CLOG'S Second Highland Fling
FORT WILLIAM
KINLOCHLEVEN
Thursday 26 May 2011


Our Day To the WH Way On the WH Way Scenic Return Evening Maps Please Read Me



Our Day

We set out to join the West Highland Way and Kinlochleven was our destination. An unforgettably scenic bus ride back to Fort William made our afternoon. In the evening we dined in Fort William.



... and stop for a quick refreshment as we admire the view ahead.



Joining the West Highland Way

We walked out of our respective front doors (we lived in separate "flats" at Calluna), along a gently rolling road, to join the West Highland Way at Blar a' Chaorainn. On the route, we stopped a while at a viewpoint above Fort William to admire the scenery around the Sea Loch (Loch Linnhe) around the town.




A viewpoint above Fort William beckons us to stop awile ...



... and take some pictures.



Elaine makes sure that we don't miss interesting features of the landscape.



On the West Highland Way to Kinlochleven

On the West Highland Way, a descriptive poster enlightened us about a punch-up in 1645 between the MacDonalds and the Campbells. From this point, we were engulfed by majestic Highland scenery, which accompanied us all the way to Kinlochleven (in Gaelic the "Head of Lake Leven"). This part of the West Highland Way was the "Old Military Road".



On the West Highland Way we learn that in 1645, the MacDonalds were somewhat discourteous to the Campbells ... and some tourists got me to translate the story of these dark doings.



We are on the Old Military Road ...



... and stop for a quick refreshment as we admire the view ahead.



We pass a ruin that testifies to the harsh existence eked out by the crofters of old.



A Scenic Bus Ride back to Fort William

In Kinlochleven, we just caught the bus back to Fort William and avoided a two hour wait. From the bus there were marvellous views across Loch Leven, and then across Loch Linnhe. I managed to get some pictures from the bus as we skirted the eastern and southern shores of Loch Leven.




Loch Leven - seen with raindrops at Kinlochleven.



Still at Kinlochleven, looking westwards along Loch Leven



Loch Leven near Ballachulish - looking north east.



Still more of Loch Leven near Ballachulish - this time looking north. Soon we were to cross the Ballachulish Bridge and head back to Fort William.


Our Evening

As already mentioned, the culinary art in Fort William, was, according to a guide book, still in the ascendancy. However, we found a suitable eatery in the High Street to give us sustenance at the end of our day.