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Day Three - This was always going to be the first "big day" and there was talk about being up to 25 miles as there was some confusion as to when that nights campsite was going to be so we were happy when we were told it would be about 18 miles instead and with my blisters every yard shorter would have been a bonus. Everyone wanted to get an early start so we swapped the fried breakfast for a cereal bar and set off early walking the first mile or so in a reasonably large group which as normal quickly splintered into several smaller groups.
 
 
The view of Loch Lomond from the campsite before heading off for the third day of walking.
 
Jamie and myself walked along chatting and were admiring the scenery and not paying enough attention to the route so suddenly we found ourselves in an area we did not think was the West Highland Way but the amazing scenery along the banks of Loch Lomond more than made up for it. Not knowing how long ago we had left the trail we decided to walk on and were sure we would find another path taking us back to the trail very soon and guessed we were just following a coastal path and the Way was probably running parallel to us so we carried on. After a while and not finding a suitable track branching off we decided to turn right through the dense vegetations convinced we would soon find our way back onto the West Highland Way instead of taking the sensible option of turning back and retracing our steps to the point we had gone wrong. Breaking through the vegetation and following animal tracks where we could we continued walking and heading uphill until we were getting above tree level and could see Loch Lomond above the tress and it soon dawned on us that finding the Way was not going to be as easy as imagined and this was further illustrated when as we continued walking we came to find ourselves at the top of a cliff with a large vertical drop with no way down so we had to keep looking for a safe way down as a vertical drop would certainly not improve the day and Jamie disclosed he suffered from vertigo so he wanted to stay well away from the edge.
 
We were distracted by the amazing views.
 
Panoramic Shot - (Sorry for distortion)
 

This is the view we eventually got when we had climbed up looking for the Way and realised that we must have lost the route long before we thought we had and had gone a long long way in the wrong direction. We decided to head back to where we had gone wrong but this was complicated that whichever way we walked we came to the top of cliffs and we disorientated so started to lose our bearings and knowing which way to head. Also following the animal tracks helped us walk through the dense woodland but this was complicated that the animals did not walk in straight lines for long and not in the direction we wanted to go. I decided not to check my phone to see if there was a signal as an emergency call would have been of little benefit.

Operator "How can I help you?"

John and Jamie "We are lost!"

Operator " Can you describe your surroundings"

John and Jamie "Trees, lots and lots of trees and in the distance I think its Loch Lomond"

Operator "Can you see any landmarks?"

John and Jamie "Trees and water and nothing else"

Operator "Would you like us to inform your relatives of you death"

John and Jamie "Yes Please and could you also inform the police that there is a million pounds of stolen money in Jim Mitchells garden"

Operator "Is there really the money hidden there"

John and Jamie "No not really but this stupid walk was his idea so he would deserve to have his garden dug up"
 
This photo was taken in case it was the final shot taken of Jamie and as can be seen from the background walking through the undergrowth was not easy. We discussed our options and Jamie decided he would kill and eat me to prolong his life simply because he was the one with the knife ! We did not however give up all hope and kept searching for a way back down to the water's edge in order to escape to safety and luckily enough we eventually started heading down a slope rather than a cliff and eventually got to the waters edge and retraced our steps back to The West Highland Way and for the final half a mile (ish) before rejoining the correct route neither Jamie or myself could recall walking along the path that we were now travelling but we must have just a few hours before and when we came to the Waymark diverting us off the track it was one of the more obvious waymarks of the WHW so how we missed it the first time I have no idea. So..... over two hours later and we were back on the correct route and the 20 miles day had probably now turned into a 25 mile day and I was already suffering from painful feet and after the climbing and battling through undergrowth I was already tired. For the people who normally walk the West Highland Way they only walk a mere 95 miles but myself and Jamie walked "The Extreme West Highland Way" which is 100 miles long and a lot more challenging ;-)
 
We had now lost two hours of walking time and were tired but I still could not resist stopping to take photographs as we walked along. We phoned Fish to inform him of our error and I was fully prepared for many hours of ridicule when we eventually got to the campsite. We walked and a two or three miles later we reached Rowardennan where we stopped to fill up our water bottles as our little diversion had meant I had drunk both litres of water I was carrying and I still had approx 15 miles to walk which would have been difficult without water. Not stopping for long we headed out for the next target of the day which was Inversnaid which was another seven miles before the last leg of seven miles to Inveraman. We walked hardly stopping for just over three hours before reaching Inversnaid and as I was suffering from my blisters ever step was painful and I was walking slower and slower the further we went and the last mile was painfully slow and Jamie had to keep waiting for me but I had no energy at all and every step took a huge effort and I was regretting eating so little that day as had no reserves to work from and felt like a car trying to start with no petrol in it. Jamie patiently waited for me and we eventually arrived at Inversnaid Hotel where Ian, Sue and the support van were waiting. We were asked if we had seen the girls as they had not yet arrived and we had not overtaken them even with our long detour so we were getting concerned as to what had happened to them. The thoughts going through my mind were that they had given up and got a taxi to the campsite or that they had made the same mistake as us and would be lost in the forest forever but I did not believe they would have been as stupid as we had been and made that mistake. After some time they turned up and we learned that they had stopped at the Rowardennan Hotel for a break and we must have passed them there when we filled our water bottles but did not stop.
 
After a much needed meal and a rest I was ready for the next leg and another seven miles but the girls decicided against the next leg and Jamies vertigo did not go well with the next leg which involved some scrambling over rocks with a drop to Loch Lomond to the side so Jo, Helen and Jamie took the sensible option and headed to the campsite with Ian and Sue while I set off on another seven miles in what proved to be one of the more demanding sections of the Way purely because in some places the path was very poor. I set off at about 4:30 and estimated I should be at the campsite at 7:30 at the latest.
 
The first few miles were hard-going but spectacularly beautiful and as I was walking alone and late in the day I had the fantastic experience of being completely along and over the whole seven miles I only saw three groups of walkers. On this section there is no access by vehicle and in hindsight it was probably a very stupid idea to set out along already tired and in pain. As it was later in the day it was slightly cooler and I had the benefit of seeing lots of wildlife near the trail and saw (amongst others) goats, a lizard and many deer.
 
 
 
After the first few miles the walking improved and in the early evening the peace and quiet was fantastic.
 
 
 
Eventually I left the banks of Loch Lomond and headed across country towards the campsite but I was already past the deadline of 7:30pm when I said I would be at the campsite and I did not have a signal to phone ahead to tell them of the delay. With no other option I walked on. As I walked on I heard a rustling to my left and looked up to see a deer only about 15 foot from the path.
 
 
 
 
At about 9:15 I eventually walking into the campsite to be congratulated by everyone. The only reason for congratulating me was I suspect relief that they did not have to come looking for me. I was very grateful that as I walked into Beinglass camp Jim was about to dish up the food for the evening and a very nice Goulash was very welcome and with a pub on site a pint of beer quickly washed it down. I then left the others in the bar while I went to remove my boots with the intention of sorting out my feet and then returning for a few more pints but one the boots were off and the blisters popped I struggled to regain a vertical position and instead remained horizontal for the night and recover from a very long day. I dont know if it was just tiredness or if I was camping further away from the people who snored but I did not hear any noises all night and slept very very well.
 
 
Click on the links below to skip to a specific day (I will make the links active as I add details to those days).
 
----- Day 1 ----- Day 2 ----- Day 3 ----- Day 4 ----- Day 5 ----- Day 6 ----- Day 7 ----- The Weekend -----