To fail would have been to ignore being sick & carrying on. This could have been dangerous. You made the right decision - not every walk in life will go to plan, but the mountains & trails will still be there for next time.
Good effort Gregor, remember the Way is not going anywhere. Better to come back and enjoy it when you’re better. I did it in August 2023 and would easily do it again, perhaps a winter WHW next time round though.
Same thing happened to me and my mate bro, don't feel too bad about it. We both had to bail at bridge of orchy and lost about 5kg each over the next week
Absolutely the right decision to terminate the walk (notice I didn’t use the word quit). I hope it was a brief sickness and you’re back to fighting strength. May the new year bring you that success that you’re after, mate! Best wishes for 2025- and to you all! ❤
Glengoyne is absolutely brilliant. I stopped on my WHW trip, got a few tiny bottles and had a wee dram of an evening. Went back recently and did the fancy tour where you get to mix your own whisky and bottle it. I'm looking at the nice boxes they're in displayed on the shelf waiting for a special occasion! Glad I stopped there, definitely one of my favourites now.
Well done Gregor, smart move stopping it while ill. I've done WHW twice and got heat stroke and dehydration on my first attempt by time I made it to Crianlarich hostel in Oct '02. I found the water around Rowardenan and side of Lomand a but funky even with a filter and used filtered tap/bottled water at stops along the way until I got to Tyndrum. I used steri-tabs as well after taking from filtered stream water. It tasted different but was just an added security against any weird bacteria my filter didn't catch. Also, check your filter is clean too. Good luck mate, look forward to next vid.
cant get enough of this trail its magical got planned my 5th WHW may 25 cant wait you'll crack it next time bro and look forward to your footage love yer ch 🏕 ATB👍
That was the best decision mate. The trail will be here when you're better, can't wait to see you go through the rest of the trail. Hope you feel better!
Loved the dramatic intro , the sunsets, the sunrises , the incredible views and the suspense at the end , great video pal . Hope you’re feeling better.
Years ago I was in Scotland with my brothers, we visited some lodges and looked at the country and the people. It was great! Unfortunately some of the brothers were not good at walking, so I couldn't go hiking. But I'm thinking about going to the Highlands with my twin sons next year. Thank you for showing us such beautiful landscapes. I wish you and all other readers the best of health, a wonderful Christmas and a happy New Year.
Mine too. I'd worked out a route to do in the Cairngorms but was dilly dallying like I do. Then I saw Gregor's video of the exact same route and it inspired me to actually go and do it. And it was awesome.
I found this walk very hard in 1999 , I was 31 , beautiful beautiful walk all the way for sure, I said in B& B’s which is luxury really but don’t feel bad please, you were on your own I thankfully had someone to encourage me on and that without feeling ill , well done love your channel xx
Although I’m really sorry for what is it that you went through and will be waiting for the next video, I think that calling for help was the most intelligent thing you could do. And it is never a fail when you recognise that the conditions aren’t optimal to continue. Continuing perhaps would have been a fail. Get well soon Gregor❤
Dear Gregor, I am very sorry that you fell ill on your trip, I wish you that you are recovering and well. I greatly appreciate your videos, they are excellent, your country is beautiful, thank you so much for sharing your adventures with us. Take good care of yourself and may you always be full of blessings.
Loved your video and you made the right call. I live near the bottom half of the WHW and often walk/run parts of it. Did you filter and boil the water newr the bottom of Conic? There's loads of sheep there and it's a dodgy water source. I'd recommend making a short detour to Drymen and fill up using the tap and take additional water for your first nights camp. Same when you swing past Balmaha. My friend had exactly the same thing happened to him as what happened to you but a bit further on in the trail. If you really need to drink from streams lower down, filter and boil. All the best, I have subbed.
everyone before me has summed it up. Hope all goes well and we see you back fit and well. I wish you a very happy Christmas and thank you for all your videos.
Smart no fail!! Amazing video and so glad of your fine judgement, seen many times when you are camping, hiking and in bad weather!! Thanks for the adventures, please get well soon!! Happy Christmas!!🎄
I failed at the same place I was ok but my dog was unwell my sons came to rescue my dog and me the problem was I live in Hove in Sussex so they had a long drive I hope to try again later this year. Keep doing what you’re doing 👍
I had the same thing happen when me and a few school pals tried it during the summer holidays many years ago now, as clean as those wee burns look they're lethal, never know if there is a dead sheep just upstream out of sight, I had it shooting out both ends while going over conic hill so called it quits at balmaha 😂 Next time avoid drinking straight from the burns.
AWE, such a shame pal! You were brave enough to walk it in the winter months, not many would attempt that, so don't be so hard on yourself! Myself and my wife and friends did the walk way back in the 90s with a firm called travel light - they took our belongings to each of our next destination/s , leaving us just to have water and snacks in our back pack/s. Loved it! We are now in our 70s and we look back at the footage we took now and again!
