JOGLE 5.5 Day 5 Sat 6 Oct 12

Depart 0900 Arrived 1700 Inverrmoriston to South Laagan Distance 18 miles

Started off with some hill walking all the way to Fort Augustus. Very scenic and absolutely fine weather. Fort Augustus is very much a tourist trap with coach loads of Far East persons visiting. The Locks are a sight well worth seeing and that part of Fort Augustus is very picturesque. The walk from the Fort to South Laagan was mostly canal path and lochside path in nice sunshine and also following General Wade’s military road and the original Fort William to Fort Augustus railway line route. Work is in progress to restore the railway track and turn it into a cycle path which has some interesting tunnel features and an original railway station at Invergerry. It will be really good if they achieve it. A large ship wrecked boat was spotted in Loch Oich clearly it ignored the navigation marks. The B&B at Forest Lodge, is damp with dodgy heating but a really good shower. Ians quilt cover looked decidedly manky and he decided not to use it. At least they are giving us a lift to the local restaurant for dinner which is at the Eagle Barge Pub and Restaurant. The Eagle Barge Pub and Restaurant is a superbly converted cargo barge boat that was lovely and warn warm and cosy. The food was superb, Haggis, Neaps and tatties with a dram of whiskey and peat smoked salmon that Ian thoroughly enjoyed. The owner gave us a lift back to the B&B. Phoebe kindly dried our washing for us as even with the heating on full blast it was still damp in the room. During the evening Robert pointed out to us that tomorrow was 24 miles and not the 21 that we thought, but as most of the walking was following the Caladonian canal we thought that it shouldbn't be that ardious.