From Leicester to Loch Ewe

For Maggie's Highlands Centre

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 Maggies - and 'Thank you'.

Either donate here or on the Hope page

((http://www.justgiving.com/peter_maguire_hope) - 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