We are used to wearing bug nets and prefer them over chemical repellent. So, when the midges swarm, on go the head nets. Pretty much our entire stay at Sallochy involved rain gear and midge nets. We had our lightheart gear silnylon suits and those worked great for leaving the tent in the down pour to go to the bathroom. The rain let up a bit for packing up. But the tent was very wet. The sil tent bag was no match for the water. Next time it’s going to be dyneema tent bag.
The amazing cultural take away from the rain at Sallochy was how the locals just kept
with their recreation plan even in the rain. We watched as a group launched their boat onto the loch in the pouring rain. They had umbrellas and rain gear with them and smiled and waved as they headed out onto the loch. They stayed out for about 5 hours in the rain and then came back to their wet tents. Other groups pulled in pitched up and went on with their camping like it was fine weather. A lesson learned for us.
Most everyone pitched around was smiling and friendly despite the rainy morning. We found a bit of shelter to make some coffee and eat. We had some conversation with a couple from Austria and another hiker from the Netherlands. Who was nursing an injury and dealing with lost luggage on the way into Glasgow. Despite the set backs and weather, he was persevering.
The rain became less steady as the day progressed. Now the low bar had been set with the soaking rain. Intermittent rain seemed like it was fine and almost appropriate for walking through the forest along Loch Lomond for the day. Of course the challenge with hiking in the perpetual rain is the upper body temperature management. Here’s where the Montbelle Versalite jackets prevailed. We virtually never took these jackets off. Ventilation can be regulated with the pit zips and hood. We scarcely noticed the rain as we hiked through the beautiful oak rain forest north of Sallochy
We had been tipped off by a local wearing a traditional Scottish pheasant feather hat we should choose the high road after Rowardennan. It seemed prudent to heed that advice so thoughtfully offered to us. So, the high road was our choice. I was a bit concerned that the high road would leave the old growth oak forest along the loch, but there was still plenty of that type of forest on the high road. Also, along the high road is mature spruce forest. This is a plantation type forest possibly with Sitka spruce. The difference with the high road section of spruce is that it hasn’t been cut. The streams and waterfalls cascading down through the moss covered spruce forest on the side of Ben Lemond are beautiful. It is a lush green forest. There are wild camping spots here too.
Soon we found ourselves along the loch again scrambling over rocks on the way into Inversnaid. There is a beautiful hotel at Inversnaid set on a high cascading waterfall that dumps into the loch. There is public water tap at the hotel and a door for hikers. We did not see any wild camping spots here. After Inversnaid the scrambling continues along the rocks beside the lake. The forest in this area is signed as an area that is maintained as true Scottish temperate rainforest. Efforts are being made to remove the invasive rhododendron. Mosses, liverworts, and lichens grow everywhere. In the rain with slippery rocks and mud we took our time. Peace of mind was knowing that we had upgraded our pitch at Beinglass to one of their platform tents. We could maybe dry our wet gear.
It turned out to be 17 miles up to Beinglass from Sallochy. We arrived in a swarm of midges but no rain. Their tent turned out to be just what we needed. Almost a midge free interior and dry. We noticed that the Canadian couple camping in the rain next to us at Sallochy also upgraded from a pitch to one of the provided tents. They were drying some clothes in the common area as we prepared our dinner and we talked to them a bit about the trails at home vs. the Scottish trails.
The common area for food prep was very well stocked. An easy dinner prep. The bar at the campground was packed with Scottish soccer fans watching Scotland get bested 9-1 by Germany. Where Scotland's only goal had been scored accidentally by Germany. We noticed our acquaintance from the Netherlands smiling ear to ear with a beer in his hand. Acknowledging his happiness with the way the day's hike had worked out for him. We found it to be a good night to enjoy some sips of Glengoyne scotch in our provided tent.
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