Category Archives: Diary

LETJOG – Day 46: Friday 2 July – BRIDGE OF ORCHY to KINLOCHLEVEN (23 miles) Whilst on the subject of rainbows, I was in my own Land of Oz today. A truly wonderful day in the Highlands started early, in the chill air and with clear blue skies, as I set out from Bridge ofContinue reading “Rocky Mountain High”

LETJOG – Day 45: Thursday 1 July – INVERARNAN to BRIDGE OF ORCHY (21 miles) To stay at the Drivers Inn at Inverarnan is quite an experience. It dates from 1705, they say, so that makes it older than The Clachan in Drymen (itself claiming to be Scotland’s oldest licenced pub, from 1734 – seeContinue reading “The Valley Road”

LETJOG – Day 44: Wednesday 30 June – DRYMEN to INVERARNAN (26 miles) Well, today’s section of the West Highland Way really was a marathon! This demanding walk was not the longest day of my trek in terms of mileage, but with an aggregate of nearly 1,000 metres of ascent, and with countless ups-and-downs andContinue reading “Down To The Waterline”

LETJOG – Day 43: Tuesday 29 June – KILSYTH to DRYMEN (22 miles) Leaving early, before the heat got going, I picked up my path from yesterday along the Forth and Clyde Canal over the first five miles or so. For this part of the walk, and along a total of around 15 miles today,Continue reading “The Heat Is On”

LETJOG – Day 42: Monday 28 June – LINLITHGOW to KILSYTH (20 miles) As 20-mile walking days go, today has been as straightforward a stroll as it is possible to enjoy, with all but a couple of miles at either end being along the metalled towpaths of the Union Canal and the Forth and ClydeContinue reading “Straight Ahead”

LETJOG – Day 41: Sunday 27 June – WEST LINTON to LINLITHGOW (22 miles) Today’s section of my LETJOG Challenge was quite arduous, and one of contrasts: a morning hike in the Pentland Hills with not a soul for company, followed by an afternoon walk through the busy heart of Livingston and a final stretchContinue reading “Over The Hills And Far Away”

LETJOG – Day 40: Saturday 26 June – INNERLEITHEN to WEST LINTON (20 miles) What a pleasant surprise, to hear last night that I would be joined today by Fergus, my second cousin. Rachel and I had of course met for dinner with Fergus and his wife Susan last Saturday in Hexham, and, clearly caughtContinue reading “Green Is The Colour”

LETJOG – Day 39: Friday 25 June – GALASHIELS to INNERLEITHEN (17 miles) One aspect of my LETJOG trek that a number of friends and family have enquired into is around my personal security. I hope that I’m not speaking too soon here, but both on this trek and on all previous treks, both homeContinue reading “Against The Wind”

LETJOG – Day 38: Thursday 24 June – JEDBURGH to GALASHIELS (18 miles) I have had three days walking on my own again now, and with time to reflect as I begin the next stage of my LETJOG adventure in Scotland, I would like to start today by saying a big thank you to everyoneContinue reading “Thank You For Being A Friend”

LETJOG – Day 37: Wednesday 23 June – BYRNESS to JEDBURGH (22 miles) Wow! What a great day’s walk! Today will remain long in the memory, particularly for the views coming down from the Cheviot tops over and into southern Scotland. I must have uttered “wow” to myself a dozen times, and aloud at leastContinue reading “On The Border”