Day 4 - July 10

We were out of the B & B by 9:00 and motoring our way out of Glasgow on the M8. We found the A82 and headed up the narrow road through rain toward the Falls of Falloch, just north of Inverarnan on the west shores of Loch Lomond.  It was a short walk to the pretty falls through a forested path.  

Back to the car and a short drive to a car park at the Drovers Inn which opened in 1705 as a cattle drove’s lodging.  Rob Roy used to come and spend time here too!  We suited up for hiking behind the Inn, which is just beyond the north end of Loch Lomond.  







We had to walk along the road 200 yds to a wooden bridge to cross the River Falloch, to a farmer’s field to access the West Highland Way path.  Here we headed south along climbing gradually as we approached the Lock on the East side.   

 

It rained most of the time on us as we climbed 350+ feet into the clouds but for the most part it was a scotch mist that was falling.  I don’t know how many times we stopped to take off and put on our jackets depending on how hard the rain was falling.  We came across what may have been a group of houses or even a village, at one time – easily 200 hundred years ago if not more.  We could see the outlines of foundations made of stones.  None of the buildings would have been large but certainly big enough for a few people to live there.

Onward and upward brought us to a viewpoint of Loch Lomond where we could see south down the loch.  We ate our lunch in the rain and then packed up again to head back to the car.  As luck would have it, when we climbed up, the clouds lifted and the rain stopped!  We were treated to a much brighter look at the loch.

Back to the car park and then on to Tarbet.  We both needed a coffee as the climb, fresh air and rhythmic motion of the wipers had us needing a nap.  From here we made our way toward Inverary.  
The A83 follows the “old military road” through the villages of Arrochar and Ardgartan on Loch Long.  Onward into Glen Croe and Glen Kinglas where we stopped to explore an old stone bridge over the Kinglas water, which eventually empties into the north end of the Loch Fyne at Cairndow.  

The bridge dated back to when the Red Coats were here to keep down the Jacobites and the clans.  It was situated at the bottom of the beautiful Rest and Be Peaceful Pass.  





Before arriving in Inverary, we stopped ½ km north of the town to visit Inverary Castle.  The site is the seat of the Dukes of Argyll, - Chiefs of Clan Campbell since the 1500’s.  
We toured the castle for an hour, taking in several rooms on the main and second level which are open to the public.  The armoury hall was particularly impressive with 1000 pole-arms, muskets, dirks and axes.  The house is still the residence of the present 13th Duke and his family – nowhere to be seen of course. Likely off vacationing in the Canadian Prairies.  Finally down to the lower kitchen and out into the gardens.
Interesting fact … Downton Abbey’s 2012 Christmas special was filmed on site at the castle; inside and out.  Recall … the Grantham family and staff travelled north to the home of their cousins, the Marquess and Marchioness of Flintshire in their mythical Scottish home, ‘Duneagle Castle’.

After exploring the castl, we headed into the town of Inveraray and checked into our very comfortable room at the Brambles of Inveraray.  Dinner was at the George Hotel bar – We started with plate of Garlic Langoustines (heads and all) and finished with smoked salmon (Jenn) and the lamb (Glen).  Yum!  We took a short stroll through the town, down to the waterfront, bell tower, jail and various shops; all closed.  Despite the rain of the day, the sun broke out in the evening to invite us back for another day tomorrow.

So I had a bit of a revelation today…I realized that I don’t always need to know what is around the next corner (or in this case, hill).  Rather, it’s alright to be in the place you are and just enjoy the view.  That isn’t to say there aren’t times when you should look around the corner but it is also fine to stay where you are.  I tried to explain this bit of philosophy to Glen as he is always “moving forward” but I don’t think he totally understood what I was getting at.  Oh well, good to know that even after 25 years, we can still have interesting philosophical discussions!

Kms hiked: 8 (officially) but probably more like 12 because of all our other wandering around.