Day 1 - May 1, 2019 - Milnagavie to Drymen
Distance – 20.81; Total Time on the Trail – 5:56:50; Avg Overall Speed – 4.1 kph; Walking Time – 4:19:53; Avg Moving Speed – 4.8 kph; Elevation Gain - 188 m; Temperature: 10 C, dry for the most part with some sprinkling rain; Trail: easy terrain - some tarmac but mainly tracks and lanes - along the valleys of the Blane and Endrick with some good views of the Campsie Fells. Overnight: Angel Cottage.
After a great breakfast at The Best Foot Forward, we headed out on the trail around 9:00 a.m. We took our "start" pictures, and set forth.
It was a beautiful walk. Easy terrain without many ups and downs, lush green fields, some woods (as opposed to forests), lots of blue bells although they are not in full bloom, gorse! Also it is spring! So, there are many wee lambs in the field suckling at their mothers, running around "bleating" and trying to find their mother, sleeping, nibbling at the grass, and staring at us in curiousity.
The path we were on, or at least parts of it, has apparently been a footpath for over 5000 years. At one point way in the distance, we could make out some standing stones which are said to be 5000 years old, the Dumgoyach Standing Stones. The tree-covered hill of Dumgoyach is a volcanic remnant of basalt.
We passed Craigallian Loch and Carbeth Loch. Its pretty amazing when you think of how many people have gone before us!!! There are lots of other walkers on the trail, so we are not deserted as we were many days on the Bruce. However, that does not interfere with our enjoyment at all. Running beside us is an aquaduct which takes water from Loch Lomond to supply Edinburgh. About half way through the day we came to a distillery. Our walking company "Gemini" gave us 10% discount coupon to take the distillery tour. But at 11:00 a.m. in the morning, we didn't really feel like it, so we kept walking to the Beechtree Restaurant at Dumgoyne. It is not often you get such a neat spot on a trail, so we took advantage of it and went off the trail a few metres to visit it. It was fun! There were lots of animals on show: some muzzled goats, three miniature Shetland ponies, rabbits, chichchillas that we never saw, and birds including the Diamond Dove which I just fell in love with. It is the littlest of all the doves, and lives in Australia.
After a scone and coffee ( couldn't bring myself to eat anything savoury for lunch) we went on our way. We passed a quarry, then up a slight incline we had our first glimpse of Loch Lomond.
Exciting!
Soon we came to our turn off to Drymen. As it was just past 3:00 We were way too early to check in to our B & B....so....we hit the local pub for a well earned 1/2 pint. Drymen is a pretty little town, with a centre square surrounded by pubs!! I'm not sure quite where we are in the real world, but I would think it is pretty well a tourist town.
We checked into our B & B - Crystal Cottage - it is lovely. The rooms are beautiful, and although an older building it is fixed up modernly.
Around 6:30 we headed back to the Clachan Inn for dinner, then back to the B & B to sort out stuff for the morning and bed. It is a beautiful evening and we are hoping for more sun tomorrow, with rain later in the day.
So summary, of our hike: an easy walk, beautiful and interesting countryside, but nothing startling. None the less, I am loving it all!!
Distance – 20.81; Total Time on the Trail – 5:56:50; Avg Overall Speed – 4.1 kph; Walking Time – 4:19:53; Avg Moving Speed – 4.8 kph; Elevation Gain - 188 m; Temperature: 10 C, dry for the most part with some sprinkling rain; Trail: easy terrain - some tarmac but mainly tracks and lanes - along the valleys of the Blane and Endrick with some good views of the Campsie Fells. Overnight: Angel Cottage.
After a great breakfast at The Best Foot Forward, we headed out on the trail around 9:00 a.m. We took our "start" pictures, and set forth.
It was a beautiful walk. Easy terrain without many ups and downs, lush green fields, some woods (as opposed to forests), lots of blue bells although they are not in full bloom, gorse! Also it is spring! So, there are many wee lambs in the field suckling at their mothers, running around "bleating" and trying to find their mother, sleeping, nibbling at the grass, and staring at us in curiousity.
The path we were on, or at least parts of it, has apparently been a footpath for over 5000 years. At one point way in the distance, we could make out some standing stones which are said to be 5000 years old, the Dumgoyach Standing Stones. The tree-covered hill of Dumgoyach is a volcanic remnant of basalt.
We passed Craigallian Loch and Carbeth Loch. Its pretty amazing when you think of how many people have gone before us!!! There are lots of other walkers on the trail, so we are not deserted as we were many days on the Bruce. However, that does not interfere with our enjoyment at all. Running beside us is an aquaduct which takes water from Loch Lomond to supply Edinburgh. About half way through the day we came to a distillery. Our walking company "Gemini" gave us 10% discount coupon to take the distillery tour. But at 11:00 a.m. in the morning, we didn't really feel like it, so we kept walking to the Beechtree Restaurant at Dumgoyne. It is not often you get such a neat spot on a trail, so we took advantage of it and went off the trail a few metres to visit it. It was fun! There were lots of animals on show: some muzzled goats, three miniature Shetland ponies, rabbits, chichchillas that we never saw, and birds including the Diamond Dove which I just fell in love with. It is the littlest of all the doves, and lives in Australia.
After a scone and coffee ( couldn't bring myself to eat anything savoury for lunch) we went on our way. We passed a quarry, then up a slight incline we had our first glimpse of Loch Lomond.
Exciting!
Soon we came to our turn off to Drymen. As it was just past 3:00 We were way too early to check in to our B & B....so....we hit the local pub for a well earned 1/2 pint. Drymen is a pretty little town, with a centre square surrounded by pubs!! I'm not sure quite where we are in the real world, but I would think it is pretty well a tourist town.
We checked into our B & B - Crystal Cottage - it is lovely. The rooms are beautiful, and although an older building it is fixed up modernly.
Around 6:30 we headed back to the Clachan Inn for dinner, then back to the B & B to sort out stuff for the morning and bed. It is a beautiful evening and we are hoping for more sun tomorrow, with rain later in the day.
So summary, of our hike: an easy walk, beautiful and interesting countryside, but nothing startling. None the less, I am loving it all!!
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