginnings, God designed us with a need for relationships. Our sinful nature, though, leads us to take pride in how strong we can be on our own.

I believe “labor” refers not only to our daily work, but to our quality of life in every area, especially our faith.

Matthew Henry put it like this: “In all things union tends to success and safety, but above all, the union of Christians. They assist each other by encouragement, or friendly reproof. They warm each other's hearts while they converse together of the love of Christ, or join in singing his praises. Then let us improve our opportunities of Christian fellowship.”