Birthday beaches and wonderful West Highland Way walking!

It's always nice when you can stretch a birthday out a little more than a day. I managed to stretch it out to a whole week this year! But this year brought a special birthday (eek, it still doesn't seem real, I still feel like I'm in my early twenties!) so it seemed only right to stretch it out as much as possible.

It all began last Saturday (well, technically it began on the Friday, with my desk all decorated and with a glass of fizz later on!), as Dave, Tig and I made our way from the Borders to Crianlarich in a super cool camper-van borrowed from Dave's brother (not quite the classic camper we took north west in 2014, but cool in a different way!). After a quick bacon roll stop in Callander, where we met up with Mum, Dad, Ross and Andrew, we enjoyed a scenic drive (highlights included seeing 20+ Lamborghini's of all manor of colours going the other way!).

 

The forecast for Saturday was not great at all, and I had shelved my plan of bagging Ben More and Stob Binnein much earlier in the week. I wasn't going to get to 30 Munros by my birthday, so it really took the pressure off when the forecast wasn't cooperating. By Friday night, it was starting to look better and better, but I was keen to go with Plan B - walking on the West Highland Way from Crianlarich to Bridge of Orchy.

By the time we got towards Crianlarich, I knew this was a good call. Although it was shaping up to be a lovely sunny day, there had been fresh snow fall on the Munros and they looked pretty daunting. Impressive, and great fun for many I'm sure, but I'm not experienced (let alone fit) enough to tackle that.

Ben More looking snowy in the distance

We set off from Crianlarich around 12.20pm, following the road a short distance out of the village, before joining the path through the trees that links to the West Highland Way. We let Tig off the lead and so began her exciting day covering probably twice the distance we did!

The sun was beating down, and the views to Ben More and Stob Binnein were impressive. We passed a large group of walkers, who were understandably enjoying those views!

 

It was so good to be back on the West Highland Way, almost 3 years to the day after I walked its entirety over 6 days. It looked very different this time, with just a tad less snow!

March 2013

April 2016

It was also great to be in the company of Dave, new dog Tig, and family (minus brother Colin, we missed you bro!). I'd been alone on this part of the West Highland Way in 2013 - it felt very special to be spending the last day of my twenties on this walk with good company!

We set a good pace and after a couple of hours stopped by the wee lochan outside of Tyndrum for lunch. It was almost sunbathing weather!

 

Tyndrum was roughly our half way point, and it was later in the day than I thought it would be. However it didn't really matter, the only time we had to keep in mind was the 6.58pm train back to Crianlarich, but we still had lots of time for the next 7 miles!

The Tyndrum to Bridge of Orchy section of the walk is truly spectacular. The path meanders its way towards Ben Dorain, staying close to the railway line at times, and far enough away from the road.

March 2013!

April 2016

When I got a text from my Uncle Colin asking how the walk was going - and apologising that he couldn't make it due to babysitting duties - I was immediately suspicious. I tricked him into thinking I was at Melrose Abbey last year when really I was up a Munro on my way to join him watching cousin Colin finish his marathon, so I was half expecting him to do something similar. However I told myself I would try not to be disappointed if he wasn't at the Bridge of Orchy Hotel with pints on the go.

Well, I didn't need to be. We walked round a corner with Ben Dorain ahead of us, and saw a (young, sprightly looking) chap up ahead. Keeping up the family tradition of outdoor surprises, Uncle Colin had actually walked out from Bridge of Orchy to meet us on route (sorry you had to come so far!).

 

And so the 7 of us plus Tig made our way to Bridge of Orchy, arriving at 5.45pm, desperate for pints after 13 miles!

 

Dad, Dave, Tig and I got the 6.58pm train back to Crianlarich, with Ross, Mum and Andrew choosing the faster but surely less comfortable option of a lift back with Uncle Colin. The train journey was fantastic of course - a beautiful evening in a beautiful part of Scotland.

 

We spent a fun night in Crianlarich, with pizza, drinks, and chat, and we even managed a game with no arguments! It was a perfect day.

The next day - the birthday - was a quiet, chilled out affair. We were all a bit tired and sore, so it was nice to have a day with not a lot planned. I opened lots of lovely presents and cards, and felt very loved indeed!

 

 

After saying our goodbyes, Dave, Tig and I headed west towards Oban, stopping at Kilchurn Castle (my favourite) and Dunstaffnage Castle on the way. We pitched for the night at the campsite in Oban (stunning spot!) and enjoyed a birthday meal of microwave macaroni cheese with prosecco! Honestly, I couldn't have been happier.

 

 

 

 

Dramatic skies over the campsite

 

I even managed not to be grumpy when the alarm went off at 6am (after what was actually a reasonable night's sleep!), and off we set to catch the 7.15am ferry to Tiree.

6am

Tig's first experience of a ferry wasn't exactly restful, but she coped with the 4 hour journey very well. Once we'd arrived on the island, she had another first - her first beach, and what a place to do that!

 

 

 

 

We enjoyed our 3 days on Tiree - it is a beautiful island. The beaches are of course the main highlight. We didn't find it as exciting as the likes of Barra or Harris, given how flat it is, but we thoroughly enjoyed the beaches and fresh air on offer! We did a number of short walks, and visited as many beaches as we could. In the evenings we enjoyed pub meals with our wee doggy next to us. We slept well at the Wild Diamond campsite, and even met people we knew!

 

 

Ceann a'Mhara

Balephuil beach

 

From the ferry back to Oban

It was a lovely, relaxing break.

I was dreading leaving my twenties. Now it is upon me I just feel excitement about what the thirties might bring!

~~~~~

Elliot you were with us on the West Highland Way x
https://www.justgiving.com/Elliotlovedmusic
http://www.anxious-ambler.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/heres-to-you.html

Introducing...Tig!

I am so excited that Dave and I have a new addition to our lives, in the form of a wee Patterdale terrier called Tig!

We have been wanting to get a dog for so long now, and it seemed like there was never going to be a good time. But having spent time with our neighbour's dog Alfie (who is still growing!!) recently, we realised that we could actually get a dog, with just a few minor adjustments to our lives. Obviously we thought there wasn't enough excitement in 2016 already, what with a wedding to plan!

So we looked at various rescue centres until we found Tig at Dumfries and Galloway Canine Rescue Centre. Unfortunately, she'd been called Pig by her previous owners, but thankfully she is loving her new name!!

She's a 3 year old Patterdale terrier, and has enhanced our lives so much over these past two weeks since we collected her. Hopefully we have enhanced hers too!

There will be many walks and adventures to be had with Tig, and many dog photos to share!

Here's a small selection from her first two weeks:

 

 

 

 

 

We just got back from an amazing adventure on the West Highland Way and a fantastic trip to Tiree, so I have another blog to write this weekend all about those adventures! Stay tuned!