We completed Scotland’s iconic West Highland Way with a couple of friends in July of 2018. The trail is 96 miles (154 km) long and took us eight days to complete. The West Highland Way is an ideal trek for campers, as there’s a wealth of lovely places to pitch a tent along the route.
Day One: Milngavie to Drymen (5 hours)
We enjoyed warm, sunny weather for the start of our trek as we walked through rolling hills and bucolic farmland.
From the guidebook, we knew to look for the Glengoyne Distillery as we neared Drymen. Without hesitation, we took the slight detour from the trail to check it out. We were expecting a quaint, hiker-friendly tasting room in which we could unload our dusty packs for a wee dram before continuing on our way. The woman at the visitor’s center informed us that there was in fact no tasting room, and we would have to pay royally for an hour-long tour if we wanted to taste their whiskey. She suggested that we buy some shooter bottles in the gift shop as an alternative.
So a few minutes later we found ourselves back along the trail, picnicking in the sunshine while sipping on some fine whiskey. Not a bad lunch break! The final hours of the day were challenging due to the long, hot stretches of road walking and the newness of having a heavy pack on our backs. We arrived at Drymen Camping early enough to secure a nice pitch, grab a hot shower, and savor some slow hours spent looking out across the green hills.
Day Two: Drymen to Sallochy (7 hours)
We awoke to gray skies, but the rain was kind enough to hold off until we’d packed up camp. Knowing that we needed to stock up on provisions, we made an early detour into the town of Drymen.
Back on the trail, we headed towards Conic Hill, the first real ascent of the trek. As we climbed upwards, the rain grew steadier and the landscape became more rugged. The steely weather made the scenery even more beautiful. After cresting Conic Hill, we descended steeply towards Balmaha and caught our first glimpses of Loch Lomond.
Arriving at Sallochy, we had our pick of gorgeous lochside campsites, each with private beach access. We quickly made camp as the rain picked up again.
Day Three: Sallochy to Beinglas Farm (9 hours)
We’re still scratching our heads as to how this happened, but on Day Three we didn’t start walking until about 10:00am. Knowing this was our longest and most difficult day, this was especially idiotic. The first part of the hike started innocently enough, ambling along gentle dirt roads. A few hours in, we stopped at the adorable Cherry Tree Cafe, patting ourselves on the back for making it to the “halfway point.” Little did we know, we really had another five hours of hiking ahead of us!
As we continued along the trail, it grew more and more challenging. Hugging the shoreline, the path afforded some spectacular views of the lake, but also presented us with steep, undulating hills, technical rocky sections, and lots of ducking over and around tree branches. It was slow going, especially with heavy packs on. Bearing in mind that we had to get past the end of the loch, it was a bit torturous to keep looking out at the long lake and viewing just how far we still had to go.
We finally arrived at Beinglas weary but very happy. After a hot shower we opted to forgo stove cooking and treat ourselves to curry and beer in the restaurant.
Day Four: Beinglas Farm to Strathfillan (6 hours)
Day Four brought a much easier day of walking, and we didn’t mind at all. About halfway into the day, we took the twenty-minute detour into Crianlarich. There, we stopped at the supermarket for a lunchtime feast of cheese sandwiches, bananas, and cookies- a real upgrade to our typical backpacking lunch which consists of handfuls of peanuts and not much else. Throughout the day, we did a lot of gentle climbing and passed several sheep farms.
Our day ended in a gorgeous valley, surrounded by green hills in every direction. We arrived at the quirky Strathfillan Wigwams just as the sun began to peek through the clouds.
Day Five: Strathfillan to Bridge of Orchy (4 hours)
Due to the great conversation, easy walking, and gorgeous weather, this day flew by and we were at Bridge of Orchy before we knew it! The path followed the highway for quite a long stretch which didn’t make for the most ideal walking conditions, but the scenery was still pretty fabulous. Upon reaching Bridge of Orchy, we set up camp, soaked our feet in the river, and then headed up to the hotel for some afternoon beers. Expert tip: the stout at the hotel bar is really excellent. The evening proved to be relatively midge-free, so we were able to enjoy our time outside long into the evening.
Day Six: Bridge of Orchy to Glencoe Mountain Resort (4 3/4 hours)
This stage of the trail was the most remote of the entire trek, winding through wide open moors and breathtaking highlands scenery. As we skirted past Rannoch Moor, fifty square miles of uninhabited wilderness, we remarked on the goodness of such wild land in an increasingly developed world.
We tackled a few good climbs on this section, which was a nice change of pace from the mostly flat walking of the previous few days. After another short day, we arrived at the campground at Glencoe Mountain Resort. We’d heard that there was free camping further along the trail at Kingshouse Hotel, but since it was under construction we didn’t know what the conditions would be like. Deciding to play it safe, we opted to stop at Glencoe instead. Embracing the developed, ski-resorty vibe, we enjoyed a few pints in the lodge.
Despite its location next to a large car park, our campsite had spectacular views of the surrounding mountains.
Day Seven: Glencoe Mountain Resort to Kinlochleven (5 hours)
We started Day Seven in very wet, cold conditions. After cooking breakfast under the covered porch of the lodge building, we forced ourselves to step out into the rain. As is typical of these types of things, the rain wasn’t as bad as it looked. Even better, it soon eased up into a more gentle mist. As we walked towards the infamous “Devil’s Staircase,” we spotted several red deer set amidst the breathtaking valley views.
As for the dreaded staircase, it was a steep ascent, but nothing too terrible. Plus, the views just kept getting better as we climbed! After a lunch break at the top, we began the winding descent to Kinlochleven. The Trailblazer guide describes Kinlochleven as “an ugly, modern village,” but we found it to be quite charming. It has an industrial vibe, but one that’s balanced out by friendly people, quaint pubs, and a beautiful natural setting.
Day Eight: Kinlochleven to Fort William (7 hours)
Knowing we had another long day ahead, we applied the lessons learned on Day Three and made sure we were up and out a bit earlier this time. The day began with a fairly steep climb out of Kinlochleven, then passed through the wild expanse of the Lairigmor. We took our time on this final day, savoring our last hours of fresh air, simpler routines, and great companionship.
As we neared Fort William, Ben Nevis came into view. This massive mountain is completely captivating, and we made frequent stops to admire it and snap more photos than were probably necessary. For the final stretch we took an alternate route in order to avoid another long stretch of road walking. We followed the Cow Hill trail, which involved one last climb up to some great views of the town below. Upon arriving in Fort William, walkers must traverse the entire length of the main commercial district before arriving at the official end of the Way. While it was a bit of a shock to the system to be back in the hustle and bustle of the town, the final stretch was fun and festive.
You can check out the full trip report (with photos) here: https://www.tmbtent.com/west-highland-way-trip-report/
And our guide to camping on the WHW here: https://www.tmbtent.com/west-highland-way-camping/

