Tyndrum to Kingshouse Glencoe- 19 miles

I was up early this morning to start the journey from Tyndrum which would take me via the Bridge of Orchy into the mountains and across the Uk's largest wilderness Rannoch moor. It had rained heavily most of the night and the sound of a river close to my bedroom made it sound even worse. My first problem of the day was crossing a stream which had risen overnight. I failed miserably and fell off a stepping stone putting one hand in the water and filling my walking shoes with river water. After emptying them out I headed on my way. By now the rain was pouring and when I spoke to an American women she gave me some excellent advice. She said "look at it as an adventure". It certainly was and I was greatful to spend the next six miles talking to a student who was having a gap year. After the Bridge of Orchy you head to the mountains before taking the Drove road across Rannoch moor. The sun broke out and shone across its vastness. I had been reading Psalm 20 

this morning. " May the Lord answer you when you are in distress ; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you".

I think it sums up my experience of the day.

Inverarnan to Tyndrum - 12.5 miles

After a good nights sleep in the honeymoon bedroom I awoke to another grey wet morning. My bedroom was facing the road and every time a lorry went past it shook my bedroom. Breakfast was quite a communal affair and walkers having eaten paid their bills and set out into the wilderness . The walk today was full of bubbling rivers and waterfalls and then forest paths. I meet a elderly American walker who was singing to herself as she travelled through the forest. She said she had run out of songs to sing and was learning some poems! I'm staying in a bunkhouse which is comfortable and clean. I felt sorry for the campers who were trying to put their tents up in the rain last night, now that's dedication after along days walking in the rain!

Balmaha to Inverarnan - 21.8 miles

Today was one of the hardest walks of my life. It rained heavily for 7 hours and the path which ran close to Loch Lomond was a slippery obstacle course of tree roots and rocks. In places you had to scramble up and down with great care otherwise you could have easily have broken something. Making sure you eat and drink regularly and concentrate on the next few steps becomes very important to keep yourself going. Anyhow I made it and am having an early night in an inn that Rob Roy stayed at. Glad to be having an early night.

Milngavie to Balmaha - 19 miles

Walking in the rain may sound romantic but in truth it is to be avoided. That's what I did this morning by having a slow breakfast and lurking in the supermarket until I could hang around no more. It poured most of the day and even those faint appearances of the sun, flattered to deceive . Highlights of today's walk were the Cuckoo who called out at several places on my route and then made an appearance calling from a tall conifer. After what seemed like an age I reached Balmaha and had some soup in the Beech tree pub. My toes are sore but my B and B is excellent located right next to Loch Lomond

Glasgow to Milngavie -10 miles

With breakfast eaten I headed back to my room and picked up my rucksack to stride out along the streets of Glasgow. I was somewhat surprised to note how heavy my rucksack felt and wondered if somebody had slipped a brick inside it without me knowing. I was looking for the river Kelvin that was to become my "friend" for most of the mornings walk. A path/ cycle way called the Kelvin walkway takes you northwards out of the city into the suburbs and eventually looses you at a business park. I eventually found my way and followed the walkway again that had now morphed into a much quieter "cousin ". So quiet in fact I never saw anybody else until I reached Milngavie. Milngavie is an odd place well geared up for the needs of the walker but lacking public toilets. I trecked to the town hall to make use of their facilities. A man playing a cross between a violin and a trumpet seemed to be doing well on the busking front.

I missed the rain however which started long after I arrived. Let's hope it over by the morning.

Early morning walk along the coast

With my walk along the West Highland Way only a week away I thought I had better go out for a 10 mile  training walk along the coast to keep my fitness levels up. Some days things don't work out as you quite expect them to and I had difficulty motivating myself, along with  sore feet at the end of the day. I have come to realise that "bad" days are part of the long distance walkers life but are equally matched by special days where walking seems effortless. On reaching the wood above Branscombe I heard the Rooks  calling to each other from their Rookeries high above my head. Early in the morning, at this time of the year the birdsong is wonderful. A small Wren was defending his territory with beautiful song and the smell of wild garlic wafted through the woodland. May is my favourite month and the trees are just beginning to show a lush greeness and the Bluebells are also  at their best. As I  descended through the woods at Salcombe hill the scent from the Bluebells was wonderful and  smells very similar to Hyacinths . At the end of my journey at Sidmouth I had  a ice cream before I caught the bus back home. A mixed day but valuable experience for what lays ahead over the next few weeks.

Preparations for the Big Walk

I am hopefully off again on my big walk from Lands End to John O Groats in May. With this in mind I have started back into regular training to get my feet used to the demands of walking 18 miles a day for the two week period  that I'm tramping through the Scottish Highlands. So far since the start of my journey from Lands End I have travelled the length of England and have reached Glasgow in Scotland.

In May I plan to walk along the West Highland Way and pick up the Great Glen Way at Fort William. My final stop will be at Inverness at the end of the Great Glen Way. This then leaves about 150 miles to complete the journey, which I hope to walk in 2017, to get me to John O Groats.

Part of the last few weeks training has been in the sunshine of Lanzarote and on  the South West Coastal path here in East Devon. My feet are getting tougher so hopefully all will be well for May.