Filter the water, having worked in drainage game for years in Scotland . Always filter and boil the water. All the septic tanks go into the burns and you don't know what is lying dead upstream in the burn. Good effort and am sure you will complete it. Last time I did it I got picked up each day and went home. did it over 5 Saturdays. was good could take my time and go light.
In 50 years of walking from the Lakes to the Shetlands, I have had NO problems drinking the water from streams without boiling . Must have been lucky 😂
@@A2Z1Two3 That took a long time to get to Shetlands did you swim lol. buy you're age you should know the older generations are built very different to the young ones now adays. And drinking water in the wild is always a risk. I swim in the lochs and never been ill but also the guy I work with gets the squirts every time he drinks the water down in Cambridge. While we are working away.
It's an insult and wrong for the pristine environment in such national parks and places that properties with septic tank systems are allowed. If you want to live in such places don't transfer your urban lifestyle there and keep it very simple, minimalist and sustainable with eco toilets etc. Too many inappropriate lavish properties are getting built in these sacred places..... and corrupt councillors allow it by taking back handers .... all so wrong! Yes i realise some older properties even hotels may have been built this way before modern ecological awareness but they too should be slowly modernised.
@keithmoss7460 thousands of households still use a septic tank and if working correctly then water coming out of it is safe but modern chemicals like bleach etc are the main problem as kill the bacteria in the septic tanks.
So sorry to see you get sick but you made the right decision to stop, I hope you are feeling a lot better now and all the best for the New Year. Keep up the great content 👍
Yeah i thought maybe novovirus but then i was surprised at you drinking from lowland burns as anything could be in them. Love your videos and attitude,reminds me of my own walks in Scotland 40 years ago with my dog,tent on my back,walkman with cassettes.
Oh Gregor! Such a shame that you had to stop your adventure but these things happen..what you shared was beautiful! I really hope you are feeling better and regaining your strength for another try after Christmas. i wish you a very happy Christmas my friend, and a very happy and prosperous New Year filled with love , excitement and excellent adventures! 🤗
Love your videos, you have a great attitude and your content is first class very professional. One suggestion however which I think would be a nice touch , would be to include a map of the entire route , and also do a day by day progress indicator on it. Such a shame you got sick as was really enjoying it, however these things happen, and you did the right thing to call it a day and return when you are well. As an experienced Mountaineer, Hiker for over 50 years etc, I personally Never drink water as I dont like the taste, I used to drink Flat Lucozade as it tastes nice and gives you energy as well. However if you do drink water Always Purify it, never drink it straight from a stream. All sorts of dead animals could be in the stream and the water may have run through them before you drank it. Anyway excellent channel, I look forward to seeing you post your next attempt soon.
Fair play for getting to Inversnaid whilst puking, not an easy stretch (and can only assume not trusting farts). Good place to call it because Inversnaid to Inverarnan is definitely the most challenging section of the WHW and no real escape route once you're committed. (Someone must really love you to drive that road in the dark, in winter 😂!) Best of luck for next time, and as I'm sure you've learned, don't drink water from the streams/burns/rivers! Not the first and won't be the last! All the best.
Thank goodness you were so close to a Hotel to get help. I hope you get well for the Holidays. Just continue when you can, we'll be here waiting for you. Have a wonderful Christmas and a Jolly Good New Year 🕛🎊!!! The views and trip were spectacular.
Hope you're feeling much, much better now Gregor. It's not nice when sickness suddenly catches you when you're not expecting it. Hopefully you got some R&R and you'll be able to pick up where you left off next time. Have a lovely Christmas and Hogmanay!
Gregor thanks for another great video. I am surprised by all the hiking trails and number of mountains. Sorry that you fell ill, the trail will wait for another day. Happy Christmas to you and your family.
You are the third person I saw getting sick this way on the WHW and all at about the same spot. Did you had a water filter that works against viruses AND bacteria? I heard there is some nasty stuff in streams along the lower part of the WHW. I usually drink straight from the source in the Highlands, but got a filter for the WHW just for this reason. Better luck next time! And doing it in winter is tough!
Flew over from NI back in September. Jarred my knee coming down off Conic Hill..got to Rowardennan and had to make the call to end it there. Not worth risk and the walk will always be there. Chin up pal.
Beautiful scenery- me and my mates love these videos- although you not well, you look awesome bro. Hope you are better soon my friend merry Christmas 🎅🏻
We tried the West Highland way back in 86 during this time of year. 4 of us, not one days experience between us except for one guy. It was the most miserable experience, we were washed out, the army who was doing it at the same time put us up at the church hall with them for somewhere to sleep and made us breakfast in the morning before we headed back to Glasgow, great times. The next year we did it during the summer and made it. We wanted a whole brass band as we walked into Fort William, never got it but again great experiences along the way
I like the idea of the paetron membership. As this is such a wonderful UA-cam channel which deserves support. Your parents should be extremely proud of you you are a wonderful lovely person- thank you for these lovely videos
We use a Grayl filter to convert stream water into potable. I always considered stream water to be dilute sheep pee, the more dilute the higher I went!
a hope you were ok might have been something you eat or water such a lovely walk from drymen to balmaha i walk it a few times my self and the view from conic hill is great you can see over to luss and beinn dubh the glen striddle horseshoe witch is a great hike .
