Day 40 - Rowardennan to Inverarnan

Day 40 - Thu May 14th. Another golden morning with blue skies and puffy clouds, and just a cool breeze. I shall try not to repeat the superlatives of previous days, but again, Scotland couldn't have looked better at a most lovely time of year in a famously beautiful location; enough said?
Our hotel continued to be a bit disorganised, and everything seemed to revolve around two very hard working ladies: one chinese and the other east European. Some places just have the touch that makes one's stay a real pleasure and this doesn't need all the trimmings - it can just be a matter of style and attention to detail. The really super places are not that common, but those who run then should be out there training the rest!
Rowardennan is in a gorgeous position, and as you can see from the sunset photo on the loch it really is quite special. It is difficult to get to, requiring a long drive up a tiny road, or a ferry trip. So from the start in the morning to arrival at 5pm, we were felt like we were walking through a Highland Calendar with something to gladden the eye at every turn. There are bluebells covering the slopes around Loch Lomond, in great densities and over huge areas, it is quite astonishing.
We had thought of climbing Ben Lomond, but decided against it on the day as we had 18 miles to do anyway, and the path is rugged and steep in places. To add 3000-plus feet of climb and an uncertain descending route to this would have been very exhausting and we have another 19 miles to do tomorrow, and more the next day. In the event, we thoroughly enjoyed walking at our own pace along the lake banks and slopes and taking full advantage of a special day.
We are now becoming familiar with the group of people who are doing the Way at the same time; they are mostly in their 50s or above, and some seem quite elderly but very spry. The mood on this day was quite euphoric of course, and people were able to amble, sit on beaches and enjoy a drink in the sunshine. It is quite different when the weather is poor.
We stopped for a snack and for me to update the Blog at the Inversnaid Hotel, which is next to a sizeable waterfall, and is also the docking point for a ferry from the west side of the loch. The afternoon included some quite rugged sections, involving steep and rocky climbs and drops, but it is well set up these days and there is nothing very difficult. I sat on a beach a couple of times, just taking it all in, and cooling my feet in the loch water (very good for them and refreshing).
We were staying in some cabins an a campsite at Inverarnan which turned out to be brand new and rather nice, set among lawns with a grove of mature beech trees. We had a relaxing evening having a drink and dinner and talking to people in the bar before retiring quite early.