Their story, in their words….
After extensive planning that involved transportation, routes, food, equipment, weight, and a host of other things, we finally set off for the West Highland Way. We were going to walk it in 7 days, carrying all our equipment and food with us, camping every night. Of the 7 nights, we did 3 in campsites and 4 wild camping, an excellent balance between the comfort of a campsite and the beauty and peacefulness of wild camping. Although the first couple of days were physically tough, particualrly day 2, by the third day we were used to the weight, and it only got easier from there. The main issue we encountered were the midges, an insect which swarms all over you, no matter how much Avon’s Skin so Soft (allegedly the best repellent there is for them) you apply. We were constantly covered in bites, and it is the one thing that never got any easier. The hills too were a challenge, particualrly with a heavy rucksack, but you were always rewarded with an incredible view at the top. We were stunned by how kind and generous everyone was, and you would always see the same people every day, to the point where the day wasn’t complete until we had stopped for a chat. By day 6 The Way was taking its toll, particualrly on our feet but we were spurred on by the fact that we were getting closer and closer to Fort William. By the time we reached the end we were exhausted, but also incredibly proud of our achievement.
We learnt many lessons before, during and after the trip, the most important of which had to do with planning and weight. We learnt that proper planning is essential, and were thankful for when we had done it, since it meant all we had to worry about was getting to our stop for the night. We also learnt more general lessons about how to plan any trip, which will be very useful for the future. Weight was a key factor and trying to minimise it was always at the forefront of almost anything we did. By the end of the trip, we were experts at shedding any extra weight, and making sure we only resupplied on what was essential. Overall, we had a fantastic trip, it was an incredible experience and one we will remember for many years to come.
