Читать книгу Not the West Highland Way. Diversions over mountains, smaller hills or high passes for 8 of the WH Way's 9 stages онлайн

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May and June are enjoyable at all altitudes. These are the least rainy months in the Highlands; the leaves are fresh and green; there are 18 daylight hours, enough for even the most energetic. The one annoyance can be the cuckoos, mocking you as you go.

July and August can be hot and humid, with less rewarding views. This is also when the WH Way path is at its busiest, and midges are at their most vigorous, infesting the glens. The last two weeks in August do bring out the best of the heather – although there are no really huge heather moors on the WH Way.

Midges hang on until the first frost, normally some time in September. October often brings clear air and lovely autumn colour. The woodland along Loch Lomond can be excellent as the birch leaves turn gold (the third week in October being the ideal moment in most years). More surprisingly, Rannoch Moor goes orange all over. In between times there’ll be gales.

The red deer are being shot at from the middle of August until 21 October. The West Highland Way itself is a right-of-way, as are almost all the backpacking routes in Parts Two and Three (blue and orange on the overview maps). Many of the hill routes in Part One welcome walkers year-round, but a handful do have limitations on access during the three autumn months (see Appendix A).