Our first stage, Milngavie to Drymen took place on Friday, May 10, but I didn’t get this blog posted until Saturday. 

Stage 1 of the West Highland Way – Milngavie to Drymen
Today’s Miles: 13.1
Miles Remaining: 82.9

Friday morning, our first day of walking, started out heartily with a “full Scottish breakfast,” albeit without the traditional black pudding. I especially love the tomato & mushrooms. Delicious!

Here we are at the setting off point of the walk. 

The walk starts out through the Mugdock County Park. It was beautiful, with lots of trees and bluebells growing everywhere.

Somewhere around three miles in, we came across a memorial to an old campfire site that marks an important time in social history. The site was famous in the 1920s and 30s as an informal meeting place for a range of passers-by that included travelers, climbers, and walkers, as well as the unemployed escaping the depression in Glasgow. People would stop here around the campfire and tell stories and discuss the wider issues of the world.

Then we came upon these quirky and very cute little houses with beautiful blooming gardens. Note that the house with the red trim is called, “The Shire.”

There were lots of wildflowers along the path. You have already seen the bluebells. We saw these white ones that look kind of like daffodils. And these other white ones we believe are wild garlic and there were whole fields of those as you can see. And then there was another very cute plant by the trail that we couldn’t identify, but looks a lot like a primrose. 

When we go on these long walks, our grandkids send some of their friends (Legos, etc) along with us and we take pictures of them along the way. Here was a perfect spot along the trail where someone had placed a cute little “fairy house.” “Scotty the policeman,” “Nessie the snail,” and “Piranha” got their picture taken enjoying their new home. Piranha is really looking forward to Loch Lomond. 

You may have heard about haggis. Demonstrating that Scottish sense of humor, we came across this sign.

But you see, haggis is not a living animal. It is a food made up of minced lamb’s or deer’s liver along with other meaty organ bits. Frankly, it tastes like sausage. It’s not bad if you don’t think about what you are eating. Hurrah for the Scottish sense of humor. 

Last year when we walked through England, I would have a picture each day of my “sheep of the day.” Not sure we will see enough sheep this trip to do that but here are two great sheep pictures that would compete for the prize.

Speaking of animals, I love the Highland Cattle, known affectionately as “wooly coos.” Here is a live example and an artistic example.

We will end this post with this neat West Highland Way feature. There are, interspaced along the trail, what are called honesty boxes. They have bakery goods, treats, candy, water, and sometimes ice cream for sale. It is self-serve and self-pay, and many of the treats look delicious. Here is an example.

And one beautiful, pastoral, Scottish scene.

Okay, I finally got this long post completed. Take care, have a good day and check back later for the next update.

God bless,
Coe