Travel to Portavadie

[Johnny Walker]

In September we've planned a trip to walk this route. So far we want to book a flight to Scotland. Can you give me some advice how to travel. For example, via Edinburgh or Glasgow, travel to Portavadie or Inveruglas (to do the walk in reverse).

I already found out some information but the main problem are the flight arrival times in Scotland. They are pretty late and to reach Portavadie before midnight could be a problem, so that's the reason for asking about doing the walk in reverse. Perhaps there are pickup and drop-off services from the airport to the first accommodation?  I hope you can give me some information.

[Jacquetta]

Hi there

The first answer is easy: Glasgow is both nearer, and has more connections, than Edinburgh.

Second, you are right, it's easier to reach Inveruglas by late bus than Portavadie, but of course overnighting in or near Glasgow would solve that.

You haven't said which airport, or even which country, you are coming from, so it's difficult to be specific, but once you reply I am sure that people can help you.

Enjoy!

[Johnny Walker]

Hello Jacquetta,

Thanks for your reaction. We changed are plans a bit, still walking the Cowal way, but we take one more day to travel to Portavadie. We already booked a flight from Amsterdam to Edinburgh (easyjet) for the 31st of August and will travel to Portavadie the next day. I already found out how to travel on the web. We'll start walking on Tuesday afternoon and try to reach Inveruglas on Friday evening. We're only looking for accommodation information (campsites or B&B), but I think that will be provided in the guidebook.

Kind Regards,
Johnny "Walker" Nijland

[Jacquetta]

On Tuesday it should be easy enough to reach Tighnabruaich – even starting in the afternoon – because it's only 10 km.  That still leaves you a considerable challenge to complete the rest of the Way in only three walking days (Wednesday to Friday) and unless you intend to jog most of it I'd suggest you need a rethink.   Although the distances look modest on paper, the combination of steepness and terrain makes average speed slow, Cowal is very remote and there is little enough accommodation choice even if you overnight at the suggested stopovers (which are for a five-day walk, whereas you are attempting it in 3.5).

When you read the guidebook you will see various options suggested, one being via Wemyss Bay and Bute, but unless you are into challenge hiking/jogging using a headtorch and very long hours, I don't think rolling two days' walking into one will work on this route (except for the first two sections, but you'd need to start early morning, not mid-afternoon, for that).  At least in September you should have 12 hours daylight but your question about "pickup and drop-off services from the airport to the first accommodation" suggests that you don't realise what a wonderful wilderness experience you are heading for.

If you haven't already read pp 5-9 of our guidebook, please visit this page Planning (extract) and look carefully at the altitude profile and also the distance table.  Food for thought?