Thanks, Corriepaw, for the link to your and Mark's very detailed accounts. They read like fresh, authentic records of the highs and lows, and you are dead right about how the long lens of hindsight plays down the suffering. Your "strong language" is not an issue but readers should know that your descriptions of blisters and damage to nether body parts are
not for the faint-hearted
Another tip for readers: the photos are clickable and several are well worth a second look, especially the Muasdale sunset. Because the diary is so long, I'd advise folk first to dip into the
epilogue to get the flavour. I hope you don't mind if I quote from it here?
The Kintyre Peninsula is a magnificent mainland island, with remote and wonderful scenery and a walk which just happens to be there to try and show this off in its entirety. It can be a bastard of a walk, mind. It is harder going than the West Highland Way, perhaps because it is so young and raw. Without doubt, there are faults and parts of The Way should be addressed and altered, but it is a very rewarding walk nonetheless and I would recommend that you give it a go if you’re into this sort of thing. It will challenge you and reward you in equal measure and you’ll find out how tough your feet are and how you react when the going gets hard. I’d like to know how it walks in about twenty year’s time.
Although you guys were far from novices, Bod's point about what your feet are used for (and used to) year-round is important. Since you mention possible future walks, can I suggest you consider pre-toughening by more practical methods than wearing hiking boots all the time? The easiest method is surgical spirit, but please see our website advice on
feet and boots. It sounded as if the Compeed was too little, too late and it's a dead cert that once you are badly blistered, it throws out your whole walking action so you can end up with ankle, knee and hip problems. I also think that two poles work much better than just one. I really felt for poor Mark, missing out on the banter, camaraderie and shared suffering
Although both Arran and Gigha are great islands to visit, having to go solo, instead of doing the walk as planned, does underline just how important it is for a long-distance walker to look after their feet.
The only issue I have is where you continue:
Perhaps I’ll make the effort to find out, though at sixty years of age I’ll probably be using a stair-lift just to get myself off to bed each night.
Corriepaw, I have news for you: 60 is the new 40! I took up walking only when I turned 50, and only this June stumbled up
Kilimanjaro for the fourth time, having unwisely done no more training that you did for the Kintyre Way. I hope that you too have a long walking life ahead of you
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