Buying supplies abroad is one of the main reasons Cubans living in Cuba travel abroad.
By IPS Cuba

Panamanian business owners have shown great interest in travel permits being picked back up again, granting Cubans access to the country, who are the main purchasers in the Colon Free Trade Zone. – Photo: Taken from www.zolicol.gob.pa
HAVANA TIMES – Amendments that have recently come into force lighten the redtape relating to visa applications for travel to the European Union (EU) and Panama, which benefit family ties and the many Cubans who turn to “shopping tourism”.

New procedures open up travel alternatives for the Cuban population at a time when the US government has limited direct and charter flights operated by US airlines to Havana only, and still hasn’t reestablished consular services in the Cuban capital.

Stamped visa for Panama

On February 4th, the Panamanian Embassy in Cuba modified some points on its website relating to the application for a Stamped Visa which allows for multiple-entry over a five-year period.

The possibility of using accounts in both US dollars (USD) and Cuban Convertible Pesos (CUC) as a bank guarantee, particularly stood out.

There was also a new application form for the tourist visa, which is a lot simpler.

On January 27th, the fifth round of Migration Talks between Panama and Cuba was held in Panama City.

“Regarding stamped visas and tourism cards, the possibility of signing an agreement is currently being analyzed, together with the Colon Free Trade Zone, so that Cuban tourists and business owners can enter Panama more easily and thereby get rid of the tourism card once and for all, so they only need the Stamped Visa,” the National Migration Service announced in a press release.

In October 2018, Panama introduced the so-called “tourism card” which allowed Cuban citizens (mostly business owners) living on the island to enter and stay in the country for up to 30 days without a visa, paying 20 USD, so they could buy supplies.

In March 2019, the Panamanian government announced that Cubans with a tourism card would still need a stamped visa, and in July it announced that tourism cards would no longer be issued.”

The Colon Free Trade Zone Association of Users immediately rejected this measure, claiming the negative economic impact this would have on the greatest free trade zone in the continent.

Weeks later, the media highlighted the interest Panamanian business owners have in travel permits being granted to Cubans again as soon as possible, after reporting a 13% drop in sales at the Free Trade Zone.

Imports to Cuba purchased in the Colon Free Trade Zone amounted to $355.5 million USD in 2018, it reported on October 16, 2019, in a public statement made to the Trade Emporium Administration.

