The Seniors Challenge took place on Friday 24th July leaving Kidderminster and Lye behind for a long trip to Scotland. We arrived in Airdrie in the evening and stayed at Jackson Church where Tom Russell was a member of the BB Company there.

 

DAY ONE- Saturday

We walked from  Milngavie to Balmaha which was 21 miles. The weather was very good and we started are walk with thoughts of the journey ahead. We stopped for lunch which was chlli-con-carne boil in the bag meal and cooked them over the gas stoves.  This first part of the walk was mainly over flat ground with the occasional hill to walk up or down. After 13 miles we met  the mini-bus  and left our rucksacks in the bus for the last part of the walk. The last 8 miles took us through a forest before going over a very steep hill which was not that easy to climb over but the view  over Loch Lomond took our breath  away . On the evening we went to our tents for a well deserved rest.

 

DAY  TWO -Sunday

The rain started in the early hours of the morning and was very heavy. On this we decided not to walk the next part so we went  ahead to our  next camp site at the Ben Glas falls. We spent the rest day after setting up the tents having a rest .

 

DAY  THREE- Monday

The rain greeted us again in the morning but not as heavy so we decided to walk. We walked from the campsite to Crainlarich where we had another boil in the bag meal . After this lunch we walked along the old military road to the Bridge of Orchy. The views as always was amazing with mountains on both sides and in front. We set up camp at  Tyndrum and the Seniors had a improvised game of cricket.

 

DAY FOUR- Tuesday

We returned to the Bridge of Orchy to walk to the hotel of Inveroran. This took us through a forest and we climbed up a hill of thousand feet to see some amazing views across the loch and the mountain range ahead of us. We then went to the camp site at Kinlochleven and set up camp at what was a train station. Later on we went with the intention of walking the devils staircase but a puncture on the mini-bus stopped that plan as we turned back and had to call out a recovery vehicle which changed over the wheel for us., at at this stage it was early evening and the rain was pouring down.

 

DAY FIVE- Wednesday

We woke up to no rain for a change. After taking some advice we decided not to walk the last part of the West Highland Way but instead to use the day to climb Ben Nevis. We arrived in Fort William and took on supplies for the climb ahead. After a visit to the visitor centre to check on conditions and to buy a map of the mountain we set  off to the top. It was midday when we left and we arrived at the summit at 4:45pm where it was very windy and cold but it was worth the climb. The descent was also hard work trying not to slip on the rocks and just before 8pm we arrived back in the car park. On the evening we were met by the 2nd Fort William and stayed at their church. To celebrate the challenge we had went to a Chinese restaurant and enjoyed a great meal.

 

Home -Thursday

We spent some 10 hours getting back from Scotland. We were glad to be back but we brought back many good memories