LIFETIME of WALKS by DEREK HARWOOD

Beautiful sunrise at 5am. Breakfast early for a prompt start to the day's walk. Very few buses in the afternoon for the return journey. I continued on Great Glen Way, lower route, expecting logging works to close the path, as many notices warned. A steep and steady climb to 300 metres (1000 feet), with only one bench to sit on. No suitable logs or stones to rest on. I joined the higher route with wonderful views of the loch to the right and left. The path was so steep and arduous I had to stay in the shade as much as possible, trying to keep as cool as I can. It was windy at the high point of the path where the loggers had felled the trees. A choice of windy and views, or calm and trees. I prefer the views, as always. In one place there had been a rock fall, with some trees still on the edge of the bare rocks. I didn't loiter at that point. There were good sign posts at the major intersections. Signs were always painted blue with the Scottish Thistle for National Path, very reassuring. The sides of the path were very mossy in places, under the trees. In the sunnier areas many clumps of primroses could be found (mid-May). With the yellow gorse and the sunshine, it was breathtaking. At one point about a third of the way into the walk, the route changed from a forest road to a forest path. This path continued to Grotaig, passing through Ruskin Wood with its high fenced and modern latch gates, suitable for horse riders. I passed a pair of boxes on posts, one each side of the path. The boxes were some kind of strange detector, counting the walkers. A man with a dog passed me and I wondered if the detector counted legs? At Grotaig the Way follows a long and narrow tarmac lane, away from the loch but to Lewiston. Glen Urquhart I continued on the very steep lane down to the valley. I finished the walk at the bus stop by Drumnadrochit post office, just beyond Lewiston. It had been a wonderful varied walk, although very tiring. Not to be missed but pick good weather if possible.

Location Map: - www.streetmap.co.uk, - Start: at Alltsigh YHA .
Finish: at Drumnadrochit