Official statistics show that Cuban purchasers represent 40% of the 57,121 tourists who arrived at the Colon Free Trade Zone between January and July last year.

[Editor’s Note: With virtually no wholesale markets in Cuba and an acute shortage of many products, shopping abroad has been commonplace for many years for some business owners. The added cost of the travel, customs fees and bribes, is paid for by consumers.]

Schengen Visa

On February 2nd, a new European Union Regulation came into force which established that procedures and conditions for granting visas to nationals from 105 countries, including Cuba, who travel to the 22 countries that make up the Schengen Area, and its four associate members (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland).

Authorities recognize that the decision seeks to facilitate “the visa application process for legitimate travelers to come to Europe, which will encourage tourism, trade and business,” as these sectors play “a key role in the European economy.”

Thanks to new regulations, travelers will have access to a much simpler and easy-to-use visa application process.

In the case of Cuba, one of the greatest advantages of the new process is that Cuban nationals are now able to apply for a multiple-entry visa which is valid from a year to up to a maximum of five.

It explains that “only people with a positive visa history will be granted a multiple-entry visa valid for the longest period,” which will allow title holders to travel to the EU during the stipulated period, as well as saving time and money, as they won’t have to apply for a new visa so often.

One of the advantages of a long-life and multiple-entry Schengen Visa lies in the possibility of using it to visit countries such as Panama, Mexico and El Salvador, without having to apply for these countries’ own visas.

Electronic applications are another significant change, which aims to stop traffic at European embassies.

Visa applications can be submitted from six months before the planned trip (nine months for travel by sea), instead of the three months stipulated in the past, and up to 15 natural days before a trip to the Schengen Area.

https://havanatimes.org/news/europe-and-panama-grant-multiple-entry-visas-for-cubans/

I spent one week at Chaweng on Ko Samui this summer with my family (wife and 7yr old son). We stayed at the Chaweng Regent Beach Resort on the main strip which we found to be a very nice place although a bit pricy.
Most days were spent relaxing on the beach or by the pool and exploring the restaurants and attractions along the main strip at night. We also had one day with Samui Explorer visiting the following sights around the island:

Wat Plai Laem
Big Buddha Temple
Namueang Waterfall
Grandfather Grandmother Rocks
Crystal Bay
Chaweng Viewpoint

We found the guide extremely friendly and knowledgeable (Mr Nong) and we learnt a lot, not only about the sights, but also about Thailand in general. The only slightly negative thing was that the program we had been given beforehand by the company was too much to fit into the 5 hours that the trip lasted so we had to skip some sights.

I have summed it all up in a 4K video that might be useful for first timers to the island. It includes an overview of Chaweng (Beach, Main Street, Food, Nightlife) as well as the sights from our trip with Samui Explorer: “KO SAMUI – The Essential – Beach, Food, Sights, Nightlife”: https://youtu.be/xS90uPMHo3M

Hey all, Canadian 39/F here. I have a 2-week trip to Madagascar planned for this September and I am definitely getting excited. I have a few questions for people who have recently been:

1. Any recent experiences with people having obtained the "autorisation de débarquement" from the new eVisa website? It seems that the site is now working, more or less, but I've heard reports that most of the agents on the ground at Ivato don't know what they are and that they don't provide any advantage over simply lining up for a visa on arrival.

2. Are mosquito nets often found in mid-range hotels? Or is it worth bringing a small one from home? (Yes, I plan to take antimalarials, but would also prefer to avoid being bitten, if possible.)

3. Similarly, other mosquito protection tips? Is the 30% DEET I normally use sufficient, or should I hunt down some higher concentrate stuff? Is it worth making a trip to the US to buy permethrin spray to treat my clothing (we can't get it here in Canada) or is that overkill?

4. Safety and security for a solo woman -- yes, I know this gets asked a LOT. And I'm sure people are tired of the question. I'm not a particularly paranoid person, but I will have a couple of days in Tana before and after my tour, plus I need to travel at night from the airport in Ivato. I don't tend to walk around with a lot of flashy jewelry or wander at night or anything, but are there any particular precautions I should be taking in Madagascar that would differ from other parts of the world?

5. I understand that there are frequent power cuts or limited electricity hours in many parts of Madagascar. Do any travellers have any recommendations for charging devices? Is a solar charger useful?

6. Currency -- would USD or EUR be better to have as emergency cash supply? I plan to use my ATM card to withdraw ariary, but what's the more widely accepted currency that offers better exchange rates in terms of a backup?

7. Best SIM card to provide mobile data in Madagascar? I've heard Telma has the best coverage, is that still true in 2019?

Thanks folks!