Log No 131. Sat 14th Sep 2013 - Lochgilphead to Furnace, 17 miles (2030 miles walked)

It was cold during the night, I woke up and needed to put a t-shirt on and a while later I put a fleece on.

The clear skies were still with me when I set off at 08.00, a very cool but not crisp day.


I was pack-free again and with no big hills I kept up a good pace.

Ardrishaig, on the other side of Loch Gilp, was bathed in sunshine while my side was still in shadow which made it cold enough for me to wish I had put my gloves in my day pack.


Loch Gilp is just a small loch off Loch Fyne and it wasn't long before the road turned east then northeast up Loch Fyne which let me catch some sunshine.

Loch Fyne itself had a band of cloud floating on it.


As the morning warmed up the cloud burned away and when there were no trees in the way I did have a view up the loch.

I had a quick break after a couple of hours then pressed on again. Just as I was coming into Lochgair I saw another dead Pine Marten by the side of the road.

It was 17 miles to Furnace and I could get the bus back from there at 14.10 and 16.10, a check on the map showed I was walking at 4 miles an hour so I would arrive at Furnace in plenty of time for the earlier bus.

I was tempted to carry on beyond Furnace to the next bus stop but as it was another 6 mile trek through the forest I stuck to my intended destination.


There was no need for me to keep the fast pace up and I had a longer than usual lunch break on the shore at Minard.

I had decided I was going home tomorrow to get the campervan so I thought I would collect a tub full of brambles to take home with me.

That slowed me down a bit and I got into the village of Furnace with half an hour to wait for the 14.10 bus.

The village used to be called Inverleacann, after the river, but changed its name when the Iron Ore furnace was built in 1755, the remains of which are still here.

A fast walk today, so much easier with no hills or pack. It will just be a quick trip home and I expect to be back on track on Wednesday morning.