One of the most beautiful walks I have ever done. We added climbing Ben Nevis on the last day to make it truly memorable. Our country really is breath-taking. If I ever end up like Bill Murray in groundhogs day, I really hope it's one of those 8 days I have to live over and again.
My mate and I did the West Highland Way back in October. I first attemtped it almost 20 years ago but failed on the second day due to an ankle injury (on the stairs at the back of Balmaha). You'll do it eventually - just don't wait 20 years! We found October - the week before the school hokidays - to be a great time of the year to do it. It was fairly quiet, very few midges, the temperature was perfect and the length of the days meant we never really felt rushed. Food places were still open too and we had a pub lunch most days. The stretch on Loch Lomond between Rowardennan and Inverarnan was my favourite part of the whole trek. It is a part of Loch Lomond I had never experienced before . It probably is some of the hardest walking but it is a lot of fun! The bothies along that way are great too. Get back out there and get it finished!
It was gutting watching your epic walk get derailed by a gut issue. Been there twice and it’s so frustrating. I had serious gut problems on a team ascent of Mont Blanc. The others went up without me while I spent a whole day crouched behind a boulder feeling ill. Later on it happened after an expedition when we’d been two weeks on Mt Kenya with very simple rations and lost some weight. I went a bit crazy at an Indian restaurant in Nirobi and the curried eggs did for me! I spent most of the journey home occupying one of the aircraft toilets 😂😂
You can't win them all mate, some things you just can't see coming but have to deal with, you made the right choice. Enjoyed the content though, great vid, hope you are all recovered and ready to go again!!
I'm so sorry to see you got such an unwelcome early Christmas present, especially after getting the trek off to a cracking start. Sunset camp over Loch Lomond, just sublime! Hope you're back to your usual 'fit as a flea' for Christmas day.😅
I think we’ve done the way at the same time! I’m currently in Glencoe! You did the right thing, especially since the weather has now turned quite bad, you’d be in an even worse position. The Way isn’t going anywhere, brilliant effort!
What a time to be out under the Winter Skies ... Breathtaking. I'm thinking you're going to end up having to go half as heavy for endurance walks, I've gotten sick and had to ditch the gear altogether just to get home. Be safe. Happy New year ∆
Such a shame you fell ill Gregor but I hope you’re feeling better. The trail will be there for you to complete when you’re able. What fab shots you gave us and I loved the jokes!
Well the WHW in winter, yes I like the sound of that, maybe I could manage it. Yes sorry to send you got sick, has happy me a couple of times while in Scotland and had to Finnish my route once. All the best Gregor and merry Christmas 🎄
I'm so sorry you were sick. That came on very quickly. I was worried you would try to continue on past Inversnaid, as it gets more remote and difficult and there is less availability for help to come to you. You made the wise choice. I look forward to seeing you return to the way and finish. Best of luck!
A real Christmas treat is another stunning video from our dear Gregor. I have a suspicion that there will be a Happy Ending next week, fingers crossed!
Ah man gutted for you but what else could you do? Are you ok now? I love watching your adventures and look forward to you returning and making it. Speedy recovery and have a great Christmas and New Year 🎊
Aww. Must have been something you ate, I guess. But these things happen - and you can get someone to drop you back at Inversnaid when you're better, so you can resume your walk - and you'll still have completed the whole WHW when you're done. I did a similar, 120-mile sponsored walk some years back - over the space of three weeks - because everything that could possibly go wrong - from the wrong type of underwear to falling and spraining my ankle - did go wrong! Yet, I still completed my intended route, it just took a bit longer than I'd anticipated, that's all! I hope it didn't last too long, and you're able to enjoy a good Christmas and New Year.
I really loved the video Gregor, Loch Lomond in in its winter crunchy splendor, seeing the beautiful sunset and sun rise, i love to see the golden hour😊 so sorry you got ill, there's another UA-camr Black Crag that got ill eating pre packaged sandwiches he bought and got sick too,i think the dehydrated neals you add boiling water too would be a safer bet,i hope you are well and have a great Christmas and Happy Hogmanay and we are looking forward to the next installment in the adventure, wishing you all the best😊
What can I say, great wee Part 1, looking forward to Part 2 when you can introduce yourself to the wee baldy man in Fort William. Hope your feeling better now too.
Hi Gregor, such a shame mate, but the trail will always be there. It was probably for the better, you would not have not wanted to get sick whilst you were on the next tough rocky section by the loch shore. I’m doing the WHW in May, I’m so looking forward to y. All the best for Christmas and New Year mate. 😀⛰🥾🏕️🎅🏻🎄🏴🏴
I had to bail at the half way point on the coast to coast with a shin splint, which I've never had before, it's gutting but you just have to suck it up and regroup, I'm going again in May. I'm sure you'll be back, and completing it will be all the sweeter the second time around.
