TGOC '22 Day 3 Cannich to Drumnadrochit

Day 3 is another section that I know well, having walked it in 2015 from Tomich, another small village just down the road from Cannich. I had plans to do some cross country today to make it back to some of the ancient stone circle sites we had seen then, but getting up on some of the new tracks being built for the Affric Kintail Way, decided that these cut out enough of the road walk to stay on the "official" path. The Mony's Stone, the Chambered Cairn along with the other archeological sites can be easily accessed in less than a miles walk coming from this direction, if you still choose to see them, and there is more than enough time in the day to do this side trip. I also walked with another Challenger named Graeme today and it was really nice talking to another person while walking. We walked together till White Bridge and had an excellent morning. Graeme is taking the year off to do nothing but volunteer work all over the country and I was quite envious of his freedom to do what interested him. He is currently the head Bothy keeper at a Bothy near Jock's road. 

Before starting out today, it was breakfast in the coffee shop at the Caravan Park. This was surprisingly good. I think this must be run as a separate business from the Park. They offered a full breakfast and excellent coffee including making lattes. I had a full plate of pancakes and bacon! 

It might have been a slightly later start, but there was plenty of time to do the 18 miles today and the sun was out and shinning for the first time this trip, after seeing the full moon last night after dinner.

Right across the bridge leaving town, you immediately can gain the new forest track. This saves walking up the road and the new section is extremely well done. Wide and smooth without any road noise or dodging fast moving cars, as you would have been walking the A831

The new section lasts about 3 miles and dumps you out on the road again, but at the highest point, so it is only downhill about 2 miles until you turn off the A road at White Bridge (there are hundreds of bridges in Scotland named White Bridge)

Here can take the side trip toward Corrimony to see the archeological sites or continue on toward Drumnadrochit in another 8 miles, more like 10 trail miles. 

Graeme and I stopped for lunch here at a bus stop shelter and after lunch, he was going to stop at the stone circle sites.  It is another really pleasant walk through the woods and a couple small communities that line the path and small farm tracks. I met several groups of walkers going in the opposite direction that had started as far away as Inverness and were walking to Morvich. They had walked the Great Glen Way (GGW) from Inverness and then the AKW from Drumnadrochit to Morvich. A mini Challenge. 

Like most places in this part of Scotland I had seen this year, the forests were under heavy logging. This section, below, which you had no views in 2015, was now cleared to see the valley below. 

On this path you eventually come to a park that can be accessed by car and start uphill for the climb of the day. 

The very little opening in the path that led down toward Drum has been widened substantially to allow for logging access and I almost missed it thinking this couldn't be the way, until I saw the old sign buried in a bunch of bushes on the side of the path. 

The widened path did allow for the first view of the Loch Ness

made for pretty easy walking albeit still plenty steep in spots 

Sheep farming is serious business in Scotland. I found the term "worrying" to be pretty funny compared to the word we would use in the States (harassing). This sign uses a more polite phrasing considering the consequences for the offending dog. 

Nice to see, at the bottom of the hill, was still the giant pine that you would need 10 people around it, with arms stretched, to encircle it.

                  

A short walk into town and the Loch Ness Inn. Vicky and I only had dinner here and I vowed to stay here if we ever returned. This year it was my chance. 

Getting my room, which was quite nice.

First things, first. Down to the bar for a pint. A few Everton fans in the bar, hoping their team would not be relegated! 

Back upstairs to wash more socks... much darker this time!  Then off to the CO-OP for some groceries for the next 3 day segment. Completely out of breakfast pastries, Hopefully I can get some in the morning as I walk out of town.

Dinner was fantastic. Kind of sad being seated in the corner at the only table for one. I am used to it from my years of business travel, but no other Challengers in the restaurant tonight and perhaps even after I have showered, they don't want me "hiker trashing" the place up. The other clientele looked pretty upscale! 😁

A final thought here- The pillows were like cardboard.... 

Stats for Day 3