Story of West Highland Way | 96 miles long solo life-changing journey

[@Deadushka99]

Beautiful video. Thank you for sharing your experience. Well done persevering despite blisters and pain. I did it in May and have some great memories. Met some wonderful people along the way. I felt very sick on day 2 and German family let me tag along with them and made sure I made it to my camp. Blisters prevention was my top priority, so I tried to air/dry my feet often and started putting tape on my feet half way through. Good socks and comfortable footwear is a must. Finished with only 2 tiny blisters. Now thinking of doing it with my wife and son next year :) All the best with your future adventures.

[@WyeExplorer]

Brilliant Eva - full happy view. Now that was a tough start to the trail and I was hoping you would continue to find your feet so to speak. And wow did you ever find them. That's the thing with these trips there are moments when you think all is lost then you dig just that little bit deeper and there it is - that other side to the journey. There were lovely and inspiring moments and people lifting you all the way and hey you made it your own too. Well, done - it's a trail I've always wanted to do. Who knows? Maybe next year. All the very best. Mark

[@alanbrown9178]

Eva, I am retired and in my late 70s. I have been walking in the Scottish hills since I was a boy. From April until September/October, I head off on about 6-8 long walks each year with my tent. Almost every time, I have doubts at the start of the walk about "Why am I doing this!"....... but after a few miles, I am glad that I have started. 😊 I notice that you are carrying quite a large pack... with each walk, you will likely work out what was not necessary and manage to rationalise the amount that you carry. Your feet will toughen up with more walking and hopefully blisters will become just a bad memory! Happy walking!

[@evachjourney]

@@alanbrown9178 ah thank you so much for sharing your experience! what a life to have walking summers in Scottish highlands…you lived my dream 😊 interesting to hear that you had these doubts too even after doing it so much…I wander what it’s about, because it’s just such a great experience once we start walking….i can imagine you have lots of amazing memories from these trips. Do you still walk? I had I think about 15kg, it was more than needed and I learnt I need less on this trip. You’re very right it’s a learning process and I am already learning to adjust better. I do hope to get to the point where blisters are just a memory 😅, even some walks after I still got them, but had some blisters free walks too which has been great 😊 I didn’t have very good shoes I think here what did not help but had to budget so didn’t have other option, but well learnt my lesson 🙂

[@alanbrown9178]

@@evachjourney Yes, I still walk, but my tent etc are just packed away now until next April. Only day-walks until then. I live in the Border hills, so choosing a day-walk is easy. I particularly enjoy walking in May and early June. Long days, no midges (hopefully!), excellent views if a touch of frost, and the hills are quiet and very peaceful...... Bliss!

[@evachjourney]

@@alanbrown9178 borders are a hidden gem of Scotland and you have forests! I’ve actually only recently walked in stages Abbeys way and Dumfries and Galloway are on the radar - so many years since I wanted to go there…I’m slowly packing away for winter too….but I really hope from bottom of my heart that I will be doing the same as you once I reach your age it’s just so inspirational - thank you - and day trips are great winter alternative 👏

[@alanbrown9178]

@@evachjourney Three walks that I enjoy through forests that you might like:- 1/. From Moffat to Hawick, in the Borders, through the forests of Eskdale and Craik. The first few miles are on the Southern Upland Way, and later on, you can follow an old Roman Road.. Not waymarked, just a route I made up. You will need to read a map with some competance though. The Edinburgh to Dumfries bus passes through Moffat to start you off. 2/. Further West... in Dumfries & Galloway, from Newton Stewart to St Johns Town of Dalry, or maybe Carsphairn, via Clatteringshaws Forest. Again, not waymarked, and map reading is necessary. 3/. Gatehouse of Fleet to New Galloway or St Johns Town of Dalry, through Glengap and Lauriston Forests. Again, not waymarked, and you would need maps. Have fun!! My late Father said of the Border hills, "Never spectacular, but never boring!"

[@Walkabooots]

Well done on your journey! A wee tip,always have 2 pairs of socks on! Thin liners and then your walking socks Your video is awesome

[@helenbozas7000]

What an experience. Blisters and midges.... nightmare. Bravo.... you persevered and completed the walk and enjoyed our wonderful country. Loch Lomond is a very special place and I am glad that the waters there helped your feet. You are a very courageous lady and I enjoyed your video very much. Good luck to you.