Aw mate, I feel for you. I could tell in the clip where you said you didn't feel great that you were definitely not well. I hope you're on the mend now, and you know you'll smash the rest of the WHW next time. Well done for such a great effort and get well soon
Did you boil the river water? Might have been something upstream. Never mind always next time, Beautiful views and fine effort. Looking forward to the next attempt.
That Loch Lomond section is extremely tough, it was beautiful but the ground is so uneven, lots of little ascents/descents definitely the most challenging part of the trail
We went N to S summer of 22. I broke a Bone in my foot 3 days before the planned departure so I rented a folding bike, my hiking partner walked while I biked. It was phenomenal. No such thing as a failure, it's good decision making about the current situation. Congrats on taking responsibility for yourself and the current conditions, it speaks highly of your maturity and good sense.
Ohh, so sorry you fell ill..Hope you are doing better now, and remember, you did not fail.Our Health must always come first, and you made a wise choice not to continue on the trail. There will be other days and other opportunities.Looking forward to part II.
It must be cold so good gear is important but same time the light OMG it’s a dream specially for those who just loooove light in the nature it’s such inspiration…and in all honesty November even December time is just the best when comes to light the low subtle golden on tops of hills….certainly made me think to this one again maybe in the winter time 😅
Sometimes we gotta appreciate the journey even if it didnt end completely ahaha, you still got to experience some beautiful views and hike for that long at least. Wise decision that, everything's always there for you to accomplish and experience if youre healthy Looking for forward to whats coming next
Good effort pal, it’s not nice feeling rotten on the trail. When I completed it in 2022 I was on top of the world - just remember that when you do finish it you’ll feel the same!
I loved your video and the beautiful scenery and hope you recover soon. I noticed that you took water from a burn which may have contained pathogens , it is always safer to boil before drinking.
Always put your health first and listen to your body. The West Highland Way can be brutal. That hill you pointed out was Dumgoyne. The Glen Goyne whisky distillery is just below it.
Fair play to you giving it a go in December Gregor. The views as always, are stunning. Me and my mates always do it at the start of May. Maybe you've picked up a bug, when you first filled your water bottle? You don't know what's on the topside of the watercourse that you filled your bottle from. There could be dead sheep and all sorts. Whatever its been, its knocked the guts right out of you. You made the right call kid. The WHW will be there for your next attempt. Don't be discouraged Gregor. Best wishes and all the best for 2025 and your next attempt!! All the best Gregor.
There will be more chances mate💯🙌🏻 Still love the video, awesome as usual🏆 Gregor hope you get well soon and hope you have a lovely Christmas buddy 🎄🎅🏻 Also I would be a paetron for you too
To fail would have been to ignore being sick & carrying on. This could have been dangerous. You made the right decision - not every walk in life will go to plan, but the mountains & trails will still be there for next time.
Well said 👍
I feel sick
100% mate, a tough one to take but I’ll be back again to finish the trail. Have a great Christmas
Hope you recovered well and have a great Christmas break ❤
Always boil water from any water source you don't know is reliable.
It's better to be safe than sorry.
There's many a time I've had to give up on a hike due to illness.
Looking forward to seeing you complete the walk.
Oh no - hopefully you recovered quickly. How good of you to try and carry on. This walk was gorgeous. No failure here!
Unlucky mate! The trail is still there for when you’re better!
Get well soon and have a great Christmas 🎄🏴🤝
Thanks for the kind words, have a great Christmas
Good effort Gregor, remember the Way is not going anywhere. Better to come back and enjoy it when you’re better. I did it in August 2023 and would easily do it again, perhaps a winter WHW next time round though.
Awww, so sorry you got ill. Thank you for sharing the bits you got to enjoy. You can try again when you're better!
Same thing happened to me and my mate bro, don't feel too bad about it. We both had to bail at bridge of orchy and lost about 5kg each over the next week
Absolutely the right decision to terminate the walk (notice I didn’t use the word quit). I hope it was a brief sickness and you’re back to fighting strength. May the new year bring you that success that you’re after, mate! Best wishes for 2025- and to you all! ❤
Glengoyne is absolutely brilliant. I stopped on my WHW trip, got a few tiny bottles and had a wee dram of an evening. Went back recently and did the fancy tour where you get to mix your own whisky and bottle it. I'm looking at the nice boxes they're in displayed on the shelf waiting for a special occasion! Glad I stopped there, definitely one of my favourites now.
Well done Gregor, smart move stopping it while ill. I've done WHW twice and got heat stroke and dehydration on my first attempt by time I made it to Crianlarich hostel in Oct '02. I found the water around Rowardenan and side of Lomand a but funky even with a filter and used filtered tap/bottled water at stops along the way until I got to Tyndrum. I used steri-tabs as well after taking from filtered stream water. It tasted different but was just an added security against any weird bacteria my filter didn't catch. Also, check your filter is clean too. Good luck mate, look forward to next vid.
Enjoyed this video and look forward to you finishing the Way. Seems that water top up spot may have been the issue but who knows.
