Tag 9 - Fort William <-> Mallaig

9:00

Fog and drizzle greet us; looking out the bungalow window, one can't tell where the lake ends and the sky begins - everything merges into a white mass.

We put on waterproof clothing and drive a short distance to the Glenfinnan train station. Upon arriving at the hiking parking lot, we are welcomed and immediately bitten by hundreds of midges, tiny biting flies, and even the rain can't stop them from descending on us in waves. We quickly start walking. From here, a wooden path winds through heather and rocks. On the opposite side of the valley, one can only guess at the height and beauty of the mountains beneath the wisps of fog. Far away in the haze, we see the Bonnie Prince Charlie Monument, the gentleman who was pivotal for the beautiful and melancholic song 'Loch Lomond'.

We reach a gentle slope; several people are already standing expectantly, looking at the viaduct that winds between us and the opposite mountain. The drizzle eases a bit as the minutes pass... and finally, you can see the smoke on the horizon... the Hogw... Uh, the Jacobite comes rolling back around. Dozens of phones shoot up as the train approaches, reminiscent of the famous opening scene from Harry Potter.