I arrived in Inverness 2 days ago. Oh man, so many interesting things happened!
Stage 5 ended in Drumnadrochit. From Drumnadrochit to Inverness most of the hikers prefer to make in 1 day. There are 30 km to walk and if this is the last day, then it’s painful!! For the people that hike this way starting from Inverness, then it’s absolutely fine. I knew I will be damaged, so I planned this last stage in 2 days. And it was a brilliant idea!
First day I walked from Drumnadrochit to Abriachan. This was from my point of view the hardest part of the walk. I was already tired, I had some blisters despite the KT Tape (although only one was open), my backpack was everyday harder to carry on and the climbs were so steep!! For the first time I was so glad that I had the new hiking boots, they offered incredible support when I really needed.
The steep climbs were for 3 km, but the views were amazing, so I suppose at that time it didn’t matter how painful it was.
The Urquhart castle from a different perspective:
The walk was beautiful, through fairytale-type forest, the air was wet and smelled magical.
The walk for the day ended of course with a long portion of paved and stoney path.
The wind was so strong and I was sooo cold! I was shivering, but I didn’t want to open my backpack because it was raining heavily and I was afraid that my dry clothes will get wet.
When I arrived in Abriachan, I found this friendly and comfy Cafe. It belongs to locals and here I had the best coffee in the world.
Yes, that’s a pig.
During the break I discovered that my new waterproof jacket was not sealed anymore and I was completely wet. That’s why I was so cold.
I had a very nice chat with the owners and because I had to overnight to a campsite nearby, I told them that I will return in the morning for a coffee and some takeaway sandwiches.
So I left the Cafe and I headed to the Campsite. I found my pod withe the name on it and I prepared my bedding.
Unfortunately it was not what I expected. There were other people there, but no hiker and no real camper. Just people with cars that want to go glamping (“glamour camping”) and it was very boring.
Anyway, during the night a heavy rain started. I could hear on the wooded roof the big drops of water.
In the morning I woke up much earlier than I wanted, but I took my backpack and went to the Cafe in Abriachan.
The sandwiches were waiting for me. I had a delicious coffee and resumed the walk.
Man, it was raining. I changed the “waterproof” jacket with softshell. At least it was warmer. And I was that annoying tourist with an umbrella. Some hikers can be really judgmental. One guy told me with an ironical tone that he thought I was Mary Poppins.
This was the last day. And I found the walk so boring!! It rained the entire time until O reached Inverness. The last 6,5 km were the longest in my life. I could barely walk because of the pressure that the backpack put on my soles. I tried to not hate each minute.
The bridge to the Ness island was closed so I had to redirect myself.
And finally the end of the walk:
Inverness from above:
Being so tired I decided to go to the accommodation. And this is when the fun begins.
I could barely walk and stand, so I am ringing the door. No answer. I decide to call. No answer.
Suddenly a guy arrives and tries to ignore me. I am at this point already frustrated and told him that I booked at that place for the next 4 days. He looks at the reservations and tells me that he is renting an apartment in the building, but that he will let me in. Maybe my face was already begging for a chair?
So I am in and a doors opens. Is the lady that rents rooms in the building. She is making some bad jokes about me and that guy (she thought I am his girlfriend, but I am with a big backpack so … why??) and I present myself.
She looks shocked at me and says that she has no room for me. I thought that’s a joke, because it never happened to me, but she says that it’s true. And that I will have to go to another room somewhere else in Inverness.
Being so tired, I don’t even want to think about this and I ask to sit for a moment and discuss how and why.
Long story said short: there was a german guy who was at the room that she wanted to move me in, he hated it because it was disgusting and she moved him in my room. She told me later that she didn’t answer me on purpose, because she didn’t know what to tell me and that she actually was thinking to cancel my reservation. That I made more that 6 months before and was already paid.
Later she told me that she had a fight with her boyfriend and she took some drugs and drank too much. It was 4 pm. I was shocked.
Later a neighbor of her comes in visit and they both were very drunk and start to fight about going to a pub or not. They were very loud and the other guests were disturbed. I tried to keep calm.
This neighbor tells me that she sells weird substances and she will pay for me as well if I want to come, because she has a lot of money. And by the way, she is lesbian, but I should not worry, because I am not her type. Well … I guess that’s fine for me.
In the end I slept that night in a temporary bed in the same room with the owner, in smoke and farts smell. It was quite an experience.