{"id":17392,"date":"2019-08-03T15:31:46","date_gmt":"2019-08-03T13:31:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/?p=17392"},"modified":"2021-01-22T09:38:04","modified_gmt":"2021-01-22T08:38:04","slug":"quick-visits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/en\/quick-visits\/","title":{"rendered":"Quick visits"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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My trip to Scotland is ending. I only have two days left and I feel like it is over already. I have decided to go for a day trip along Loch Ness on the Great Glen Way and then a day in Inverness. So I leave Ratagan Inn in the Kintail area under cloudy skies to reach Invergarry by bus. I wait for a long time before a couple of Swiss finally take me hitchhiking. They drop me off at Fort Augustus, a small village at the beginning of Loch Ness. In the city passes the Caledonial Canal, a large canal linking Fort William to Inverness built in the 19th century. This region of Scotland is quite special since a large geological fault running from the east coast to the west coast has led to the creation of a gigantic valley punctuated by several lakes including Loch Ness. The canal follows the fault and I distinguish sailboats behind the locks.<\/p>

The Great Glen Glen Way also follows the fault. Opened in 2002, it is one of the Great Scottish hikes trails. Continuity of the West Highland Way<\/strong><\/a>, it runs on 117km, connecting Fort William to Inverness. Having only one day available, I choose to follow the fourth stage along Loch Ness.\u00a0The path climbs severely above Fort Augustus in a pretty forest whit pines, ferns, mosses and blueberries. Above it is the peaty hills and I finally see the famous lake. I see only one end but its size is impressive. The Great Glen Way, well marked, follows the rolling hills and I walk for several quiet hours enjoying the view. Despite the intermittent drizzle and the weight of the bag on the shoulders, the walk is pleasant. With the exception of a group of English-French a bit noisy that I have trouble losing, there are not too many people. I squint and scan the surface of the lake, no Nessie on the horizon. The monster is sleeping or has abandoned the place since long ago, probably tired of being the prey to thirsty tourism. Appeared in the 1930s, the legend still fascinates and continues to fuel Scottish tales and myths.<\/p>

The descent is hard to Invermoriston, my left knee having decided that after four weeks of hiking it had enough. I only walked 12km but I feel tired. I reach a small hostel, Lochside Hostel, stuck between the road and the lake. The clientele is much more \u201ctouristy\u201d than before with many Chinese, Germans and Spanish traveling by organized bus. Nevertheless the evening is quiet and I fall asleep after taking a last look on the lake.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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