LIFETIME of WALKS by DEREK HARWOOD

Up early at Alltsigh YHA for an early start to day's walking. First to have breakfast, then all packed, sat in the car in the hostel car park to find the car would not start. I asked around for any jump leads but no luck. I was in danger of missing the first bus from A82 to Drumnadrochit. A kind fellow hostel guest offered to drive me to the nearest fuel station in Drumnadrochit. I took up the offer and we successfully started my car. I took care not the stall the car. I stopped in Urquhart Castle car park to quickly take photos, then continued without stopping the car engine to the proposed finish of the walk at Blackfold. I parked on waste ground opposite a house called Blackfold, so I knocked on the door and spoke to the disabled owner who explained that I was parked on estate land and nothing to do with him. I unpacked my bike from the car and cycled very carefully down the very steep hill to the A82 main road. With all the excitement I had obviously missed the early bus, and with the next bus at least an hour away I decided to thumb for a lift to Drumnadrochit. I was successful with an Indian family on their way to the Isle of Skye. Feeling very thankful I started walking about an hour later than proposed. A good result considering my problems. From the village post office, opposite the bus stop I walked along the A82 main road on the footpath, passing the Loch Ness Exhibition Centre to the west of Loch Ness. I passed a couple of Trail Rangers sat in their car on the forest track. They chose to park at the best place for the finest views of the loch. As I rested while sitting on a rock on the forest track, a young Dutch chap I had spoken to on the previous day's walking. We had a good natter again before he walked on. I hadn't expected to meet him with me being later than planned, and he camping on the trail route. The walk was quite flat on the plateau with a section of path past a café and camping site, then a long lane section to the end of the day's walk. The exception was a change to the route from the map, meaning the path no longer went past where the car was parked, despite a blue post directing the way past the car. I followed the new route and realised I wasn't going to pass my car. I considered crossing the rough ground to the road but I couldn't see the house Blackfold. I eventually did cross the rough ground and found myself very near the house and car. (The Dutch young lad had stopped at the café so he caught up with me again near the end of my walk. He was walking on to Inverness, so we shook hands and wished each other success). When I reached the car it started ok. I drove down the steep hill to the main road and loaded my bike into the car, then drove on to find my new accommodation in Inverness. Wow, what a day's adventure, never to be forgotten

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