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My story

 
From Leicester to Loch Ewe

From Leicester to Loch Ewe

For Hope against Cancer

 

All done!  My Long Walk is - fini!

In early May owing to rain, gales and injury, Graham and I had had to forego the 40-mile section from the Cluanie Inn to Gerry's Hostel which traversed the western reaches of Glen Affric and the Bealach Bhearnais.

As with a bicycle accident, it is a case of  'Mount up and get back to it - immediately!'  I didn't want to have the 'gap' preying on my mind for longer than necessary.

I therefore organized a short trip to Inverness to 'polish off' this remote stretch during the last few days in May.  I allowed an extra day for the walk to be able to take it easy, the only problem being having to carry an extra day's food.  So - a heavy load, my trusty stick and off into the wild!

I could not have been luckier with the weather - following the first day of wind and a scatter of rain, it was sun, sun and more sun. (There are a few pictures of it all on the left).  A night in the Alltbeithe Youth Hostel - a welcome sight tucked low beneath Stob Coire na Cloiche, the hill high above it to the north..  The morning dawned cloudless.  Brilliant!  The walk was as good as I have known, past the Falls of Glomach, clambering down into Strath Duilleach and then up the long climb by the An Crom-allt to the lonely bothy of Maol Bhuidhe; a great bowl of a wilderness, the sun dropping fast behind Beinn Dronaig as the shadows crept across the valley floor - and not a soul within miles in any direction.  I slept a long sleep on the hard ground. Next day, river crossings proved a paddle with the waters now low after the rains had gone.  I headed for the Bealach Bhearnais (if you have an early edition of the Scottish Mountaineering Guide to the Munros you will find a photo from the bealach's summit on the back cover if I remember right) and camped there - another great tent pitch, a lively stream, high crags to north and south and the long view down Glen Fhiodhaig above which next day's morning sun would rise.  Finally on the fourth day a saunter down to Gerry's Hostel; a firm handshake and 'Congratulations!' from Gerry and I was on my way back to Inverness on the Kyle line train.  A great four days!

Tayari! Tafatsama!

Once again 'Thank you very much indeed' to those of you who have donated to the two charities;

Maggie's Highland Centre and Hope against Cancer.

For me it has made the walk hugely more worthwhile to know that both of these charities will benefit, the monies being used to fund the Inverness cancer care home and also the cancer research being undertaken in Leicester. So thank you again.

To others, if you wish to donate, then please do - the fund is not limited to the target.  It would be excellent if you could dig deep and help.  All donations will be more than gratefully received by Hope and Maggie's - and 'Thank you'.

Either donate here or on the Maggie's page

(http://www.justgiving.com/peter_maguire_maggies)- or both!

or send me a cheque made payable to 'Peter Maguire - Charity A/C' stating which charity you wish to support and the sum will be included in the 'Amount raised offline' item on the relevant page. 

All done - and now for the garden lawns and hedges!!

Best wishes

Peter

What an amazing expedition and achievement! Donation by Sarah Davies 30/07/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Dear Peter, what a wonderful adventure! Donation by Roberta Masotti 29/07/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Dear Peter, well done and congrats on your efforts for such worthy causes! Hope to see you and Val soon. Jan, Mark & Kirsty (and Trevor) Donation by Jan Baxter 02/07/09  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

Well done, quite an achievement Donation by Nick & Liz Marsh 02/07/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Great job Peter, congratulations. Donation by John and Rhoda 19/06/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

fantastic achievement - really well done Donation by Jon & Susanne 17/06/09  

£50.00

Well done, saw this in Geoscientist, reminded us of our days at Leciester Uni Donation by Nick & Diane Steel 13/06/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Well Done! Donation by Andrew Myers 01/06/09  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Just saw this in the Geoscientist May issue.It brought back memories of a 1st year field trip to Pen-y-Ghent! All the best!! Donation by Efthymios Efthymiou 25/05/09  

£50.00

Congratulations, Peter. I was slow to respond due to being away Donation by Jim and Caroline 23/05/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Thought of you a lot with so much bad weather over this last section! Donation by Judith & Brian 22/05/09  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

Enjoy every mile, well done. Donation by Gail & Wayne Kirk 14/05/09  

£30.00

good luck. sounds like a great trip! Donation by Matt Garthwaite 11/05/09  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

I cannot imagine all the new ideas you must have come up with during the walks, well done! Donation by Dave Cornwell 11/05/09  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

Good Luck Peter Donation by Anonymous 11/05/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

good luck! Donation by anonymous 08/05/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Saw this in the Geoscientist, very well done Donation by Adam Perks 07/05/09  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

You take the high road... Donation by Gavin Ward 06/05/09  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

Courtesy of Graeme_Allen_Mugging_Services.com Donation by Chambo 05/05/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Live long and prosper! Donation by Rod Wilson 04/05/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Good luck! Donation by Anthony Evans 04/05/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Good Luck !! Well Done !! Lots of love xxx Donation by Lucy, Matthew, Max and Daniel 03/05/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Wishing you good luck and good weather. Donation by Kay 01/05/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Have a great time. Donation by Richard 30/04/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Very jealous. Enjoy. Donation by Alex & Andrea 29/04/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Peter, Graham: Good luck on your epic journey and keep the Compeed handy! Donation by Gareth Smith 28/04/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Good luck - and I hope Graham is a help to you! Donation by Caroline Barnes 27/04/09  

£25.00

Best Wishes for the finally! Donation by Lin 22/04/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good luck on your final leg(s?) ! Donation by Nigel 20/04/09  

£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid

Graham think of it as a game of cricket only 4800 runs to win Donation by Colin C. 08/04/09  

£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid
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* Total raised online: £1,290.00
  Offline donations: £635.00
  Gift Aid plus supplement: £306.03

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