Into Knoydart
Introduction
Day One - Glenfinnan, Mallaig and
Inverie
Day Two - Inverie to
Sourlies
Day Three - Sourlies to
Strathan
Day Four - Strathan to
Corryhully in Glen Finnan
Back to Glenfinnan
Day Five, Friday 8 August, 1997
It is only 3km from
the bothy along the estate road to the railway viaduct and we decided to walk
down the valley in time to see the steam train cross the viaduct just after
11:00am. The walk along the valley is not particularly inspiring. We dumped the
rucksacks and climbed the hillside to be at the same height as the track. The
weather had changed with the hills shrouded in cloud and the light sufficiently
dark for the camera flashes to be seen from the tourists hanging out of the
carriage windows. Back on the valley floor it is a short walk under the viaduct
to the main road. The estate road has a smooth tarmac surface all the way from
Glenfinnan Lodge although the last 200m at the road side gate is left rough. We
took the side road through the village to the foot of the drive up to the
station and back to our starting point.
It was only just before noon as we climbed into the carriage cafe at the
station and ordered coffee and cheese and ham toasties before phoning the
police to report our return. We piled the rucksacks back into the car then
drove back to Fort William for a final pitch and hot shower. The sun never did
shine on this last day, although we could not complain as we had enjoyed four
days of continuous hot sunshine and had no rain at all during the week.
We returned to Glenfinnan that evening for supper at the hotel - it
seemed appropriate. The bothy book contained many references to the hotel,
describing the Fawlty Towers feel to the place and referring to the
antics of the bar maid. The hotel offers traditional fare and unfortunately the
children had reverted to 'burger and chips' mode, however a very nice pint was
on offer and we found the excellent meat and two veg meal a very refreshing
change from the week long diet of dried meals.
Introduction
Day One - Glenfinnan, Mallaig and
Inverie
Day Two - Inverie to
Sourlies
Day Three - Sourlies to
Strathan
Day Four - Strathan to
Corryhully in Glen Finnan