Onwards and uowards!
cant get enough of this trail its magical got planned my 5th WHW may 25 cant wait you'll crack it next time bro and look forward to your footage love yer ch 🏕 ATB👍
Very happy to see you turn around and go home.😊. Love from Bangkok, Thailand
Aw mate it was going so well, you could hear the joy in your voice at the sunset. Hopefully you recover soon. 💪🏻
That was the best decision mate. The trail will be here when you're better, can't wait to see you go through the rest of the trail. Hope you feel better!
Loved the dramatic intro , the sunsets, the sunrises , the incredible views and the suspense at the end , great video pal . Hope you’re feeling better.
Thanks man, glad you enjoyed it
Years ago I was in Scotland with my brothers, we visited some lodges and looked at the country and the people. It was great! Unfortunately some of the brothers were not good at walking, so I couldn't go hiking. But I'm thinking about going to the Highlands with my twin sons next year. Thank you for showing us such beautiful landscapes. I wish you and all other readers the best of health, a wonderful Christmas and a happy New Year.
I hope you're feeling better now. Considering how dreadful you were feeling, this trek was certainly not a fail. Merry Christmas! 🎉
Oh, feel so sorry for you - hope you recovered quickly. Insanely beautiful scenery though ✨be well
I hope you're feeling better right now. I cannot wait for you to pick-up where you left off. The scenery is fantastic. Stay safe m80 👍
Been waiting for this all week, you're definitely my favorite channel right now!
Mine too.
I'd worked out a route to do in the Cairngorms but was dilly dallying like I do.
Then I saw Gregor's video of the exact same route and it inspired me to actually go and do it.
And it was awesome.
@MG-bs5mr Awesome!
Thanks mate, glad you enjoy the adventures 😊
I found this walk very hard in 1999 , I was 31 , beautiful beautiful walk all the way for sure, I said in B& B’s which is luxury really but don’t feel bad please, you were on your own I thankfully had someone to encourage me on and that without feeling ill , well done love your channel xx
Although I’m really sorry for what is it that you went through and will be waiting for the next video, I think that calling for help was the most intelligent thing you could do. And it is never a fail when you recognise that the conditions aren’t optimal to continue. Continuing perhaps would have been a fail. Get well soon Gregor❤
Quitting when you’re ahead isn’t the same as quitting. Great video and good call. 👍
Dear Gregor, I am very sorry that you fell ill on your trip, I wish you that you are recovering and well. I greatly appreciate your videos, they are excellent, your country is beautiful, thank you so much for sharing your adventures with us. Take good care of yourself and may you always be full of blessings.
Intro was absolutely fantastic man! Your channel is brilliant!!!
Loved your video and you made the right call. I live near the bottom half of the WHW and often walk/run parts of it. Did you filter and boil the water newr the bottom of Conic? There's loads of sheep there and it's a dodgy water source. I'd recommend making a short detour to Drymen and fill up using the tap and take additional water for your first nights camp. Same when you swing past Balmaha. My friend had exactly the same thing happened to him as what happened to you but a bit further on in the trail. If you really need to drink from streams lower down, filter and boil. All the best, I have subbed.
everyone before me has summed it up. Hope all goes well and we see you back fit and well. I wish you a very happy Christmas and thank you for all your videos.
Smart no fail!! Amazing video and so glad of your fine judgement, seen many times when you are camping, hiking and in bad weather!! Thanks for the adventures, please get well soon!! Happy Christmas!!🎄
I failed at the same place I was ok but my dog was unwell my sons came to rescue my dog and me the problem was I live in Hove in Sussex so they had a long drive I hope to try again later this year. Keep doing what you’re doing 👍
Love your adventures, thanks. Akways so good.
I had the same thing happen when me and a few school pals tried it during the summer holidays many years ago now, as clean as those wee burns look they're lethal, never know if there is a dead sheep just upstream out of sight, I had it shooting out both ends while going over conic hill so called it quits at balmaha 😂
Next time avoid drinking straight from the burns.
AWE, such a shame pal! You were brave enough to walk it in the winter months, not many would attempt that, so don't be so hard on yourself! Myself and my wife and friends did the walk way back in the 90s with a firm called travel light - they took our belongings to each of our next destination/s , leaving us just to have water and snacks in our back pack/s. Loved it! We are now in our 70s and we look back at the footage we took now and again!
Filter the water, having worked in drainage game for years in Scotland . Always filter and boil the water. All the septic tanks go into the burns and you don't know what is lying dead upstream in the burn. Good effort and am sure you will complete it. Last time I did it I got picked up each day and went home. did it over 5 Saturdays. was good could take my time and go light.
In 50 years of walking from the Lakes to the Shetlands, I have had NO problems drinking the water from streams without boiling .
Must have been lucky 😂
@@A2Z1Two3 That took a long time to get to Shetlands did you swim lol. buy you're age you should know the older generations are built very different to the young ones now adays. And drinking water in the wild is always a risk. I swim in the lochs and never been ill but also the guy I work with gets the squirts every time he drinks the water down in Cambridge. While we are working away.
