Sunday, 19 August 2012

Drymen to Rowardennan

This stretch of the walk is familiar to me as I have walked this way a few times. Jo has lived in Drymen for at least 15 years because I remember the first Munro her son completed at the age of 3! It was Ben Lomond of course. which is just above Rowardennan.
Jo walked with us to Balmaha which is at the south end of Loch Lomond and the route takes you near to the top of Conic Hill (1175') and we did go the top for the photos. It is a spectacular view and was being enjoyed by all and sundry on this hot summers day. This is Sandra and I and Jo's  dog, Buffy.
Balmaha was HEAVING! We found a bench and ate the sandwiches Jo had prepared for us then she ran home while Sandra and I continued along the lochside.
Most of the lochside is now restricted to picnic areas rather than camping due to the amount of litter being left by folk. Even the residue of the picnics made it look a untidy because people just don't take their rubbish home and leave burnt out fire sites on the sandy shores.
Despite this, it is a beautiful walk with lovely stretches of woodland that are quiet and glimpses of views along the length of the southern loch.
It is an easy 14 miles but because of the heat we were happy to reach the hotel and carpark with toilets to wash off some of the sweat and sun lotion. 
The YHA is another 5 minutes walk away from the hotel and it is beautiful old hunting lodge, which sadly I didn't take a photograph of. I had booked a twin bed room which I had forgotten about so felt estatic on being given a key to our peaceful home for the night.
Normally the YHA do serve meals even if you haven't booked but not this evening as there were so many people staying...young people from Belgium. So we walked back to the hotel and had a really nice meal for £10 ish then fed the residue to their ducks and chickens. (Sandra had Angus Beef Burger and chips and I had fajhitas which were excellent). And cold lager.
We sat out in the sunshine until late without jackets or midge spray. Was this really the WHW?

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