16.5.10 - Pentlands

Only two weeks to go!! Can't believe how quickly the weeks have flown past. Training has been going well and almost prepared for the "Big Challenge". Steph's Uncle John, has acted as our unofficial and unpaid coach! We've picked up lots of tips and advice from him, which has been great and invaluable. If we put it all into practice then we should have an enjoyable 'West Highland Way' experience!

Last Sunday (16th May) John (Big Brother) took me up into the Pentlands for a training session. Michelle was at a works conference and unable to join us. It was a fantastic training exercise with beautiful scenery and views at the top of Scald Law to compensate for the hard ascent. Approximately an 18 mile, figure of eight route, starting at Bonaly and heading to Capelaw and Glencorse Resevoir.

Our first stop of the day was at Harlaw Visitors Centre for a picnic lunch in beautiful sunshine, as you will see from the photograph. We were joined by a group of students who were, we think, doing part of their Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme. In fact we met quite a few groups of students, throughout the day who were all in great form considering they had been camping overnight in the hills ~ so we had nothing to complain about having just fallen out of our comfy beds!!

After lunch it was onwards and most definitely 'upwards' as John had saved the best climbs until the afternoon!! The views of Edinburgh from Scald Law were fantastic. Extremeley windy at the top though. The proof can be seen from the photograph but worth every minute of the climb.

Michelle needn't feel disappointed about missing out on the "Pentlands Experience" as her and I are going to repeat the whole thing again this Sunday. As John is to be away we're on our own!!John has given me a map and directions so we don't get lost!! Not quite sure that will be suffice to save two damsels from straying off onto the wrong path!!

Will let you know how it goes in our next blog update!!!