West Highland Way Run - 10th/11th
June 2006
Nigel
Rose
| The joint running weekend with Nicki's two clubs, Carnethy and Wye Valley Runners, was a great success. Things didn't go according to plan at first. A number of us were waiting at Edinburgh airport for Nicki's plane to arrive. After it had been listed as "On Approach" for half an hour, a call came from Nicki to say that her group had just landed in Glasgow. We piled into the minibus for a dash to Glasgow to pick up the others. A change of route then gave our guests magnificent views of Loch Lomond in the evening sunshine as we drove up to Crianlarich. It was nearly ten o'clock before we arrived at the Ben More restaurant and met up with the rest of the party. Twenty six of us sat down for a good meal then rushed off to the Youth Hostel before the warden locked up for the night. |  |
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Saturday started sunny and hot as we climbed up the hill to get onto the Way proper. Joanne accompanied us on her mountain bike as far as the first rendezvous at the Green Welly shop in Tyndrum. The next section gave us magnificent views of Beinn Dorain as we ran past Auch Gleann and on to the rendezvous at Bridge of Orchy station. Several team members took turns driving the minibus through the weekend so that everyone could get a good run. Those who didn't want to run the whole way could also get a lift in the bus. From Bridge of Orchy it was a short run over the hill to the last rendezvous at Inveroran Hotel. There was some competition amongst the drivers then to see who got the chance to drive to the Kingshouse Hotel in time to see the World Cup. |
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| It was a long, hot run across the edge of Rannoch Moor. There were superb views of the Black Mount hills to the west, some still with large patches of snow near the summits. To the east we could see for miles across the Moor. I could see little groups of runners strung out for miles ahead along the path. Further on, a delicious smell of wood smoke drifted across the moor, we later found out from forestry operations near Loch Ba. At last we rounded the side of Meall a Bhuiridh and saw the white buildings of the Kingshouse several miles ahead in Glen Coe. Richard and I kept ourselves going with thoughts of long, cool beers. It was good to all meet up again at the hotel and rest in the afternoon sunshine. The hotel gave us an excellent dinner then we retired to the lounge for an evening of good craic. |  |
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Sunday started more cloudy and cooler. This was just as well because we had a tight schedule to get back in time for the evening flight. The hotel did very well again, with an early breakfast and heavy-metal breakfasts appearing as soon as we sat down at the table. I think the Wye Valley runners enjoyed the first stage of Sunday's run most of all. There were magnificent views of The Buachaille, dappled with sunshine, as we ran towards the Devil's Staircase. There was a long climb up then we could see more hills and the Blackwater reservoir on the other side. Coming down into Kinlochleven, a few runners took wrong turns but we all ended up at the minibus. It wasn't a place to stay long as the midges were out. There was a steep climb back out of Kinlochleven then we could see the track winding for miles through the Lairigmor. The last rendezvous en route was by the road near Lundavra. There was a cut-off time of midday for the later runners to make sure everyone got to Fort William in time. There was some confusion at the end because a new section has been added to the Way to give two alternative routes into Fort William. | |
| We managed to find everyone before making a hurried departure from Fort William - most in the minibus and some on service buses to get back to their cars in Crianlarich. As I sat in the minibus I noticed quite a few runners were sporting bloody knees, grazed arms and other battle scars. Overall it turned out a brilliant weekend, thoroughly enjoyed by all. It was so nice to be able to show our guests some of Scotland's finest scenery. Many thanks also to all those who helped with the driving and in many other ways and especial thanks to Nicki who did most of the organising beforehand. | ||