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Showing posts from April, 2019

John Muir Way: Section 2

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  Balloch  to Strathblane How to get to Balloch From Glasgow there is a regular train service that runs through Glasgow Central and takes just over an hour to get to Balloch. You will have to change trains at Westerton, but you only  need to wait  afew minutes for the connecting train to Balloch. There is a regular bus service from Buchanan Street bus station however the train is more convenient. Where Does it Start? From the train station, cross the road and take a right. At the end of the bridge take a left where the route will start at Balloch Country Park. The Route From Balloch the route takes you through the Country Park before heading east. The path takes you out through the main entrance to the park. There is a Children's Hospice on the left, you would be looking to walk straight on. The first section of this walk is on minor roads that connect farms and small cottages to the main road. Farm Roads More Farm Roads Proper Trac...

The John Muir Way: Section 1

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Helensburgh to Balloch Sculpture At The Start The John Muir Way comprises of 10 sections, which make the 134 mile distance. The Way starts at the Firth of Clyde and finishes on the Firth of Forth. My plan this year is to walk the route over the course of 2019 and the route primarily runs through the central belt, there is good access to public transport. The link to the route map is below. John Muir Way Route Maps How to get to Helensburgh . Helensburgh is 20 miles west of Glasgow. If travelling by car from Glasgow head along the M8 west, following signs for the Erskine bridge and then Dumbarton. There is a regular bus service from Buchanan Street, however I decided to take the train from Queen Street station direct to Helensburgh. The overall journey by train is just under an hour.  Where does it start? View over the Firth of Clyde The starting point is at Helensburgh pier, which over looks the Firth of Clyde. There is a couple of small sta...

The John Muir Way

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It's that time of the year again when the world doesn't seem quite as dark as it did a few weeks ago. You think that the weather will decide to heat up some as well, however, what happens is that it starts to snow and we have record low temperatures for the time of year. Anyway the plan for this year is to walk the John Muir Way, a coast to coast walk starting in Helensburgh and ending in Dunbar. The total distance is 134 miles and is broken into 13 stages. The plan is to walk the entire route over the course of a year. I know, what a cheat! But the reason for this is that I don't spend too much time away from my young family. The plan for April is to do the first two stages, the first of which is a 9 mile hike between Helensburgh and Balloch. I will be using the John Muir website to use their maps and information.  https://johnmuirway.org

Where to Stay on the Great Glen Way: Part 2

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Fort Augustus Even though it may not look it, this is one of the bigger places on the Great Glen Way with a range of places to stay. The most cost effective if your on a budget would be the Loch Ness Highland Resort, where walkers are welcome. The camp site is located in the middle of the small town. There are also a large amount of B&B's, which could set you back about £60 + per night  during the summer season.  Another option would be to stay at the local youth hostel, Morag's Lodge. The lodge itself is  located in the The Great Glen Way and  would be slightly less expensive at about £50 per night.  Morag's Lodge Loch Ness Highland Resort Invermoriston Okay, the first couple of places on this list are located a few miles outside of Invermoriston, however they are still worth mentioning. The Lochside Hostel is located just off the Great Glen Way, there are signs from the track down to the hostel. The hostel offers budget accommodation bu...