Day 26 – Kilsyth to Linlithgow
Distance: 22.00 miles (35.41 km)
Weather: Rain. Pretty much all day.
Start: 08:41
Finish: 18:30
Today was a long one – 22 miles along the canal in near-constant rain. If I’m honest, the walking was a bit dull. Canal paths have their charm, but after a while the flat, straight stretches can feel endless.
That said, there were a few memorable moments that lifted the spirits. The Falkirk Wheel was in motion whilst I had lunch in the shelter of the cafe – an impressive piece of engineering.The route also took me through two tunnels and across an aqueduct, all of which added a bit of drama to an otherwise repetitive trail.
Unfortunately, I took a wrong turn heading to the campsite, which added a bit of extra distance and frustration to an already taxing day. The correct turn-off was literally the next one along the canal which would have saved at least a mile.
Despite the weather and detour, today was filled with kindness. I met several lovely people who reminded me why this walk matters. There was David from Mytho, a boat moored at Kilsyth, who donated this morning. Later, at the campsite, Bonny kindly contributed after a long and thoughtful chat with her. Her warmth was much appreciated after a cold, wet slog.
I also crossed paths again with Nathan, who’s walking the full route. We keep bumping into each other from time to time. Then there was John, cycling along the route, we had a long talk. He mentioned he thinks he may have Alzheimer’s, though I’m not so sure. Either way, he was generous and kind, and said he’d be donating too.
Today was tough. The weather, the monotony, the mistake at the end – but the people I met kept me going. Their stories, their kindness, and their belief in what I’m doing give this soggy, day a real sense of purpose.
