Backpacking & Outdoor adventures by ChingNengBin - Namaste! Everest BaseCamp 5,364m : 2014 - Backpacking to Stranraer, Scotland day 25

Backpacking to Stranraer, Scotland from 21 May to 26 June 2014 (37days)

Day 25 (14.06.2014) – Day 4 to Fort William, Ben Nevis & Highland Concert

The Highland Day includes a 53 miles trip on A82 road across Rannoch Moor, through Glencoe Pass and on to Fort William. After lunch we all congregate at the Nevis Centre for our Highland Day Concert, then it is home again in time for a Highland Candlelit Dinner and entertainment at Dalmally Hotel.

Dinner at 7pm was fantastic and the entertainment by “John McFarlone” was superb.

Sleeping: Dalmally Hotel, Dalmally, Argyll and Bute PA33 1AY, UK.

Temp: min.11 – max.18°C

Morning greetings with Ms. Kathleen the Dalmally pole dancer at aged 85.

This Scotland Scenic West Coast Tour tour is excellent for all senior citizens at Dalmally Hotel.

As usual, all queuing up to get in for breakfast at Dalmally Hotel.

Our breakfast at Dalmally Hotel.

On the way to Fort William we had a toilet stop here at The Green Welly Stop.

On the bus to Fort William from Dalmally Hotel.

Rannoch Moor is a large expanse of around 50 square miles of boggy moorland to the west of Loch Rannoch in Scotland, where it extends into Perth and Kinross, Lochaber in Highland, and northern Argyll and Bute.

Rannoch Moor is a large expanse of boggy moorland to the west of Loch Rannoch in Scotland

The Great Moor of Rannoch is one of the last remaining wildernesses in Europe. It is a beautiful outdoor space stretching out far north and west from Rannoch Station. The area is a vast stretch of land composed of blanket bog, lochans, rivers, and rocky outcrops which makes it a very challenging environment which still supports varieties of flora and fauna.

Plants, birds and animal life can be seen in Rannoch Moor ranging from grouse to roe and red deer.

Buachaille Etive Mòr meaning "the great herdsman of Etive" is a mountain at the head of Glen Etive in the Highlands of Scotland. Its pyramidal form, as seen from A82 road when travelling towards Glen Coe, makes it one of the most recognisable mountains in Scotland.

Buachaille Etive Mòr takes the form of a ridge 8km in length, almost encircled by River Etive.

The Buachaille Etive Mòr ridge contains 4 tops: from NE to SW are Stob Dearg (1022m), Stob na Doire (1011m), Stob Coire Altruim (941m) and Stob na Bròige (956m).

Glen Coe is a glen of volcanic origins, in the Highlands of Scotland. It lies in the southern part of the Lochaber committee area of Highland Council, and was formerly part of the county of Argyll. It is often considered one of the most spectacular and beautiful places in Scotland, and is a part of the designated National Scenic Area of Ben Nevis and Glen Coe.

The narrow Glen Coe, approaching from the east on A82 road, is surrounded by wild and precipitous mountains. Further west at Invercoe, the landscape has a softer beauty before the main entrance to the glen. The main settlement is the nearby village of Glencoe located at the foot of the valley.

The name Glen Coe is often said to mean "Glen of Weeping", perhaps with some reference to the infamous Massacre of Glencoe which took place there in 1692.

The Glen is named after the River Coe which runs through it, and bore this name long before the 1692 incident. The name of the river is believed to predate the Gaelic language and its meaning is not known.

Ridges of Gearr Aenoch and Aonach Dubh on the south side of the Pass.

Pass of Glencoe looking westwards towards Loch Achtriochtan.

The breathtaking Pass of Glencoe.

Coire nan Lochan on the southern side of Glen Coe.

A lot of people trekking the highlands of Glen Coe.

A stop at a view point on the highlands of Glen Coe.

On the Glen Coe highlands we met again Ms Tan now lives in Belfast is from Bercham, Ipoh, Malaysia.

Ching Neng Bin at The Pass of Glencoe highlands.

The Pass of Glencoe is like a lively lady, catch her in the right mood and its unforgettable!!”

The Three Sisters of Glencoe highlands.

Ching Neng Bin at The Pass of Glencoe highlands.

Ching Neng Bin, Catherine Oon and Betty Ching at The Pass of Glencoe highlands.

Val Allan, Pauline Toh and Ching Neng Bin at The Pass of Glencoe highlands.

The Pass of Glencoe highlands.

Chailleach on the north side of The Pass of Glencoe highlands.

Glencoe highlands.

The view of Loch Linnhe.

The view of Loch Linnhe near Fort William.

Walking from West End car park to Fort William.

Road side musician at Fort William.

Pauline Toh, Catherine Oon and Betty Ching sitting with a life size bronze statue at Fort William. The official end of the route at Fort William is marked by a statue of a West Highland Way Walker in Gordon Square in the centre of the town.

Ching Neng Bin and Val Allan at the Official end of the West Highland Way at Fort William.

Fort William (in Gaelic: "The Garrison") is the second largest settlement in the highlands of Scotland. Fort William is a major tourist centre with Glen Coe just to the south.

Fort William is a centre for hillwalking and climbing due to its proximity to Ben Nevis and many other Munro mountains. It is also known for its nearby downhill mountain bike track. It is the start/end of both the West Highland Way (Milngavie/Fort William) and the Great Glen Way; a walk/cycle way (Fort William/Inverness).

Walking on High Street of Fort William.

There are several outdoor clothing and equipment shops on High Street of Fort William.

Fort William West Highland Museum is in Cameron Square where you can learn about the Jacobites from the 1715 and 1745 Rebellions and the effects these conflicts had on the town and local community.

Cameron Square in Fort William was completely redesigned with a new layout for visitors and local people to relax and listen to some of the occasional musicians who come here to perform.

Cameron Square in Fort William.

Fort William is known as the outdoor capital of the UK as a result of the wide range of outdoor activities on offer. The town supports a museum, numerous shops (including the ubiquitous Edinburgh Woollen Mill), restaurants and bar.

Fort William is known as the outdoor capital of the UK.

St. Andrew's Church at Fort William.

Donald Cameron statue, Fort William.

In memory of the men of Fort William.

The Nevis Centre is Fort William's largest public hall and indoor activity centre.

After lunch we all congregate at the Nevis Centre for our Highland Day Concert in Fort William.

Highland Day Concert a

Highland Day Concert a1, a2

Highland Day Concert a3, a4

Highland Day Concert a5

Highland Day Concert a6 a7 a8

Highland Day Concert a9

The country view from Fort William to Dalmally Hotel.

A lot of people trekking the highlands of Glen Coe.

Dalmally Hotel program of the day.

Dalmally Hotel dinner menu of the day.

Haggis is a savoury pudding containing sheep's (heart, liver and lungs); minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, and salt, mixed with stock, and traditionally encased in the animal's stomach and simmered for hours.