It's an insult and wrong for the pristine environment in such national parks and places that properties with septic tank systems are allowed. If you want to live in such places don't transfer your urban lifestyle there and keep it very simple, minimalist and sustainable with eco toilets etc. Too many inappropriate lavish properties are getting built in these sacred places..... and corrupt councillors allow it by taking back handers .... all so wrong! Yes i realise some older properties even hotels may have been built this way before modern ecological awareness but they too should be slowly modernised.
@keithmoss7460 thousands of households still use a septic tank and if working correctly then water coming out of it is safe but modern chemicals like bleach etc are the main problem as kill the bacteria in the septic tanks.
So sorry to see you get sick but you made the right decision to stop, I hope you are feeling a lot better now and all the best for the New Year. Keep up the great content 👍
Yeah i thought maybe novovirus but then i was surprised at you drinking from lowland burns as anything could be in them.
Love your videos and attitude,reminds me of my own walks in Scotland 40 years ago with my dog,tent on my back,walkman with cassettes.
Oh Gregor! Such a shame that you had to stop your adventure but these things happen..what you shared was beautiful! I really hope you are feeling better and regaining your strength for another try after Christmas. i wish you a very happy Christmas my friend, and a very happy and prosperous New Year filled with love , excitement and excellent adventures! 🤗
Thanks for the kind words. I’ll definitely be back again. Enjoy your Christmas :)
Love your videos, you have a great attitude and your content is first class very professional. One suggestion however which I think would be a nice touch , would be to include a map of the entire route , and also do a day by day progress indicator on it. Such a shame you got sick as was really enjoying it, however these things happen, and you did the right thing to call it a day and return when you are well. As an experienced Mountaineer, Hiker for over 50 years etc, I personally Never drink water as I dont like the taste, I used to drink Flat Lucozade as it tastes nice and gives you energy as well. However if you do drink water Always Purify it, never drink it straight from a stream. All sorts of dead animals could be in the stream and the water may have run through them before you drank it. Anyway excellent channel, I look forward to seeing you post your next attempt soon.
Fair play for getting to Inversnaid whilst puking, not an easy stretch (and can only assume not trusting farts). Good place to call it because Inversnaid to Inverarnan is definitely the most challenging section of the WHW and no real escape route once you're committed. (Someone must really love you to drive that road in the dark, in winter 😂!) Best of luck for next time, and as I'm sure you've learned, don't drink water from the streams/burns/rivers! Not the first and won't be the last! All the best.
Thank goodness you were so close to a Hotel to get help. I hope you get well for the Holidays. Just continue when you can, we'll be here waiting for you. Have a wonderful Christmas and a Jolly Good New Year 🕛🎊!!! The views and trip were spectacular.
Hope you're feeling much, much better now Gregor. It's not nice when sickness suddenly catches you when you're not expecting it. Hopefully you got some R&R and you'll be able to pick up where you left off next time. Have a lovely Christmas and Hogmanay!
Gregor thanks for another great video. I am surprised by all the hiking trails and number of mountains. Sorry that you fell ill, the trail will wait for another day. Happy Christmas to you and your family.
Thanks for the support, it really is appreciated. Have a great Christmas😊
You are the third person I saw getting sick this way on the WHW and all at about the same spot. Did you had a water filter that works against viruses AND bacteria? I heard there is some nasty stuff in streams along the lower part of the WHW. I usually drink straight from the source in the Highlands, but got a filter for the WHW just for this reason.
Better luck next time! And doing it in winter is tough!
Hope you are feeling better. Sorry that you got ill, but it is also not a fail!!! I enjoyed watching your hike and the views. Happy Winter Solstice!
Flew over from NI back in September. Jarred my knee coming down off Conic Hill..got to Rowardennan and had to make the call to end it there. Not worth risk and the walk will always be there. Chin up pal.
As always great footage. I hate cliffhangers, so I will have to watch the next one. I hope you are well again. Stay safe!
Beautiful scenery- me and my mates love these videos- although you not well, you look awesome bro. Hope you are better soon my friend merry Christmas 🎅🏻
Thanks mate, glad you enjoyed it
OMG... that sunset was stunning. It's like you are in a dream!
We tried the West Highland way back in 86 during this time of year. 4 of us, not one days experience between us except for one guy. It was the most miserable experience, we were washed out, the army who was doing it at the same time put us up at the church hall with them for somewhere to sleep and made us breakfast in the morning before we headed back to Glasgow, great times. The next year we did it during the summer and made it. We wanted a whole brass band as we walked into Fort William, never got it but again great experiences along the way
I like the idea of the paetron membership. As this is such a wonderful UA-cam channel which deserves support. Your parents should be extremely proud of you you are a wonderful lovely person- thank you for these lovely videos
Thanks mate, I’ll set one up in the coming weeks. I appreciate the support greatly 😊
Get well soon. The trail will welcome you back when you're ready. Happy Christmas and Hogmanay
We use a Grayl filter to convert stream water into potable. I always considered stream water to be dilute sheep pee, the more dilute the higher I went!
