WHW - Day 9: Drymen to Milngavie (12 miles)

We woke feeling worse for wear on this, our last day on the West Highland Way. Despite the rest, my shins were still agony and Kathleen's blisters weren't looking too pretty. We patched them up as best as we could and prepared for the off. It was at this point that James delivered an absolutely cracking bit of satire on our wigwam: he comes into the hut and tells us that "a six-foot chicken is outside and says he wants his hoose back!". Class!

We skipped breakfast as we wanted an early start, so James and Susan drove us back towards Drymen where we left the path the day before to ensure we walked every mile of the Way. After saying our goodbyes, we set off feeling hungry, tired and sore and not really in the same cheery spirit as when we started this trip so many days previously. Still, we only had to get through the day and beer, baths and bed would be our reward.

We hobbled on, and almost immediately started fantasising about breakfast. Unfortunately, it being Easter Monday, all the wee shops and cafes we passed were shut. It was approaching noon and the combination of pain, tiredness and hunger was making us a bit grumpy. We just put our heads down and got on with it, as neither of was in the mood for anything else. We eventually found our oasis at the Beech Tree Inn in Drumgoyne. After eating we came up with an cunning plan to get through the remaining miles - self medication with beer and painkillers. Despite being only just lunchtime, we washed down a few ibuprofen with a couple of pints of Stella and waited for the blessed numbness to come. It seemed to do the trick so we hauled on the packs and were off, much restored.

This last stage couldn't be more different from the morning's walking. We felt much better and enjoyed the easy walking and chatting with other walkers who were just starting their treks up to Fort William. We were impressed when we spotted huge buzzards circling above at exactly the spot where the map in our guide book had a drawing of buzzards. Once we had passed through Mugdock Country Park we knew we were on the home straight. We had great fun reminiscing about the previous days and remembering the wrong turns, dramatic scenery, booze-ups, hangovers and laughs along the Way.

We got into Milngavie and posed by the obelisk for the obligatory victory photo, although for most people this is the starting point. A guy working in a nearby cafe commented that we were a bit late starting the walk and Kathleen took great pleasure in telling him that we were, in fact, finished and heading home! We strolled over to the train stop, noticed the train in the station ready to go and used our last bit of energy to run and made it on with seconds to spare.


West Highland Way... done!