Day 9 - Drymen to Rowardennan

Day 9 - Drymen to Rowardennan Hike Day 2 - Dryme to Rowardennan (24 Km) #westhighlandway2024

Had some breakfast, got to try Marmite, it's definitely unique but less shocking than I was expecting, it was snot popular with Farah or the other couple staying here (which have the exact same itinerary as us, it seems)

Walking Time: 6-8 hours | Ascent: 650m / 2130ft Terrain: Mainly good paths or tracks; one challenging climb up Conic Hill followed by a long and in parts, steep descent to Balmaha; the beautiful lakeside section from there is twisty and undulating and longer than many expect.

And we're off

It didn't take long for us to shed our coats due to warming up as we walked. Currently at Balmaha roughly halfway but it was slower going than yesterday as we went up and down a mountain/hill called Conic Hill. Stopped at an inn for a relaxed lunch before the back half

Some beautiful vistas though it started by going through a herd of cows and their aromas

Then we saw peeks of loch lomond

Then better and better views as we climbed

Took a short rest where it crested to take in the view, then went down which was steep and quite rocky for a while, was too focused so no pics, before it turned wooded

Farah's been listening to an audiobook but I've been going without anything though if you want to live in my head it's playing this on loop because that's where we are and will be walking for a while

And we made it!

And some stats

And some pics for the part after Balmaha, it transitioned it more of a woody hike with some ups and downs but also started with some beautiful views on the bonnie bonnie banks of Loch Lomond...

And some of the forest bits

A slower paced day but a lot more up and down so the end was tough... Tomorrow is a full 10km more so we will see how that goes

Had some dinner and relaxed, saw some hikers we saw day 1 who planned to camp but yesterday was quite cold so they happened to book a last minute room at this hotel.

Also a super sweet older lady who used to be a nurse overheard the pain Farah due to a new blister and offered a needle and thread for a technique to keep it open by threading through the dead skin and then tying up the thread after. Super super kind

Anywho it's 9pm bedtime.