Get well soon, Gregor! I'm looking forward to the next adventure 👍
You did the right thing there’s aways another day especially as after the hotel is the most challenging part of the walk
Love seeing this beautiful scenery- please keep it up buddy
a hope you were ok might have been something you eat or water such a lovely walk from drymen to balmaha i walk it a few times my self and the view from conic hill is great you can see over to luss and beinn dubh the glen striddle horseshoe witch is a great hike .
I'm sorry that you were sick . You did great. Your health comes first 😊
Failure does not lie in falling down, but lies in not getting back up. You are stronger than you know.
Couldn’t have said it better myself mate 😊
You did the right thing kid. The walk will always be there. Have a great Christmas 🫶🏴
One of the most beautiful walks I have ever done. We added climbing Ben Nevis on the last day to make it truly memorable. Our country really is breath-taking. If I ever end up like Bill Murray in groundhogs day, I really hope it's one of those 8 days I have to live over and again.
Great job lad !! its always there for another time !X
My mate and I did the West Highland Way back in October. I first attemtped it almost 20 years ago but failed on the second day due to an ankle injury (on the stairs at the back of Balmaha). You'll do it eventually - just don't wait 20 years! We found October - the week before the school hokidays - to be a great time of the year to do it. It was fairly quiet, very few midges, the temperature was perfect and the length of the days meant we never really felt rushed. Food places were still open too and we had a pub lunch most days.
The stretch on Loch Lomond between Rowardennan and Inverarnan was my favourite part of the whole trek. It is a part of Loch Lomond I had never experienced before . It probably is some of the hardest walking but it is a lot of fun! The bothies along that way are great too.
Get back out there and get it finished!
It was gutting watching your epic walk get derailed by a gut issue. Been there twice and it’s so frustrating. I had serious gut problems on a team ascent of Mont Blanc. The others went up without me while I spent a whole day crouched behind a boulder feeling ill. Later on it happened after an expedition when we’d been two weeks on Mt Kenya with very simple rations and lost some weight. I went a bit crazy at an Indian restaurant in Nirobi and the curried eggs did for me! I spent most of the journey home occupying one of the aircraft toilets 😂😂
You can't win them all mate, some things you just can't see coming but have to deal with, you made the right choice. Enjoyed the content though, great vid, hope you are all recovered and ready to go again!!
I'm so sorry to see you got such an unwelcome early Christmas present, especially after getting the trek off to a cracking start. Sunset camp over Loch Lomond, just sublime!
Hope you're back to your usual 'fit as a flea' for Christmas day.😅
Nice video, I hope you recovered from your bug. I'm planning on hiking the southern half of the WHW in February so the winter perspective was useful.
I think we’ve done the way at the same time! I’m currently in Glencoe!
You did the right thing, especially since the weather has now turned quite bad, you’d be in an even worse position. The Way isn’t going anywhere, brilliant effort!
What a time to be out under the Winter Skies ... Breathtaking.
I'm thinking you're going to end up having to go half as heavy for endurance walks, I've gotten sick and had to ditch the gear altogether just to get home.
Be safe.
Happy New year ∆
Wow Gregor, the views around Loch Lomand were amazing! So sorry you became ill at the end. Hope all ok now. Cheers, John.
Such a shame you fell ill Gregor but I hope you’re feeling better. The trail will be there for you to complete when you’re able. What fab shots you gave us and I loved the jokes!
Thanks for the support, not sure the jokes were very good though😂😂
Was it the water from the stream that made you sick? I'd never be keen to do that.😮
Well the WHW in winter, yes I like the sound of that, maybe I could manage it.
Yes sorry to send you got sick, has happy me a couple of times while in Scotland and had to Finnish my route once.
All the best Gregor and merry Christmas 🎄
I'm so sorry you were sick. That came on very quickly. I was worried you would try to continue on past Inversnaid, as it gets more remote and difficult and there is less availability for help to come to you. You made the wise choice. I look forward to seeing you return to the way and finish. Best of luck!
A real Christmas treat is another stunning video from our dear Gregor. I have a suspicion that there will be a Happy Ending next week, fingers crossed!
I walked the West Highland Way back in the mid 80's. I enjoyed it then and it was interesting to follow you on your journey.
You did your very best... always next time .. :) thanks for all the great videos merry crimbo to you cant wait too see what you do in the new year
Ah man gutted for you but what else could you do? Are you ok now? I love watching your adventures and look forward to you returning and making it. Speedy recovery and have a great Christmas and New Year 🎊
Yeh I’m all better now which is good. Thanks for the support and have a great festive period 👍
I must have a go at the West Highland Way sometime, looks like a blast. Either the or the TGO challenge.
Aww. Must have been something you ate, I guess. But these things happen - and you can get someone to drop you back at Inversnaid when you're better, so you can resume your walk - and you'll still have completed the whole WHW when you're done. I did a similar, 120-mile sponsored walk some years back - over the space of three weeks - because everything that could possibly go wrong - from the wrong type of underwear to falling and spraining my ankle - did go wrong! Yet, I still completed my intended route, it just took a bit longer than I'd anticipated, that's all! I hope it didn't last too long, and you're able to enjoy a good Christmas and New Year.
