In October, I love looking at the fall colors that everyone is posting around the world. Last year, if you recall, I was actually in Canada with Elisabeth for a while and then in Washington after that, and in both places, the colors were great! I can't believe that it has already been a year since then.
This year, I was inspired to do some hiking in a place I have been considering for quite a while and that was...Scotland. You may recall me talking about the midges? And not wanting to hike in August in the Highlands because of them? Well, I decided to wait until they were gone. However, you never know what weather you are going to get when you are in Scotland, especially in October! I did experience Hurricane Amy, where the winds were anywhere from 40-90 mph depending on where you were, and actually I was out hiking and was going to camp but I got the cutest little glamping pod instead (not that it would save me if a tree came down, but I felt more secure!) and I am happy to report that I survived the night.
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| YES that is MPH not Km! (if you can't see it, it says...one sec...) |
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| 81 MPH! (I don't think it got that bad where I was) |
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| Drying out in my pod! |
So, without further ado, here are the stats and photos from a month of hiking in Scotland (and a little bit of the Lakes District at the very end).
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| 1. Linlithgow 2. Great Glen Way 3. A Wee Frog 4. Drumnadrochit cows 5. Huge Shroom 6. Affric Kintail Way |
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| 1. Loch Beag 2. Trotternish Ridge, Isle of Skye 3. Cape Wrath Trail 4. The bogs and the fog (near Lochan a'Mhain) 5. Post Box near Shiel Bridge 6. Old Man of Storr, Isle of Skye |
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| Various Views along the West Highland Way |
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| 1. Dollar Castle 2. St. Giles Cathedral 3. Lake District 4. Glasgow 5. John Muir Way 6. My 2024 Mantra (Glasgow) |
Walk at least 10 minutes per day: ✔
Daily steps average: 29,000
Daily miles average: 11
Trails walked: Great Glen Way (partial), Affric Kintail (full), Skye (partial), Cape Wrath (partial), West Highland Way (full)
Wow these photos are gorgeous! I have not been to Scotland but it’s a place I would love to take my mom at some point of the stars align. Her maiden name is McDougall so she would love to visit Scotland. I should have taken her before I had kids. But so it goes. She is in good health so hopefully by the time the kids are in an easier stage of life she would still be up for going. It looks gorgeous! But wow, 81 mph winds!! Scary! That pod looks so beautiful though!
ReplyDeleteI have walked so many miles this month - perhaps more miles than I have ever walked in a month? Walks have been so good for my sort of fragile PTSD brain. And have had company on a lot of walks - in person or in my AirPods. The views hacd been stunning here with the changing leaves. It’s really beautiful and I have had a lot of deep thoughts about the beauty of ‘letting go’ and how when the leaves fall to the ground, we can see the support structure of trees that aren’t apparent when they are full of life.
I totally agree about the trees. I had that feeling a lot last year when I was riding my bike. I started in March when things were just budding (and I was too) and then finished when the leaves were changing and falling off (as was I) and it all felt like it had come full circle and I was ruminating on how it was going to do the same thing the next year, and the year after that, just like I would.
DeleteI also agree about the walks; they really do give you some time to refresh/recharge, and I am glad that you have found them helpful!
Awesome photos, Kyria! You got some true Scottish weather! Rob and Jake hiked the West Highland Way in August and had no issues with midges, I think they got some local midge spray but said they were completely unbothered, luckily, because those little bastards can really ruin a trip.
ReplyDeleteWe are currently talking about a trekking trip in Nepal for fall of 2027. Rob will be 62 but he's in good shape. That said, I feel a tiny bit nervous, it will be out of my comfort zone for sure. But we will go with a group, because I like that (even with the occasional crazy person).
Most interesting place I walked in October - the medina in Fes!
You will love Nepal! It is on my list of "places to go back to." The trekking is great, and you get to stay in a teahouse every night and get fed (and most of the food is vegetarian!) It's really a special place. I think yo will love it and the group will be a good thing as you will have a variety of ages and activity levels.
DeleteFes is a place I would also like to visit! Its on my (very long) list!
I love all these photos and WHAT AN EPIC MONTH.
ReplyDeleteI have a rich family history linked to Scotland and have always wanted to go. This is adding to my sense of urgency. Gorgeous.
I walked on the ocean floor at Medford Beach in October (with Sarah and Kae). That was pretty cool! I also had a lovely back-woods hike with my dad this week which was absolutely lovely. We ended up at a tiny lake and were the only two humans for miles and miles. *chefs kiss*
I love being a tiny human in a big world, especially if I am the only one (or if I am with another person, that's great too!) It just feels so special, doesn't it? I am glad that you are having a good and relaxing time with your parents and I know these retreats are very restorative for you!
DeleteI also have a family history in Scotland and my family is very into that! My parents went several years ago and really loved tracing our family lines.
What beautiful photos--and some cows! Scotland looks perfect for walking and taking in perfectly gorgeous views. And adopting wee frogs for companionship along the way!
