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Day 75: Cashel Camp Site to Inversnaid (12.5 miles)

A calm night with some rain in the early hours but by 7 the tent was dry. I had breakfast and de-camped by 9.  Some wind was stirring to allow me to dry the groundsheet and discourage the midges which were gathering. I’d bought some smidge at the camp shop so I hoped it had stopped them biting me!

With a fully loaded backpack today it would be interesting to see how I got on. The path took me through woodland and by 10am I was at Sallochy where it was possible to wild camp with a license either by the shore or in woodland. I was happy I’d chosen to stay at Cashel.


Continuing on through the woods above the loch a bird singing had me using the ChirpOMatic app to determine what it was - it indicated either a willow tit or wood warbler - I wasn’t sure which, so thought I would check later.

I stopped at Rowardennan Hotel for coffee at 11 - I certainly felt ready for it! One of the joys of the trails has been the Honesty boxes - but I have to say the Ben Lomond one at 12 was exceptional.

Just as the forest track took me high up above the loch I was pleased to see a Male merganser on the loch. With the heavier backpack I had certainly been going slower on the uphills so elected to take the faster/easier forest track rather than the lower path down on the shore apparently clambering over boulders. It was an attractive route but climbed steadily for much longer than I had anticipated. There were numerous cascades and plenty of birdsong: chaffinch, wrens, song thrush, blackcap, Siskin …

The lower path re-joined the upper forest track at 13:30. I decided to keep going until I was down by the water for lunch, and eat a banana while walking to keep me going. The track became an undulating and quite rocky path. I was delighted to finally identify a wood warbler: the song and call were very distinct and I was pleased to see one too. Later, I was amused to see bluebells still flowering and a yellow flower which I took to be some kind of toadflax.

I eventually stopped for lunch at 14:00 on a beautiful beach which I had to myself. Very peaceful.

As I continued I paid closer attention to the rocks. The rocks were largely volcanic and metamorphic - schist with mica caught my eye as well as large lumps of quartz.

I noticed a hydro-electric power station on the other side of the loch along with the busy A82. Several ferries went to and fro so I realised I was now close to Inversnaid and the piers. The waterfall by the hotel was dramatic and bigger than I had envisaged. 

I arrived and called the bunkhouse for a lift at 15:45. I pitched the tent with a midge headnet - I wasn’t entirely convinced the smidge was working! But I was able to get everything into the tent without the wee beasts following me in, and set up and relaxed before dinner at 18:30.  The bunkhouse used to be an old chapel and was a homely and welcoming place with lots of activity both of campers and those staying inside.

Heavy rain was forecast overnight and into the morning so I had little hope of taking the tent down dry. It had pitched well so I was hopeful it would cope fine with the rain - time would tell!












Location: Inversnaid, Stirling FK8 3TU, UK

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