The Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond II

Notice: This web page is designed so that you can only put yourself on the waiting list. Once I verify that you satisfy the registration requirements I will move you to the list of participants. See registration requirements below.

NOTE: We will schedule several meetings to answer questions and organize ourselves for this event.

We will do the second half of the West Highland Way. This is a beautiful route joining the Scottish lowlands with stunning Highland scenery and mountain views and -weather permitting- climb Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the British Islands.

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The West Highland Way is completed by thousands of walkers every year, but this is a challenging route passing through increasingly remote and mountainous areas. There are some longer days too. This is a route for experienced walkers. The terrain is varied: lowland meadows, foothills, loch sides, remote moorland, and high mountain passes. The route is generally well maintained, but there are sections where the going is rougher and others where it can get muddy. The average daily climb will be around 1500 ft, except for the ascent to Ben Lomond, where we will go up twice as much. The route is well marked and follows well defined paths. The second part of the Way starts in Crinlarich. From  Crinlarich to Inveroran we will enjoy typical Highland walking in glens and over low passes with moderate ascents and descents, on mainly well surfaced paths and tracks. There will be many fine mountain views to be enjoyed. The section from Inveroran to Kinlochleven will be moderate to hard, with amazing scenery. The terrain is mainly good underfoot but it is highly exposed and can be difficult in bad weather, so be prepared! Day 3 starts with a crossing of the vast Rannoch Moor. The section from Kinlochleven to Fort William starts with a steep climb followed by rough paths in Nevis forest. The approach to Fort William ends with a gentle descent.

Ben Nevis (4,411 ft), near Fort William, is the highest mountain in the British Isles. For information see http://ben-nevis.com

Schedule: This is a bare bones description. For more details see the Official Site.

Day 1 (Saturday, June 10) Arrive in Crinlarich.

Day 2 (Sunday, June 11) Crinlarich to Tyndrum. Distance: 7 miles.

Day 3 (Monday, June 12) Tyndrum to Bridge of Orchy. Distance: 6 miles.

Day 4 (Tuesday, June 13) Bridge of Orchy to  Kingshouse. Distance: 13 miles.

Day 5 (Wednesday, June 14) Kingshouse to Kinlochleven. Distance: 9 miles.

Day 6 (Thursday, June 15) Kinlochleven to Fort William. Distance: 14 miles.

Day 7 (Friday, June 16) Ascent to Ben Nevis and return to Fort William. Distance: 14 miles. Ascent and descent: 4350 ft.

Day 8 (Saturday, June 17) End of trip after breakfast.

By Air: The nearest international airport is Glasgow (GLA). There is a regular shuttle bus into Glasgow city center (approx 25 mins). Getting to Crianlarich and from Fort William is probably best by train as there are stations there. Most services will pass through Glasgow. Prices for the trains vary depending on time of day and how far in advance you book. Tickets are usually released 3 months ahead of the trip. More details, as well as instructions on how to get to our accomodations, will be given later.

Information about Glasgow and the UK

Most places along the Way will accept credit cards but you should also carry some cash as well. Cell phone coverage is intermittent on the route, but I will be carrying a satellite phone for emergencies. Most accommodations have free wifi but it tends to be quite slow. You should carry enough water for the day as there are limited places to fill up in some areas.

Registration Requirements.
TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS EVENT:
1. You must be either an AOC trip leader or be recommended by an AOC trip leader. This requirement is in place to verify that you have the necessary level of fitness and, most important, that you are a sociable person that will get along with the rest of the group and will not engage in disruptive behavior. Please put yourself on the waiting list. I will check whether you qualify, and, if you do, will move you to the list of participants ASAP according to the preference rules stated below, provided the maximum number of participants has not been reached.  Under the same preference conditions, people that put themselves on the waiting list before you will have precedence.  

2. After I move you to the list of participants I will give you an address where to send your deposit. If I don't receive your check by December 12 I will move you back to the waiting list.

To participate in this event I will give preference to those that are able to participate in both "The Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond I" and "The Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond II"  at a ratio of about 2 to 1, i.e, for every two people that are  moved to the lists of participants of both events I will move one person to the list of participants of each event.

WEATHER: The climate averages for Crianlarich for the month of June are the following: Sunshine (hrs per month): 160; precipitation (mm) 79; days with precipitation: 13; high temperature (in Celsius):15.7; low  temperature (in Celsius):5.5; sunshine (hours per day): 5.3, so it is cold and rainy.

Additional Services: If for any reason you cannot walk on a given day transportation may be provided to transport you to your next destination. This will involve additional costs. Cell phone service should be available on most of the route, and I will carry a satellite phone.

DISCLAIMER: The Trip Leader for this event has elected either to personally collect the funds that event participants are required to pay, or to require participants to pay funds directly to a third party. No funds will be paid to the Atlanta Outdoor Club for this event, except for the $25.00 user fee. Therefore, by registering for this event, you acknowledge and agree to the following: (1) the monies paid by registrants will not be monitored, managed, or otherwise accounted for by the Atlanta Outdoor Club; (2) that the Atlanta Outdoor Club bears no financial responsibility for this event; and (3) you waive any and all claims against the Atlanta Outdoor Club, and hold the Atlanta Outdoor Club harmless for the loss of any monies you paid for this event.

*Accomodations for seven nights in a shared room, English or Continental breakfast included in either hotels, farmhouses, village inns, guest houses or family B&B's. Due to limited space, no single rooms will be available for this event, and it is possible that some participants may have to share the same bed.

*Luggage transfer between overnight stops. We leave our luggage at our lodging in the morning and we pick it up at our next lodging upon arrival. We only carry a small pack with the day's necessities.This service is limited to one bag per person, with a weight limit of 18 kg or 40 lbs.

*Packed lunches will be provided for each day's walking, since there will not always be a handy shop or cafe on the route.

*A nonrefundable $25.00 AOC user fee and $5.00 for incidentals.

If you are participating in both "The Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond I"  and "The Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond II", you cost for both events will be $1260.00, including $5.00 for incidentals and a $25.00 nonrefundable AOC user fee.

Cost does NOT include anything not explicitly mentioned above, in particular:

*Meals, except for seven breakfasts and six packed lunches. In particular, our evening meals are not included in the package, but we will have full details and recommendations for each evening meal in our itinerary. We will normally be within walking distance of a pub and/or restaurant; or, where there is good food available at the accommodation, the service provider will book that for us. Allow about 20 pounds per night (without drinks).

*Airfare to and from the United Kingdom and local transportation in the United Kingdom, including transportation to Milngavie and from Crianlarich.

Schedule of Payments:  The trip leader must receive a deposit of $170.00 (or $275.00 if you are participating in both events) no later than December 12, at an address that will be provided as soon as (and if) you are moved to the list of participants. The balance must be received by the Trip Leader no later than April 3.

Important: The cost for this event has been estimated based on a rate of exchange of $1.30 USD to 1 British Pound. Since this exchange rate may vary slightly I will contact you around March 20 to give you an adjusted balance. If the value of the pound decreases between March 20 and the moment I pay the balance to the service provider, this surplus will be transferred to AOC. On the other hand, if the value of the pound goes up, I will cover the deficit from any unused portion of the $5.00 set aside for incidentals, and if that is not enough, from the $25.00 AOC user fees. All surplus funds that may remain from this event will be transferred to AOC.

In the event of cancellation, any money that has not been sent to the service provider will be refunded in full (except for the AOC user fee) but once it has been transferred no refund is possible. However if there is another person on the waiting list that is qualified to participate in the event you may switch with her or him. The Trip Leader will not be involved in your private financial arrangements.