Scottish Garelochhead 2 Day
Marches - Day 2
Distance 33.5km Climb 542m
Sunday 30 April 2017
As we approached the start point on Day 2 of the Scottish Garelochhead March 2017 the weather was showery. Fortunately this soon stopped after we started walking. Just like the day before Day 1 2017 we all lined up for a days walking and marched out the gates to a salute. It was the same route as previous years, 2013 and 2014 second day.
Once through the gates we crossed over on to the main road, turned left and headed up the hill, again the police motor cyclists were there as they were the day before.
We marched up the hill passed the first roundabout and down the bank to the next roundabout.
The route continued straight over the roundabout and headed West, which soon turned South. Again the route was a little rolling up and down before we started heading uphill proper.
Visibility was good this year not like my last Garelochhead March where we could not see anything due to mist and rain. Today we could see the length of Gare Loch.
We kept a steady pace going so it did not take us long to get to the first rest stop. The stop area was up a narrow side road, just right off the main road. After a short stop we formed up and set off again.
Marching straight across the junction we had a small climb before we followed the route markers that took us right, south. Very soon the road started to twist south/south westerly as it drops down hill very quickly turning steep, this was what was called Bastard hill, (Peaton Road). Near the bottom of the hill we turned left onto Barbour Road towards Cove. The road levelled a little before starting to roll up and down. Below to our right, west we could see a different part of Loch Long to what we saw yesterday.
Approx 4km later and we arrived at Cove for lunch. Lunch was in a large hall, very civilised sitting on a proper chair and eating at a table.
When we left Cove we moved in a northerly direction by the side of Loch Long, the views were clear and we could see far across to the other side. Very different to my last Garelochhead walk.
We passed a couple of swans building a nest.
Approx 4km north from Cove and we reached the right turn to the start of the Bastard Hill, up, up and up up again we marched.
The map shows 2km later we were still climbing up the Bastard Hill but very close to the third rest stop, which was the same as the first due to the route.
No one was staying in the rest area, everyone had gone. We had a very short stop, next stop the finish.
When we set off again we took a steady pace, it did not take us long to reach the roundabout at the bottom of the hill.
Just a short climb now and we were at the first roundabout with less than a km to go, all downhill.
A right turn and a short rise up to the camp gates. Where we were met by cheering and clapping from other groups who were still near the entrance.
One of the things we had noticed from previous years was the number of groups taking part had reduced.
Day 2 we had covered 21 miles, 33.5km approx. 540m climb. All done, all completed next stop Nijmegen.
More to follow
Details correct at time of walking.
If you have enjoyed reading my walk or found it useful you may also like to read other walks I have done on The Garelochhead Scottish 2 Days Marches or other areas. Please check out the links on the right hand side.
