Day 2/5 East Highland Way 125km - Achluachrach to Tulloch - 26 Sep 2011

9.1km, took 3.5 hours

I was stunned by the view from the breakfast room windows: the magnificent mountains where I came from yesterday. WOW! The weather can really change my impression of the whole place.





I decided to leave earlier than planned as the weather was just TOO perfect! Re-tracing my steps back to the suspension bridge, I took the East this time, going over ditches and even climbing over fences (just couldn't open them!!!) Drizzle caught up unfortunately, but the rainbow appeared at the right time - just when I was snapping a photograph of the Achnacochine ruins.

















Then came the 'WORST' part of the day:
1) Crossing the mouth of 2 streams. Very scary (slippery stones beneath the running water). As expected, I got both my WATERPROOF boots soaked with cool refreshing water! :(
2) I had a hard time (almost an hour) trying to look for the 'well-hidden' forest gate which led me to a charming part of the walk which had its own enchanting character. It sucked to walk with WET boots, but luckily, today would be a short day.










I dragged my hurting legs up the steep forest trail - tracks were not obvious initially, but they became clearer further uphill. The route gave me the feeling that the East Highland Way was hardly trekked by walkers: no way-markers, few footmarks, truly remote and exciting! :) The sun came out once again and revealed the beautiful mountains when I reached the highest point on the forest trail.















The descent took me down to Inverlair and it was a pleasant road-walk to Tulloch where my accommodation for the night was - Station Lodge. I had my lunch and dinner at the hostel - HOME-COOKED MEALS, and GREAT HOSPITALITY! I also learnt that I was the only one in for tonight. Oh, not just me... and the ghost.. COOOOOooolll...