Nancy East

Hiker | Author | Outdoor Educator

West Highland Way–Day 8 to the finish!

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West Highland Way Family Hike
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Day 8 of the West Highland Way –15.2 miles to the finish! (Kinlochleven to Fort William)

We hit the trail with our eye on the prize, Fort William, the northern terminus!  The day started out raining off and on with a bit of a climb in the first few miles, but we eventually begin walking through a valley with mild undulations, and the weather began clearing around lunch time.

We came across the remains of several old houses

Farmhouse ruins

If these walls could talk…

Ben Nevis, the United Kingdom’s tallest mountain was eventually in our view and it’s quite formidable since it rises from such a low elevation (actual elevation is 4,413 feet).  We also passed through forested areas that had been logged, the landscape scarred and barren.  It was a significant contrast to everything we had seen in the past seven days, so Ben Nevis in front of us was a nice distraction.

John and Ella walking

The rocky trail was rough on already sore feet

Paige with Ben Nevis

Look Mom! Ben Nevis!

Flowers with deforested area

Even with the missing trees, beauty prevails

Rock with flowers

Oh Scotland, how I love your vibrant colors!

We had read that the official route for the Way is along a busy road for the last couple of miles, so we opted for a more scenic (and safer) alternate route.  It didn’t disappoint, climbing to reveal views of Fort William below.

Fort William

Fort William

Fort William street

The final stretch of trail goes straight through Fort William’s downtown shopping district

We descended into town and before we knew it we had the northern terminus marker was in sight! The kids all ran up and touched it and we all took turns for photo ops in front of it.

Northern terminus

We did it!

To say I am proud of all seven kids is an understatement.  We didn’t see a single child thru hiking the Way besides them.  I imagine most kids wouldn’t choose hiking 100 miles as their top vacation destination (mine are no exception), and they finished it without injury, but even more impressively, with increasing strength, speed and sheer resolve to finish.  Life lessons, for sure.
As I write this journal on the train from Fort William back to Glasgow, the route of the train roughly following the course of the Way, even paralleling the trail in many places, I hope each kid looked out the window and reflected on just how far their feet carried them.

In a world of every mode of transportation imaginable and technology taking us to places near and far virtually, to walk a path and notice the wildflowers, the old, rocky military roads where thousands of feet have walked before them, the sounds of the birds, the companionship of conversation, laughter and even tears with friends, the rain without cover other than protective clothing, the feeling of instant relief your tired and achy feet get by simply removing your shoes, and most importantly, the clarity in their souls that only the simple act of spending time outdoors can bring, are just a few of the reasons why I insist on these walkabout trips for our family.  They may not understand now or even admit to enjoying it as much as their parents, but retrospectively I believe with all my heart that they will “get it” one day and reflect with fond nostalgia on time well spent.

Adults at the northern terminus

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  2. Nancy

    Thank you, Jeanne! You know I how much I have loved following your own journeys. I think you and Mel would love this entire trail and I would personally love reading about it, hint, hint! 😉