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Cairn, Loch Lomond, East side, Durham-Iona Pilgrimage 2011
As I trawled though our pilgrimage photos yesterday in search of something to use for a blog banner, I came across a couple of pictures which I'm sure tell a story. This cairn and the accompanying inscription can be found not far from the Inversnaid Hotel on the Eastern shores of Loch Lomond. Not an easy stretch, with it's craggy twists and turns up and down from the shoreline; our experience of that section wasn't pleasant; even experienced walkers appreciate the need to treat this particular section of the West Highland Way (22Km, I think, if you take it in one hop) with great respect. We walked it in several stages, our mileage that particular day being one of the shortest in the entire trip - about 6 miles, but it was the hardest 6 miles we've ever done, struggling through rain and mist, only getting to the far end just in time to catch the last ferry across to Ardlui. I say, 'ferry,' it's a small boat, which you hail by raising a buoy up a mast on the shore. By that stage, there is no road at all; if you miss the boat, your only options are either to retrace your steps right back to Inversnaid or spend the night in a nearby bothy. (not 4 star accomodation, I can tell you, we checked!)
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Monday, 1 October 2012
Epitaphs and Inscriptions - Who Was Bill Lobban?
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Saw the memorial for the first time yesterday and did a little research - http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2507&dat=19751125&id=D_0-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=XE0MAAAAIBAJ&pg=5422,5294607
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Derek; I guessed that might have been the explanation. You must be pretty fit to be attempting the walk at this time of year - I can imagine that conditions aren't ideal at the moment. I must say, I'd query the local authority's statement in the last para re there being nothing arduous about the route. Whilst I can imagine that it might seem that way to experienced climbers and weather can change in an instant and even veteran hillwalkers can become unstuck regardless; a friend of the family was killed on Snowdon not many years after the above; the reason remains a mystery. Bill was indeed a brave man; that memorial is well deserved.
ReplyDeleteWilliam Lobban is my daughter's paternal grandfather and just discovered the story her father told me is actually true. Proud his blood runs through my daughter's veins as he must have been a selfless, caring and heroic man
ReplyDeleteI'm sure he must have been. You must all be so proud to have had such a person in the family. It makes you wonder how many other tales of quiet heroism are there for the traveller to discover.
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