Rowardennon to Ardleish.
Start. Rowardennon.
Route. Rowardennon - Ptarmigan Lodge - Rowchoish - Cailness - Inversnaid - Sroin Uaidh - Pollochro - Doune - Ardleish.
Notes. Day three started with a mammoth breakfast, everything on the menu including two bowls of cereal, my walking partner settled for scrambled eggs on toast, after several cups of tea we stepped out into brilliant sunshine, god was in his heaven as we left the Rowardennan Hotel. Today we had the ferry at Ardleish to catch, almost thirteen miles of loch side rambling, our accommodation tonight would be the Walkers Bothys at Ardlui, basic camping pods.
The road ends at Rowardennon it was wilderness for the next few miles, if you're so inclined the hiking trail to the summit of Ben Lomond starts here. We wandered through the car park passed the Ben Lomond National Memorial, representing a rifle sight. After passing the Youth Hostel we entered oak woods, on a good track we continued, Ptarmigan Lodge marked the start of forest tracks, easy walking for the next few miles with stolen views across the loch to the craggy summit of The Cobbler. On reaching a burn the track abruptly ended, it was a wonderful narrow path that guided us from here, we passed through the ancient oak woods at Cailness, wonderful rambling all the way to Inversnaid.
Any hotel that has a separate walkers entrance and shuns muddy boots is to posh for us, we ignored the Inversnaid Hotel unlike Wordsworth, Coleridge and Queen Victoria, whom have all graced it's rooms. We continued passed the boathouse to step onto the most technical section of the whole route. Tree roots, rocks and boulders made the going slow, steep ups and downs as the path constantly kissed the loch shore, our guide book said, “enjoy being close to nature”, once or twice there was a distinct possibility of a swim. We eventually emerged into a wonderful meadow (any old stretch of green would have been wonderful at that point), a shingle beach gifted us with magical views down Loch Lomond, taking centre stage Island I Vow.
We sat a while, topped up the fluids, had a snack, it was only a mile of easy walking to Ardleish from here. We crossed the meadow to make a short ascent, a tumbling burn accompanied us through ancient oaks, the view that greeted us at the top of the rise lifted the spirits, across the loch Ardlui our overnight stop. We descended passing Doune Bothy to join the loch shore once more, after crossing the bay we reached a stile, a notice board explained how to summon the Ardlui Ferry. On the short crossing I posed question, what if it's foggy? “we wait 'till the fog lifts was the reply.
Striding out of Rowardennan our spirits high after a good breakfast, the view Ben Lomond.
Beinn Narnain over Rowardennan pier.
The Ben Lomond National Memorial, representing a rifle sight.
Stunning early morning views over Loch Lomond, in the far distance the buildings of Tarbet rest in the shadow of Cruach Tairbeirt, with the jagged skyline of The Cobbler and Beinn Narnain as a backdrop.
Stolen views across Loch Lomond, The Cobbler and Beinn Narnain still dominate the scene.
Forest tracks make for easy walking.
Another gap in the trees gifts us with a fine view, the power station at Inveruglas, with Ben Vorlich dominating the view.
Magical views to the snow capped hills of the Highlands.
Loch Lomond looking south.
The small harbour at Inversnaid with views to Beinn Ime, Beinn Chorranach and Ben Vain.
Sue descends one of the many ups and downs on this section of loch side path.
Beinn Dubhchraig and Ben Oss seen over Loch Lomond, don't take my word for it, ask a Scots man.
We've just stumbled from the trees to be gifted with this wonderful view down the loch, including Island I Vow.
You'll most likely smell them before you see them, large numbers of feral goats live on this side of Loch Lomond.
Descending to Doune with views across the loch to Ardlui (the calfs point).
Sue summons the Ardlui Ferry.
Snow capped Ben Lomond seen from the ferry, it's been a long day but a good one.
The harbour at Ardlui looking to Ben Lomond, tomorrow we'll say farewell to Loch Lomond, the way will guide us through Glen Falloch and Strath Fillan.