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UK travel

Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

Original poster

Anyone done the West Highland Way?

30 replies

aGalChangedHerName · 19/05/2009 09:56

DH and DS1 would like to do this. Anyone done it?

Any tips to make it a great experience? Or anyone any made mistakes they want to share?

Thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
aGalChangedHerName · 19/05/2009 12:30

Wee bump for this.

OP posts:
Original poster
aGalChangedHerName · 21/05/2009 18:04

Another wee bump???

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muggglewump · 21/05/2009 18:06

I'd like to do it too, not this year, perhaps in a few years when DD is old enough to not whinge appreciate it.

georgiemum · 21/05/2009 18:09

How old is DS?

We did it and I don't think it would be great for small children.

And the midgies..... the midgies....

Original poster
aGalChangedHerName · 21/05/2009 18:10

Oh ds1 is 18 in September lol. Think he'll handle it better than DH [wink}

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georgiemum · 21/05/2009 18:14

Oh not a baby then.

Don't be a hero and carry your own packs though - there are companies that drive your pack from hotel to hotel whilst you just take a daypack.

And it rains. Quite a lot. And take the bug spray.

Good fun though. I would definately recommend it.

liath · 21/05/2009 18:16

Hi agal. I did this with dh and some friends just after we graduated. My big mistake was carrying WAY too much weight, we decided to camp so were lugging tents, food, stoves etc. If I did it again I'd use one of those companies which ships your bags for you .

It was a fantasic walk, though.

Original poster
aGalChangedHerName · 21/05/2009 22:32

Thanks girls. His brother wants to go too so may not be able to go till April/May next year now. He was not going to be carrying anything heavy so he'll be looking into the bag carrying companies.

He wants me to go with him in August but not sure i could manage all that walking!!

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liath · 21/05/2009 22:36

You should borrow DH - for some reason he is irresistable to midges - we made him walk about 20 paces ahead to attract them away from us . You could hardly see him through this dense cloud of the beasties...

CouldYouWouldYouWithaGoat · 21/05/2009 22:37

are there no bothys on the way?

nuttysquirrel · 21/05/2009 22:43

Hiya

April/May is a great time to go, usually not too midgey and especially in May a good chance of nice weather (although doesn't seem to be happening this year

Anyhoo, just invest in some Avon skin-so-soft dry skin spray, a fab midge repellant, apparently the Army use in on training exercises in Scotland.....

Original poster
aGalChangedHerName · 21/05/2009 22:50

He looked at bothys but fancied a guest house/hotel instead Goat.

Liath i will suggest that to DH lol.

How many miles do you walk per day?

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Original poster
aGalChangedHerName · 21/05/2009 22:51

Nutty yes Avon for sure. Always buy it for going abroad too.

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expatinscotland · 21/05/2009 22:58

I wouldn't go if I weren't carrying my own gear, but that's just me.

I met a dude last week when I was doing 9 miles of it who had all his own gear on him AND camping and his rucksack weighed 18kgs.

That's not bad at all unless you're doing a lot of elevation gain in one day and it's not too bad on the WHW.

I'm going to try to go for it next year when my folks are here so I can get away.

nuttysquirrel · 21/05/2009 23:00

aG I know, it worked repelling the marauding sandflies in NZ, I think I missed making my fortune.....becoming an Avon rep there...........(a wistful nutty emoticom)........

Original poster
aGalChangedHerName · 21/05/2009 23:01

See Expat that's what i was thinking. If you wanted to do it properly then you would camp out and do your own food etc? I did call DH a wuss lol. He said he will do it the "easy" way with a B&B or whatever and camp out the next time.

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Original poster
aGalChangedHerName · 21/05/2009 23:03

My friend laughed at me taking it abroad but i came home with no bites. Had loads of nasty bites usually with repellant after a holiday.

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nuttysquirrel · 21/05/2009 23:04

18kg !!! thats nothing, that man should try carrying a toddler plus kit up Ben Lawers........ I have made a vow to stop going up mountains with him, when DS in backpack reaches the weight of a winter climbing rucksack.......

nuttysquirrel · 21/05/2009 23:07

oppps just realised I got the wrong end of the stick on that one........ you were meaning 18kg wasn't tooo bad to walk with......(note to self........read message before typing....).....sorry

MrsMuddle · 21/05/2009 23:56

Friends did it last year. They said it was like Sauchiehall St! They used one of the carrying companies and stayed at B&Bs en route. I think they did it over a week.

If you're doing it in the summer, you'll need to book accommodation quite far in advance.

CouldYouWouldYouWithaGoat · 22/05/2009 08:33

walking into knoydart is less like sauchihall street. there is a bothy half way and you have to get the boat back out

expatinscotland · 22/05/2009 08:45

He was no spring chicken, nutty, so I was well impressed because he was fast.

I carry DS and gear, but he's only 6 months and weighhs 27lbs., so I dare not slog up a peak with him in tow!

DD1 can do pretty well walking, but DD2 at age 3 is still just a bit too young to make it very far.

expatinscotland · 22/05/2009 19:47

nuttysquirrel, do you mind my asking what sort of carrier you use?

DS is only 7 months, but he weighs 27lbs and is a little over 28 inches long.

i don't hold any illusions about schlepping up a munro with him on my back, but if we're able to rent a house we really like, it'll mean i will need to tote him up and down some hilly, albeit paved, terrain for several miles a day.

so i'm looking for some serious comfort!

i'm flogging some stuff in a boot sale to raise the necessary funds, but any suggestions would be much appreciated . my only criterion is that the carrier must have a rain cover available to buy.

am looking forward to this in a perverse way as i hope to be in shape to do the WHW a little after my 40th birthday in a couple of years.

georgiemum · 23/05/2009 09:34

You will have a great time. Just bear in mind that the weather is totally unpredictable but there is some of the most beautiful views int he world there. I can't wait until DS is old enough to go with us.

There are some very nice B&Bs. We did stop at one that was also a campsite and out bedroom was above a bar (!!!!!) so not very restful. Otherwise we stayed in some lovely little cottages with fantastically nice owners.

It is only horrible when really wet on walkways that are muddy (they can be quite slippery so take a collapsable walking pole and gaters!

Oh I am getting quite excited about this. May take DS on the first couple of days this summer!

Take blister pads too... and you may lose a toe nail or two. It isn't sore but is a bit unsightly!

nuttysquirrel · 23/05/2009 21:55

Hiya expat

We use a Macpac Possum one, to be honest we got it free from a friend (very much appreciated). Anyhoo can seriously recommend it, we have used it from 6 months to now 22 months old. It has a sun canopy and a rain cover and is v comfortable despite DS weight at the mo.... He rally seems to like it. Its got loads of storage space and is fully adjustable for carrier and child. Rain cover is very rainproof....

hope that helps!