[@evachjourney]

@@helenbozas7000 thank you so much for very kind words! Loch Lomond really is very special place, I hear it is for you too 🙂 Scotland is special in general to be honest and beautiful 😊 I am very glad you enjoyed the video, thanks so much for watching.

[@wandering_not_lost]

Well done! Many people would have quit if their feet were in the same condition as yours were, you must have dug deep into your inner resources to continue, you should be truly proud of yourself. That was a lovely video and I really enjoyed it, thank you so much.

[@evachjourney]

@@wandering_not_lost thank so much…I guess I am aware many would and I would imagine many for good reasons as well…I was as well lucky with weather and it played out I could take a shorter day to recover…I guess I was proud but certainly I felt if I’ve done this I can do a lot more and I truly can dig really deep…it’s an interesting how a lot is happening in once head and there is the biggest battle, I guess I somewhat knew if I won’t do this I’ve never get my life back and that was a huge motivation to keep going 😊 thank you for watching and so glad you’ve enjoyed it…more of the similar nature to come 🙂

[@speckofdust272]

I enjoyed the pace of your journey , unhurried , it was also beautifully narrated and the scenery was well shot , you have a new subscriber👍

[@evachjourney]

@@speckofdust272 thanks so much for kind words and I’m really glad you enjoyed it…the videos to come will be of somewhat similar nature around outdoors 😊

[@sbdiaries]

Very beautifully presented Eva 😊and a joy to watch ❤. We both really loved the beautiful scenery 😍. Greetings from England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Simon and Beth sending you our support 🔔💕👋💕

[@evachjourney]

@@sbdiaries thanks so much for kind words! So glad you’ve enjoyed and found something in it 😊 greetings to England 🤗

[@Robertcambell1966]

Hats off to you , there's no way I'd have done it carrying heavy packs . If you had took the Conic hill route as I remember we paddled our sore feet in a stream that passes the foot off the hill just before you head up.

[@katrinberger1676]

Well done! What a wonderful journey. You listened and did what your body needed. You will see it's getting better with every hike. Your backpack will get lighter with more experience. All the best.

[@evachjourney]

@@katrinberger1676 thank you! You’re very right, listening to the body is quite important and I was as well quite lucky with weather. Thanks it’s certainly a journey with a lot of learning and getting stronger 🙂

[@hedleythorne]

Wonderful scenery, especially Loch Lomond. That is a serious distance especially when you have blisters from the start, what an adventure! Keep up the great videos.

[@evachjourney]

@@hedleythorne thanks so much! It really was an adventure 🙂

[@Airlessmean]

I did this in may and my God it was a beautiful walk and also an achievement! Carried 17kg! Took me 8 days :) had blisters forming in the 1st wooded area! As my shoes were terrible but soldiered on :)

[@evachjourney]

@@Airlessmean it is incredible isn’t it!? I wish to do it again haha wow 17kg is quite a bit although I think mine was just 2 kilo less 😇🫣 very hard to go down but I learnt here about things I don’t need. My shoes were terrible too 😅 well done for powering through! 👏

[@Airlessmean]

@evachjourney yea it's a great walk :) morale of story don't wear Peter storm boots 🤣 terrible! And i was raising money haha so that made me carry in 😆 if I did it again I would get rid of 6kg ! As have a dialed in kit now :)

[@evachjourney]

@@Airlessmean haha yeah or any budget boots as I had to do as well 🙈 oh wow what cause were you raising money for? Even more admirable…and it certainly is a motivation to keep going.

[@evachjourney]

@@Airlessmean agreed I’m trying to dial the weight down as well.

[@rabmcleod3508]

You are doing great, I hope you enjoy the rest of your year and wish you many exciting challenges to come.

[@evachjourney]

@@rabmcleod3508 thanks so much! I do hope you too enjoy the rest of your year! this journey certainly started exiting challenges one 😊

[@arungupta8734]

Where are you from

[@evachjourney]

I live in Scotland, but I am from Slovakia originally.

[@arungupta8734]

Place name in this video

[@evachjourney]

working on it :D it got published before I had all ready haha