Why I've walked the West Highland Way 97 times
When Robert Marshall first walked the West Highland Way in 1993, he completed the 96-mile route in just three days - but he barely had time to take in the dramatic scenery that makes it famous. Almost as soon as he finished, he vowed to do it again and to take more time to appreciate the landscape on the well-trodden trail between Milngavie, near Glasgow, and Fort William. He enjoyed it so much that he returned again and again. He has now completed the famously challenging route 97 times and he plans to reach the milestone of 100 by the time he turns 70 in November. Experts on the West Highland Way say Robert's achievement is "unparalleled". "I'm always learning things about the landscape," the retired police officer from Gourock, Inverclyde, said. "Initially when you do these long distance walks you go from A to B and that's it."That's the target, let's get to B."Now I want to look at every blade of grass, you want to know everything about everything. It's a journey not a destination."
The famous walking route from the central belt to the Highlands takes walkers along the shores of Loch Lomond and across Rannoch Moor - one of the last wildernesses in Europe.They then climb the zig-zag ascent of the Devil's Staircase footpath in Glencoe before reaching their final destination.Most people complete the route, which follows cattle drover paths and 18th Century military roads, over six or seven days. Robert always walks the route south to north, over five days, spending one night camping and the rest in B&Bs and bunkhouses.His secret to a speedy completion of the challenge? Fresh milk. The teetotal grandfather said: "Sometimes I go out of my way to buy milk. "I'll be desperate for milk so I'll take a big detour off the path to find a shop."
On one trip, a passer-by asked him how many times he had walked the route and he realised that he had no idea as there were no fitness trackers in 1993 to record his achievements. But once Robert had calculated that he had made the trip 17 times, he set himself a target of walking it 50 times by the time he reached 65. He now goes through one pair of sturdy walking boots every year. "I want to reach 100 times before I'm 70 in November. "It will mean I did it 50 times in just five years compared to the first 50 which I did over 27 years," Robert told BBC Scotland News.He plans to walk the route for the 100th time in September with his six children, Kirsty, 46, David, 43, Jennifer, 40, Ciaran, 25, and Ross, 21.
The West Highland Way was the first long-distance walking trail of its kind when it opened in 1980. Ian Beattie, race director of the West Highland Way running race and UK Athletics chairman, believes Robert's achievement is likely to be a record. "I think this is likely to be a record."It's hard to know if there is anybody else out there but I've never heard of anyone who has done any more than this".The 59-year-old, who has completed the route himself between 15 and 20 times, added: "I think its great he has done it so many times. "It's a lovely route and I'm sure you see different things every time you go and different people."I think doing it in five days is challenging. It's not easy to do that."
Kenny Auld, head of visitor services at Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority, said Robert's "unwavering commitment" to the West Highland Way was inspiring."To our knowledge, in the history of the National Park, an achievement like walking the West Highland Way 100 times by a single individual is unparalleled," he said."Robert truly embodies the spirit of our national park."His passion for nature, tireless volunteer work, and deep connection to the landscape he loves serve as a beacon for all who care deeply for the outdoors."His journey not only highlights personal perseverance but also underscores the importance of preserving and celebrating our natural heritage, so that future generations can enjoy it too."
When Robert, who has had two heart operations for an irregular heartbeat, is not walking the West Highland Way he volunteers on the path to help repair it. He says he will keep doing the route until he can no longer walk "I have already booked up my 101st trip this year and I've booked up for next year," he said. "I will only stop when I can't walk any more. "Sometimes I find it tougher than others and it just depends how you feel and how the weather is, because the hotter it is the harder it is."Sometimes when I'm doing it I think this is getting too hard and I think I'll need to change it to six days but then the next day I feel like Billy Whizz and nothing can stop me. It's weird."It's pleasurable. I just love the walk. I love the scenery. I love all the high points as in the high-up points, you get such amazing views."There are people who go sightseeing in a car everywhere and never walk any where and they get great views of Glen Coe and all that but they don't get the best views."
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