We arrived at Fort William at three o'clock as planned and after sorting the rucksacks out in the car park behind the station, accepted a lift from Joan to the roundabout at the foot of Glen Nevis. (The end of the West Highland Way).
The short stretch of road walking to the Caledonian canal was soon behind us, 'Neptunes staircase' was the point where we climbed the embankment onto the towpath. A few holiday launches were around as we set of to travel the seven miles or so along the towpath to Moy where a campsite was indicated on the o.s map.
After four miles or so we stretched out on the bank for a half hour before pressing on to find the campsite. The undergrowth bordering the towpath had been cut back in recent weeks, instead of the discarded vegetation being cleared away or burnt it had been left scattered along the path almost blocking it in places.
At the swing bridge across the water at Moy we. caught a glimpse of two caravans among the trees, we crossed and strolled up toward some old derelict looking buildings confident that we would find a farmhouse or even a camp shop and amenity block. We were out of luck, a collie in a pen was the only sign of life, the area looked very neglected and the pasture containing the caravans seen earlier was not at all pleasant having been well trampled by cows and perhaps pigs.
The tents erected we wandered down to a Picnic area that we had noted near the bridge, a thin wisp of smoke now rose from the bridge cottage. We sat and brewed a mug of coffee before turning in for the night. As sleep came so did the rain but in the tents we were warm and dry and had a good nights sleep,
