The late summer sunset turns the glassy surface of Loch Lomond a brilliant copper and, save for a few folks grilling by their camper vans, I have the whole of beautiful Milarrochy Bay to myself. I consider another – my third of the day – but with the light failing and another two miles before I reach my destination, I realize I’d better press on. Some 45 minutes later, I’m rambling down the final descent of the day into the lakeside town of Balmaha in the near-dark, grateful to see the twinkling lights of town.
After a 21-mile day of walking along a section of the winding , my feet are throbbing. My heart is singing, however. It’s been a full day of walking along one of the most glorious spots in Scotland, and now I can enjoy at the local hotel while I wait for my bus home.
On previous excursions, I’ve hiked this section with my and , turning it into a multi-day adventure, but today I’ve gone for a long-distance day hike. I live for hiking and trail running, covering nearly 100 km on foot most months in my and . I consider every adventure worthwhile, whether I’m taking a quick jaunt up a nearby hill for an hour after work or heading into the backcountry for several days of .
But my favorite? It has to be a long-distance day hike like the one I've just completed. I love backpacking, but let’s be honest, it’s a lot of work packing, preparing meals, setting up camp and breaking it down. is epic, but honestly, after a week I’m excited to see my loved ones ag.