by Katrine Sivertsen | Aug 13, 2023 | Blog, Katrine
It was a late morning in Aberdeen where we finally didn’t have to worry about when to check out. (Terry’s sister is nice like that). Brunch and chai latte and coffee was enjoyed at a local cafe, Figment, where the food featured colors other than brown for a change,... by Terry Thorpe | Aug 13, 2023 | Blog, Terry
We met up for brunch with an old friend of mine who I hadn’t seen in way too long and had really wanted Katrine to meet. It was great to catch up, and I found myself wishing I was better at maintaining the friendships that had meant the most to me before moving... 
by Terry Thorpe | Aug 12, 2023 | Blog, Terry
We headed North towards Aberdeen but couldn’t resist a detour to Montrose, where Katrine had spent some time in the company of Scots (and others), training in offshore drilling and engineering related shenanigans. Our journey along memory lane took us to... by Katrine Sivertsen | Aug 12, 2023 | Blog, Katrine
Montrose beach On our way to circle back to Aberdeen to finish our Scotland tour, we first stopped at the Horn. It’s a cafe that Terry used to go to when he was young and reckless with his friends to have their tasty bacon rolls. It turned out that in the meantime... by Terry Thorpe | Aug 11, 2023 | Blog, Terry
In 1314 Robert the Bruce defeated the English led army of Edward II in a total arse kicking of a battle, resulting in eventual Scottish independence (at least for a few hundred years). The battle is considered to be one of Scotland’s finest moments and is... by Katrine Sivertsen | Aug 11, 2023 | Blog, Katrine
Terry finished his Scottish pilgrimage by visiting the Bannockburn battle site where Robert the Bruce won a great victory against the English. The tour at the visitor center was entertaining and allowed us to handle the weapons and dress up in period attire. In the... by Katrine Sivertsen | Aug 10, 2023 | Blog, Katrine
Day two of hot tubs! The day of sleeping bag accommodation is over and we’re staying in a hobbit hut or mountain pod for the fourth(?) time at this wonderful hotel and spa. This one is larger and has a bathroom and kitchenette as well. The day started with a large... 
by Terry Thorpe | Aug 10, 2023 | Blog, Terry
We left our guesthouse and jumped on a train to be reunited with our car in Milngavie. After a pitstop to buy some reasonably priced underwear, we drove onwards to Inglewood House, which was a delight, a beautiful building in a lovely setting that would be our rest... 
by Terry Thorpe | Aug 9, 2023 | Blog, Terry
And so it was that the last big push was in front of us. 24k of Highland hiking and hi-jinks. We had a quick and light breakfast and headed out feeling refreshed and ready to go. The scenery was even more beautiful and the weather was on our side once more. After an... by Katrine Sivertsen | Aug 9, 2023 | Blog, Katrine
The day finally arrived! Our last day on the West Highland Way! 24 last km through the Highlands meeting sheep, butterflies, fly agaric, mountain peaks, lochs and other hikers and arriving in Fort Williams for the last sore steps. It was like any other attraction: we... 
by Terry Thorpe | Aug 8, 2023 | Blog, Terry
We’re nearing the end of our highland adventure, today is the second to last day of wandering the beautiful Highlands of Scotland with my lassie by my side. The home stretch of these last two days had been described as challenging, but we were up to the... by Katrine Sivertsen | Aug 8, 2023 | Blog, Katrine
An artist rendition of the WHW We’re still on our way. The West Highland Way. One more day to go. There’s still throbbing in the feet whenever I take my boots off for the day, but these last days that were supposed to be harder aren’t as hard as portrayed online. We... by Terry Thorpe | Aug 7, 2023 | Blog, Terry
Another easy day, despite the rain that couldn’t make up its mind… Eventually, resulting in Katrine hiking through the rain using her backpack cover as an umbrella, rather than stopping to get out her rain jacket for the 20th time. The landscape opened up... by Katrine Sivertsen | Aug 7, 2023 | Blog, Katrine
Rainy day… not unlike in Norway today too. It started out well, seemed like it would be slightly overcast. Just a drizzle here and there. I put my raincoat on and off twice. So the next time it started raining, I wasn’t going to fall for that again. Which meant that I... 
