Wednesday, July 30
To get back to The Way, we reversed course out of town up the narrow road and got on the trail near open farm land. The route took us up and up through woods, forest, and fields gently, and walked roads toward Conic Hill. This was a very popular tourist hike up from Balmaha (rhymes with Omaha) where we had lunch at the Oak Tree Inn. There was a bit of rain and lots of clouds but Conic Hill was a wonderful viewpoint of the southern end of Loch Lomond.
We also saw a very interesting animal, a Slow Worm. It’s not a worm at all but a leg-less lizard. It is reportedly a very beneficial creature eating all kinds of garden pests.
Lodging for the night was at the Rowarddenen Hotel. Quite an old but well taken care of inn with narrow stairways and smallish rooms. All our rooms had “en suite” baths. Mostly new baths with mysterious shower handles.
We cold-shocked ourselves and burned ourselves a few times before figuring them out. Like nothing we’d seen before. More steak and ale pies followed in the morning with a solid full Scottish breakfast.
Dogleggers on the Trail 