Day 79: Fort William Rest Day 2

The end is in sight. I’ve had the most productive rest day of all time and have a planned itinerary all the way to the end.

• Date: 7 June 2024
• Start: Fort William
• End: Fort William
• Miles: 0.0
• Total miles: 1,051.6
• Accommodation: Glen Nevis Campsite

I always knew that when I was in Fort William, I’d be right next to Ben Nevis, the biggest mountain in the UK, and I always said to myself I wasn’t going to climb it during this walk. I was highly tempted this morning, but the weather being as it was, I didn’t, and I’m glad I didn’t. 

That’s Ben Nevis, right behind my campsite. Instead, I went into town after Sam left, and spent the whole day planning the ending to this walk. 

It’s a 45 minute walk into town, and trying to time it to avoid the rain is impossible at the moment. Yes, I got drenched on the way into town. 

Once I found shelter in a pub, I went straight into planning mode, covering the entirety of the last sections of the walk. 

First up was the Great Glen Way, and given the current weather, I decided that if a hostel was available, then I’d take it. Fortunately, hostels are in abundance for the whole of the Great Glen Way, and they are pretty cheap, so I’ll be in hostels all the way to the end of that trail to Inverness. I’m then in a hostel in Inverness for three nights, taking two rest days there. 

Then it’s onto the John O’Groats Trail, an unofficial trail, figuring out where to stay along that. This was easier than I thought, with a variety of campsites available. I’ll wild camp where there’s nothing available, most likely on the beach as I head along the coast from Inverness to John O’Groats.

Throughout my journey, I’ve been tracking where I’m staying, potentially staying, as well as sights and nice places I’ve had food or drink in, on Google maps. It looks weird having the whole route now locked in. 

I’ve now marked up all confirmed and unconfirmed accommodation until John O’Groats. 

This is the itinerary for the last stretch:

• Day 80 / 08/06/24 / Great Glen Way - Fort William to Laggan
• Day 81 / 09/06/24 / Great Glen Way - Laggan to Fort Augustus
• Day 82 / 10/06/24 / Great Glen Way - Fort Augustus to Alltsigh
• Day 83 / 11/06/24 / Great Glen Way - Alltsigh to Drumnadrochit
• Day 84 / 12/06/24 / Great Glen Way - Drumnadrochit to Inverness
• Day 85 / 13/06/24 / Inverness Rest Day 1
• Day 86 / 14/06/24 / Inverness Rest Day 2
• Day 87 / 15/06/24 / Inverness to North Kessock
• Day 88 / 16/06/24 / North Kessock to Evanton
• Day 89 / 17/06/24 / Evanton to Tain
• Day 90 / 18/06/24 / Tain to Dornoch
• Day 91 / 19/06/24 / Dornoch to Golspie
• Day 92 / 20/06/24 / Golspie to Brora
• Day 93 / 21/06/24 / Brora to Helmsdale
• Day 94 / 22/06/24 / Helmsdale Rest Day
• Day 95 / 23/06/24 / Helmsdale to Dunbeath
• Day 96 / 24/06/24 / Dunbeath to Halberry
• Day 97 / 25/06/24 / Halberry to Wick
• Day 98 / 26/06/24 / Wick to Keiss
• Day 99 / 27/06/24 / Keiss to John O’Groats

Get those diaries marked for Thursday 27th June, as that’s when I’ll be touching the John O’Groats signpost!

I’ll be staying at the campsite at John O’Groats on the 27th, then getting a bus to Thurso on the 28th and staying there the night, before getting an early train home from Thurso on the 29th. 

Back to tomorrow, I’ll be starting the Great Glen Way. This trail will take five days, with the first and last days being long days, but the middle three being rather short. The weather is looking terrible, but at least I’m in hostels for the entirety. 

I haven’t yet returned to the campsite, as the midges are everywhere. I’d rather stay indoors in Fort William and head back to camp at the latest possible opportunity.