This was not the backpack that I’d planned. I had hoped to have spent a night out on the Affric Kintail Way, but a badly stubbed toe and then a few days of horrendous rain, put paid to that idea.
We couldn’t hang about waiting for the weather to improve either, as we had to be in Killin to meet up with someone, so for the sake of a night out I quickly hatched another plan.
I got Geoff to drop me off at Lochearnhead, and Pebbles and I would broadly take the Rob Roy Way to Killin, camping out in the process.
Not a lot to say really, other than it did not inspire me to walk the whole of the Rob Roy Way!
The weather was very hot (nice), but we had trouble finding a pitch for the night, close to water. There is a reservoir on the moors near Killin, but with the edges of it being sloping setts, it wasn’t the safest place to pick up water. In the end, I filtered 4 litres from a ditch and carried it a mile to a spot at the edge of the forest we would be going through the next day, to reach Killin.
An ok pitch then, but not exactly scenic and also fairly close in to habitation.
In the end, we did 11 miles on that first day instead of the planned 9, and Pebbles was definitely ready to stop when we finally got pitched!
We did have a peaceful night however, and the sun was once again up early and shining brightly the next morning, for our short walk to the caravan site to meet up with Geoff and Islay.
Dixie 
Good to see you at least got one night in. Looks as if you all had a good time in Scotland.
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It was a pleasant enough night in the end, Dawn! Better than not getting out, anyway….. 😉
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Worried about your comment on the Kintail weather – I’m just off to do the Forcan Ridge! 😮
The dog looked to have a great trip anyway – love the sleeping photos you take of the dogs 🙂
Carol.
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It’s that new, fancy dog bed they’ve got, highlights the cute factor!
I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you for the weather – we’ve left a lot of sun behind in Scotland…. 😉
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Don’t be put off doing the RRW. Sheila and I did it a couple of years ago and found it very enjoyable overall.
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Ok Alan, I’ll remain open minded! It was probably just the heat that got to my brain that day…. 🙂
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Sometimes its enough just to get out. I should do these little one nighters near home more often
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You’re right there, Andy. A quick night out to restore the soul – especially if the weather’s good!
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I have to say that the Rob Way has never really appealed to me. I’m sure that it would be great as a local walk for those nearby though, not one to travel a long distance for. You can always feel when you have 4 litres in your pack!!
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I think that’s a fair enough comment – ok to walk the Way or some of it if you’re not far away, but not really one just to drive all the way to Scotland for!
I put one litre of the water in my rucksack and then the other 3 litre cantene I just carried in my left hand. I had an aching left arm for a couple of days afterwards. 😀 I still didn’t have quite enough though – poor Pebbles was very thirsty that night and kept drinking it! Luckily, we found a stream just 100 yards or so down into the forest first thing in the morning so I could filter some more….
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