Yeh these things happen. I’ll definitely be back for another attempt👍
Hope you are OK Gregor and got home ok, Take care ,look after yourself
I really loved the video Gregor, Loch Lomond in in its winter crunchy splendor, seeing the beautiful sunset and sun rise, i love to see the golden hour😊 so sorry you got ill, there's another UA-camr Black Crag that got ill eating pre packaged sandwiches he bought and got sick too,i think the dehydrated neals you add boiling water too would be a safer bet,i hope you are well and have a great Christmas and Happy Hogmanay and we are looking forward to the next installment in the adventure, wishing you all the best😊
What can I say, great wee Part 1, looking forward to Part 2 when you can introduce yourself to the wee baldy man in Fort William. Hope your feeling better now too.
Hi Gregor, such a shame mate, but the trail will always be there. It was probably for the better, you would not have not wanted to get sick whilst you were on the next tough rocky section by the loch shore.
I’m doing the WHW in May, I’m so looking forward to y.
All the best for Christmas and New Year mate. 😀⛰🥾🏕️🎅🏻🎄🏴🏴
Yeh you’re 100% right mate, it was for the better to just end it and head home. Good luck in May, hopefully you don’t suffer the same fate as me😂😂
Hi Gregor another brilliant video, especially the monrow with the snow cover top. You can always do the hike again. 😊
Don’t beat yourself up about 🤢🤮🤒peace
Aww you really weren’t well at all, great video though as usual. Looking forward to the next instalment 🙂
I had to bail at the half way point on the coast to coast with a shin splint, which I've never had before, it's gutting but you just have to suck it up and regroup, I'm going again in May. I'm sure you'll be back, and completing it will be all the sweeter the second time around.
Aw mate, I feel for you. I could tell in the clip where you said you didn't feel great that you were definitely not well. I hope you're on the mend now, and you know you'll smash the rest of the WHW next time. Well done for such a great effort and get well soon
Well said mrs MacLean :)
Thanks for the kind words. I’ll definitely be back for another attempt👍
Did you boil the river water? Might have been something upstream. Never mind always next time, Beautiful views and fine effort. Looking forward to the next attempt.
That Loch Lomond section is extremely tough, it was beautiful but the ground is so uneven, lots of little ascents/descents definitely the most challenging part of the trail
We went N to S summer of 22. I broke a Bone in my foot 3 days before the planned departure so I rented a folding bike, my hiking partner walked while I biked. It was phenomenal. No such thing as a failure, it's good decision making about the current situation. Congrats on taking responsibility for yourself and the current conditions, it speaks highly of your maturity and good sense.
Thank you for sharing another wonderful video Excellent channel fantastic content love from Dublin have a wonderful Christmas 🎄
Ohh, so sorry you fell ill..Hope you are doing better now, and remember, you did not fail.Our Health must always come first, and you made a wise choice not to continue on the trail. There will be other days and other opportunities.Looking forward to part II.
100%, I’ll be back at some point to make another attempt👍
It must be cold so good gear is important but same time the light OMG it’s a dream specially for those who just loooove light in the nature it’s such inspiration…and in all honesty November even December time is just the best when comes to light the low subtle golden on tops of hills….certainly made me think to this one again maybe in the winter time 😅
Sometimes we gotta appreciate the journey even if it didnt end completely ahaha, you still got to experience some beautiful views and hike for that long at least. Wise decision that, everything's always there for you to accomplish and experience if youre healthy Looking for forward to whats coming next
Good effort pal, it’s not nice feeling rotten on the trail. When I completed it in 2022 I was on top of the world - just remember that when you do finish it you’ll feel the same!
Thanks mate, I’ll be back to finish it for sure👍
I loved your video and the beautiful scenery and hope you recover soon. I noticed that you took water from a burn which may have contained pathogens , it is always safer to boil before drinking.
"in the Scottish wilderness" ...8 miles North of Glasgow...
A friend of mine did it in October. Said the conditions were just right. Maybe attempt it in the future when things are more favourable.
Always put your health first and listen to your body. The West Highland Way can be brutal. That hill you pointed out was Dumgoyne. The Glen Goyne whisky distillery is just below it.
Fair play to you giving it a go in December Gregor. The views as always, are stunning. Me and my mates always do it at the start of May. Maybe you've picked up a bug, when you first filled your water bottle? You don't know what's on the topside of the watercourse that you filled your bottle from. There could be dead sheep and all sorts. Whatever its been, its knocked the guts right out of you. You made the right call kid. The WHW will be there for your next attempt. Don't be discouraged Gregor. Best wishes and all the best for 2025 and your next attempt!! All the best Gregor.
Hope your feeling better wee man👍🏴.
There will be more chances mate💯🙌🏻 Still love the video, awesome as usual🏆 Gregor hope you get well soon and hope you have a lovely Christmas buddy 🎄🎅🏻 Also I would be a paetron for you too
Same to you mate, have a great Christmas😊