|
HIKING
ITINERARY
Trip leader reserves the right to alter this itinerary due to
weather conditions or the walking ability of each group.
DAY 1, Friday, April 24,
2009 – Arrival Day
We will rendezvous at
Glasgow airport early on the 24th. We are then transferred to
Rowardennan and spend our first night at the 3-star hotel on the banks
of Loch Lomond. This will be a free day to recover from our over
night flight and explore the area around our hotel.
DAY 2, Saturday, April 25,
2009
Guided hike up Ben
Lomond. Start and finish at the same hotel where we
will spend a second night.
Total distance: 7.5
miles.
Continuous walking
time: EST. 5-6 hours.
Vertical ascent:
3200ft.
Level of difficulty:
Strenuous
DAY 3, Sunday, April 26,
2009
Today is a
self-guided hike on the West Highland Way. We will hike from
Rowardennan to Ardleish. We will hike nearly all day along the shore of
Loch Lomond.
We have 2 options:
The first is a 10
mile hike to Ardleish. Once there, we boat across Loch Lomond for 10
minutes to Ardlui and then transfer by mini-bus to the village of
Glencoe.
The 2nd option is
upon reaching Ardleish, we continue hiking an extra 4 miles to
Inverarnan. This is a pleasant walk and we can also have an end of day
Adult beverage at the well known and very charming Drover's Inn before
being collected by mini-bus to take us to Glencoe. For the next 4
nights, we will stay at the Clachaig Inn, a well known Hotel for
climbers and hikers. We chose this hotel rather than B&B’s because
it is also the best place to eat locally, with good beer and other
“cheer:, and a great atmosphere in the bar. We will also have a snug
bar to ourselves for eating, but will still be a part of the atmosphere
for the rest of evening, when there is Scottish traditional music and
always good “craic” among other hikers and climbers.
Total distance: 10 or
14 miles.
Continuous walking
time: 5 or 7 hours
Vertical ascent: lots
of ups and downs but very little vertical.
Level of difficulty:
Moderate or strenuous. (easy walking but a long hike)
DAY 4, Monday, April 27,
2009
Today we hike on the
West Highland Way from Kingshouse to Kinlochleven. We will climb over
the Devil's Staircase near the head of Glencoe. There will be 15
minute transfers by minibus at start and finish. Overnight again at the
Clachaig Inn
Total distance: 9
miles.
Continuous walking
time 5 hours
Vertical ascent: 750
feet.
Level of difficulty:
Moderate.
DAY 5, Tuesday, April 28,
2009 - REST DAY:
Explore Glencoe, site
of massacre of Clan McDonald or try some other self-guided hikes (low
level or high level) - there are plenty to choose from. Overnight at
Clachaig Inn
DAY 6, Wednesday, April
29, 2009
Guided climb up
Buchaille Etive Mhor, the mountain that dominates the eastern end of
Glencoe. The actual route will be decided with the guide. Minimum total
distance: 4.5 miles, but could be extended to take in part of the
ridge.
Total ascent:
(minimum) 2500 feet but steep.
Requires 15 minute
transfers by minibus at start and finish
Continuous walking
time: 5-8 hours.
Level of difficulty:
Strenuous.
DAY 7, Thursday, April 30,
2009
Self-guided hike on
the West Highland Way from Kinlochleven to Fort William, over another
high pass to the foot of Ben Nevis.
Overnight stay at a
B&B at Glen Nevis end of Fort William
Total distance: 14
miles.
Total vertical: 700
feet.
Continuous
walking time: 7 hours.
Level of difficulty:
moderate. Easy walking but long
DAY 8, Friday, May 1, 2009
Self- guided hike up
Ben Nevis. Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in Britain at 4409 feet.
By anyone's standard “The Ben's” is a big day. You begin the climb
virtually at sea level and ascend the full 4409 feet to the roof of
Britain. The views are stupendous on days when the summit is clear; sun
glinting on Loch Linnhe far below, the colossal cliffs of its north
face, the Cuillin Ridge and distant Skye.
Total distance: 12
miles
Vertical: 4400 feet
Continuous walking
time: 7 hours
Level of difficulty:
Strenuous
Overnight in the same
B&B
DAY 9, Saturday, May 2,
2009 - Departure Day
After breakfast,
transfer from Fort William to Glasgow airport (approximately 2 hours 30
minutes)
For more information
and to register, contact the leader, Dick
Ernenwein, 4 Commonwealth Ave, Newburgh, NY 12550, 845-565-3866, rernenwein@msn.com
|
