Scottish Garelochhead 2 Day
Marches - Day 1
Distance 46.4km Climb 660m
Saturday 29 April 2017
Late last year my friend Tim approached me and asked if I would be interested in doing the Nijmegen March again. It had been a few years since I had last had the opportunity so I put my name down. To take part in the Nijmegen March you need to take part and pass a qualifying march, as in 2013 and 2014 we were at Garelochhead to join in the Scottish Garelochhead 2 Day Marches 2017.
The weather was a little cool, and a little overcast, perfect for walking as we started. The route was the same as in previous years From the camp gates we crossed onto the main road and turned left and marched up the hill, travelling in a North/North Westerly direction. Just under a km from the start the route took us passed a roundabout and we started down hill slightly. Police on motorbikes kept the roads clear and directed any traffic.
A further 2km on at another roundabout we took the right turn. Walking in a more Northerly direction.
The route now still heading North, took us down hill under a railway bridge towards Loch Long.
We followed along the edge of Loch Long for approx. the next 5.5km.
After approx. 5.5km we reached a jetty that was set up as a film set with old vehicles and you could see the back of an animal in one of the trailers. A model of an animal I presume. Someone said this was the location where they were filming the next Jurassic film.
Across from the jetty entrance the route turns right and we started walking up hill. A very steep hill.
This was on tarmac road a little different to my previous visits. This road must have climbed higher earlier as when we approached the rest stop we could see the track below us coming up to join the road on our left.
At the top we reached the first rest stop, to hand clapping. After a short rest we formed up and marching off again. We were now heading in an Easterly direction along Glen Douglas. The route was rolling, fairly flat in places with a little bit of up and down.
After a few km the route starts down hill and we caught our first glimpses of Loch Lomond. As the road dropped and turned a little looking to our left I could see Ben Lomond.
The route then took us down a fairly steep bank and we passed through Inverbeg Galleries, in front of a place what looked a bar, down a twisty road that took us under the main A82 road and onto a path that ran next to Loch Lomond. Along here we had an occasional spot of rain.
Looking behind Ben Lomond started to recede from us.
While to our front Conic Hill increased in size.
On one look behind Ben Lomond was covered in mist and this linked in to us walking through one of a number of showers we encountered along by the loch.
We were heading South towards Luss which was approx 5km from where we joined the loch side path. As we approached Luss the showers were turning a little more persistent. On our arrival we were greeted with a few cheers and stopped for lunch, our second rest stop.
Once we had fed and completed our admin we continued heading South next to the loch. Just passed Luss we saw a wedding party, a little deja vu as a wedding party were arriving here, the last time I did a Garelochhead March.
We followed the loch for approx a further 5km, passing the little statue of "Wee Peter" in the loch, and then the Loch Lomond golf course.
A few hundred meters after returning to the main A82 road, we arrived at the police escort who were stopping the traffic to allow the groups to cross the road onto the Glen Fruin Haul Road, East.
Once over the road we had a very short stop before we started on the Glen Fruin Haul Road. The route is now up, up and then up again. We settled into a nice steady pace and soon reached the last rest stop of the day.
We were now on the final stage for today. The road is on the whole level along here with a few parts that were a little up and down.
The views of the hills surrounding us were stunning, large cloud formations hung heavy in the sky but we had seen the last of the rain by Loch Lomond.
A couple of steep drops and climbs then the end came in sight although we still had a couple of km to do.
A steep slope down as we dropped back to the roundabout we had passed at the start of our walk. There was just less than a km to go. It was down hill now followed by a right turn for a small climb up to the camp gates.
This was the end of day 1, 29 miles, 46.4km and a climb just over 660m. Now it was return to the block for admin. A quick shower and rest before going for dinner and preparing for the next day.
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.
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