Hullo. How are you? I hope you are having a good day. I’m Mark and I’m walking from Land’s End to John O’Groats…
Today started with heading back into the forest and following the Great Glen Way for a while. It is possible to take the Great Glen Way all the way to Inverness, but I was keen to walk along the Caledonian Canal again, so dropped down from the hills and did a stint of road walking before cutting through the grounds of Dochfour House.
This enabled me to avoid the busy A82 road for a while but required climbing over a wall to enter the grounds.
As I approached the house, I was met by a groundskeeper who told me the land was private and I would have to turn back. I explained what I was doing and that I only wished to get to the Caledonian Canal without more road walking. He was very understanding and friendly and offered to unlock a gate to let me pass along one of their service tracks, which I did and spent a happy while walking through the parkland.
I find that people are almost always helpful and friendly once a conversation has spun up. I have time and again found this to be the case whilst doing this walk. It always lifts the spirits.
Having passed through Dochfour I emerged at Dochgarroch locks and onto the canal once more.
I love the walk along this canal. It’s such a beautiful and easygoing way to spend an afternoon, enhanced even further by today’s glorious weather.
I followed the canal to the edge of Inverness, where I picked up the Great Glen Way again and started along its final section.
The Great Glen Way comes to an end (or it begins, depending on how you view it) at Inverness castle. The castle is currently undergoing major restoration works and is closed to the public, but it’s still possible to reach to stone monolith marking the terminus of the trail.
I then spent a few hours wandering around Inverness into the late evening. The weather had brought throngs of people onto the streets to promenade, dine or just relax. The banks of the river hummed with tourists and locals and the city felt joyous.
The Day 59 Vlog
Fundraising for MacMillan Cancer Support
As I walk from Land’s End to John O’Groats, I am hoping to raise £10,000 for MacMillan Cancer Support, who do such a wonderful job of supporting families through the most difficult times. If you are able to spare any amount and would like to donate to MacMillan, please do so through my Just Giving Page.
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