by Terry Thorpe | Aug 6, 2023 | Blog, Terry
We (reluctantly) left our hobbit hut and made for our next destination, Orchy bridge, which would prove to be a short and relatively relaxing hike, intermittent but light rain notwithstanding. We sauntered through the neverending highland splendour, enjoying the... by Katrine Sivertsen | Aug 6, 2023 | Blog, Katrine
We left a rather rude and curt hobbit hut manager in the morning who apparently meant that checking out meant exiting the entire premises. We were told with a menacing stare that sitting on the bench outside after leaving our keys was not acceptable. In the shop along... by Katrine Sivertsen | Aug 5, 2023 | Blog, Katrine
Our fourth day on the West Highland Way. The ascent to the Highlands has begun, but it was gradual so the day was relatively easy. Either that, or we’ve gotten used to the long hiking days. We left Drovers Inn which had an abnormally large taxidermic exhibit of... 
by Terry Thorpe | Aug 5, 2023 | Blog, Terry
We left Drovers Inn after a hearty(attack) full Scottish breakfast, which we ate whilst being stared at by angry stuffed moose heads. The day’s hiking was easier than expected with the terrain being a doddle compared to previous days, quite flat and less steep... by Katrine Sivertsen | Aug 4, 2023 | Blog, Katrine
Day three of the west highland way is done. This was the day with the flattest terrain, and we didn’t spend too much time completing it, but I can still feel the thumping in my legs and feet after 24 km along Loch Lomond. We were well rewarded at the Drovers Inn with... 
by Terry Thorpe | Aug 4, 2023 | Blog, Terry
Our trek along Loch Lomond to Drovers inn was beautiful and reasonably challenging. We saw many of the same faces and I enjoyed a lovely beer at the half way point which boosted moral nicely. The remaining trek was just as lovely with the terrain undulating beneath us... 
by Terry Thorpe | Aug 3, 2023 | Blog, Terry
We ate a (compulsory) breakfast with our fellow travellers all orchestrated by our ‘host’ who insisted on everyone eating together at 08:00am. Nuts. It turned out to be quite pleasant chatting to a family from the Netherlands and an Italian father and Son.... by Katrine Sivertsen | Aug 3, 2023 | Blog, Katrine
Our second day on the West Highland way from Drymen to Rowardennan. We ventured up Conic hill, 361 m, and was rewarded with this splendid view. Luckily, this was our only large ascent today. We had a long stop in Balmaha. It’s amazing how good orange juice and... by Katrine Sivertsen | Aug 2, 2023 | Blog, Katrine
We drove to Milngavie (pronounced Milgay, because…Scottish people) and left the car there in an overfilled railway station parking lot. Milngavie is the starting point of the West Highland Walk, our goal for the next 8 days. The first few days the height profile looks... 
by Terry Thorpe | Aug 2, 2023 | Blog, Terry
We rose early and made our way to Malgevie and the start of the West Highland Way, our 96 miles (154 Km) hike from Milngavie to Fort William which promised a huge variety of scenery along the way, from countryside parks to loch shores and open moorlands to steep... by Terry Thorpe | Aug 1, 2023 | Blog, Terry
We spent the day shopping and preparing for our epic hike. I mostly spent the day regretting our latest hostel choice. Which was a bit shabby… Not sure if it was the mice, dead beasties or nutjob hostel owners but it was less than fab. Luckily Katrine loves a... by Katrine Sivertsen | Aug 1, 2023 | Blog, Katrine
No hiking today. Charging our batteries for the West Highland Way starting tomorrow. Went shopping in Fort William at Aldi, M&S, and a price bargain shop and had great fun. Topped it off with a large (and I mean LARGE) cup of coffee and chai latte at Costa coffee.... by Terry Thorpe | Jul 31, 2023 | Blog, Terry
We arose and drove southward towards Oban, our destination for the day, stopping by St.Conans, a beautiful old Kirk. The eclectic architecture impressed as much as the friendly cat, who Katrine of course befriended immediately. After walking the beautiful church which... by Katrine Sivertsen | Jul 31, 2023 | Blog, Katrine
Sootie Finally a cat day! At St Conan Kirk, this friendly feline took a good portion of my dreamies and nearly my finger in the excitement. According to the cafe next door to the church, she has been known to walk brides up the aisle in the church, but was... by Terry Thorpe | Jul 30, 2023 | Blog, Terry
We started the morning with a short walk to Hagrid’s cabin from the Harry Potter movies, which it turned out was fairly close to our inn. Cool. Then we headed on to Glen Coe village for a slightly longer walk, before making for Kingshouse and our bunkhouse for... by Katrine Sivertsen | Jul 30, 2023 | Blog, Katrine
Sunset from the Kingshouse hotel A small walk wouldn’t kill us, so we did the very manageable trail around the lake if Glencoe Lochan which featured both mountain, forest and lake. I made good friends with the local ducks who feasted on our leftover bread. The rest of...