ReplyDeleteYes, there were cows and some of them were Highland cows, which I should have added here, but I forgot! Big shaggy beasts, they are (said in my Yoda voice). It was a great month of walking for sure!
DeleteFor the second year in a row, you won CBWC! I'm really looking forward to ramping up the hiking now that I'm done with my stupid job.
ReplyDeleteMy fav hike of October was the Mohican SP gorge trail, which is very short but also very steep and has a suspension bridge and a ladder. I've done a few hiking long weekends, and I hope to get in a couple of hiking day trips in November.
There is no winning or losing! I love walking so it is not a struggle for me to get out for 10 minutes a day; in fact, its like winning the lottery. Walking challenge, accepted!
DeleteI think I remember you did a post once about the Mohican right? Or if not, you did one where you had a suspension bridge! Those are fun. We have one place with a ladder near home (in the Marin Headlands; the trail is called Steep Ravine) and it is always hard to get on the ladder if it is busy! I usually avoid that one unless I am going early in the morning when it is more quiet. PS Hiking long weekends are my kind of long weekend!
I have been to Scotland. Your photos are amazing. Wow. I went to Glasgow when Curly danced in Irish dancing world championships is around 2018ish. My dad, Mini, Curly, and I went. We did not like Glasgow. It's just another big city, but we so liked Edinburgh. My dad insisted that we go to Hadrian's Wall. Fun fact, when Curly found out my dad was traveling with us, she moaned. (she was 9) "He's gonna make us go see all the old stuff." Damn straight. We didn't see the whole country as our time was limited. I hated the food. Big time.
ReplyDeleteI've not done many interesting runs/walks in October, but I'd say the best run I did was on Notre Dame's campus. I've been there plenty of times, but it's beautiful in the fall. It was a lovely crisp fall morning.
I actually stayed in a very ethnic neighborhood in Glasgow and I had some wonderful food, and actually, I had good food pretty much everywhere I went. I do find the normal pub fare a bit lacking in salt and my Scottish friends actually made fun of me for putting salt on my dinner, whereas they don't really use it that much and don't have it on the dinner table normally. My parents went to Hadrian's wall, but despite my having gone to Scotland before, I still haven't gone there! I have seen a lot of Hadrian relics on this trip though!
DeleteYou hiked in some beautiful places! The weather sounds rough though! The glamping pod is adorable, and so is the "wee frog". I love how Scottish people talk. Did you get to talk to many locals?
ReplyDeleteYes, I did! I have friends near Edinburgh, but they are from the west coast near Glasgow. However, it is fun to see the difference in the accent based on where they are from. The Glasgow accent is very strong, the Highland accent is less so, whereas the Edinburgh accent is probably the easiest to understand.
DeleteWow, the scenery is amazing. As you know we love our walking holidays. I think my favourite was the Overland Track in Tasmania. I feel like you must come and do that; it would be perfect for you. I have the West Highland Way on my list of walks to do. Did you enjoy it? Was it worth doing the whole thing? How did it compare to the other hikes you did in Scotland? The most interesting place I walked in October was in the Grampians.
ReplyDeleteMelissa, that is on my list! I met a guy from Tasmania the other day and I was telling him about you and how that was your favorite place to travel. I think it will be in my future either the winter of 2026 or 2027!
DeleteI personally like a wild hike. I like getting away from the crowds and camping and looking at the stars. So, my favorite hikes are going to reflect that. The WHW was pretty busy for an October hike; I did it SOBO, and most do NOBO, so I was going against the grain, and I probably saw about 70 people on my first day, and less on some of the other days, but there was still a steady flow. I can't imagine what it would be like in August. I think it is worth doing, has towns to stay in if that is your thing, but you can wild camp on most of it (there is a permit area near Loch Lomond). I did not find it difficult as most of it is on drovers roads or the military road so a double track fairly good path. It does give you a nice taste of Scotland though, as you get some highlands, some towns, and of course, a loch! So I do think it is worth doing the entire thing.
Ohhhhh my heart is envious. I have Scotland on my travel list for years but the husband is not keen to go there so it's been postponed. One day. One day I will be go there.
ReplyDeleteI love all the views. So how were the midgets? My parents and sister went to Scotland in summer and it must have been horrible. At least this is all my sister talks about.
No midges in October! That is why I did not go in August; I think I would rather be cold and wet than deal with them! You definitely have to check it out; it is beautiful and the people are kind and there is beer and music everywhere! :)
DeleteThese photos are stunning. What beautiful landscape. I would love to visit Scotland one of these days. Let's see, the most interesting place I walked in October was probably Salem, MA. It was a new experience for me and everything was extra spooky in preparation for Halloween.
ReplyDeleteSalem would be a great place to spent time around the holidays! Did they have a lot of witches?
DeleteHiking in Scotland. Amazing! I'd love to do that someday. The photos are amazing!
ReplyDeleteIt really was pretty! You should give it a go!
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