TGO Challenge 10/05/26

Day 4, Glensulaig bothy to Glen Nevis.

Another beautiful, bright, cold morning but the clouds started building in the west and by the time I reached Fort William the drizzle had started.

looking down to Glensulaig bothy 

 (in the little clump of trees)

Another steep climb up from the bothy to the end of the Druim Fada ridge. This long ridge has a number of tops along it, none of them rising much above the average level until I reached the high point at the eastern end.

Loch Eil and the first view of Fort William 

Lowering cloud 

The high point in the distance 

I could see the rain slowly approaching from the west but it moved south towards Fort William and I stayed dry.

A bit boggy on the descent 

Down to the road and canal

After a steep drop there is a long slightly boggy spur descending slowly to the Caledonian Canal. The Scottish motorcycle trials had obviously used the line of the path for their event this year which made following it easy and indicated the deep boggy bits very clearly.

Tunnel under the Caledonian Canal 

I had to walk along the road for about a mile before taking the tunnel under the canal to reach the towpath on the east side.

Canal towpath 

The air was becoming damper and when I reached Banavie at the bottom of Neptune's Staircase I stopped to put on my waterproof jacket but it remained drizzle rather than rain.

Fort William 

I went into Nevisports in Fort William and bought a warm sleeping bag liner as I think either I'm becoming a wimp or my sleeping bag is getting worn out. The cold nights and my decision to take an ultralight tent probably don't help either.

Damp campsite 

I collected my parcel at the campsite and set up the tent in the rain. At least there is a good restaurant here.