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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WH Way walkers approach Dumgoyne

Halfway through the bluebells, you’d fork right for the diversion over the Campsie Fells below. On the main path you pass Carbeth Loch, a shanty-town from the inter-war years, head briefly to the left along a road then back right on the path, and enjoy the sudden view along Strath Blane.

The path dodges around wooded Dumgoyach, an abrupt volcanic plug, and joins an old railway. This runs along an old aqueduct: Loch Lomond is out of sight ahead, but its waters are heard inside the metal pipe beside you. The final miles to Drymen are along the minor road through Gartcosh: a bit to be walked over briskly.

1 Hill Option: the Campsie Fells

Start Milngavie Finish Drymen Distance 29km (18 miles) Ascent 850m (2900ft) Approximate time 9hr Maximum altitude 578m Earl’s Seat Terrain Grassy hill paths

The Cuillin: peat bog and black rock, jagged ridges and swirling mist, and even your trusty compass conspires against you. The Cairngorms: huge gravel plateaux, jammed up against sky, and after six hours of boring walking you fall over an enormous crag. So what are the distinctive risks and difficulties of Scotland’s third C-named hill range? Well, in the Campsie Fells you might lie down in the squashy grass to admire the view of Loch Lomond, fall asleep, and be a little bit late for your tea…