As with the Hadrian's Wall Walk of 2007 the charity is looking for walks that have several important characteristics.
Firstly, that they are not just walks for walking sake, but ones that come with a real sense of achievement once completed.
Ones that present a psychical and mental challenge and which we hope will linger long in the memory
of those that have taken part in them.
Of equal importance to the above is choosing walks which will better enable the charity to catch the interest of potential sponsors and donators.
Well, the Great Glen Way walk certainly should do all the above, as it is one spectacular walk,
which takes in some truly breathtaking landscape.
Whether you believe the snow toped mountains and pure waters of the many Lochs that we will walk along were created by
God or Nature, you cannot fail to be in awe of the sheer size and majesty of all that will surround you as we walk up through the some of Scotland's mightiest Glens.
(Ok, if you have a large blister on your big toe you might be slightly less in awe)
Numbers on the Walk Franco has already posted that we have decided to trim back the walking and Logistic team numbers.
This is due to the proposed use during this walk of a single Mini Bus by the logistic team,
rather than several cars and a need to have a tighter and more easily manageable walking team.
Our base camp is to be at the Loch Ness Lodge Hotel which is at Drumnadrochit and situated 14 miles from Inverness on the West side of Loch Ness.
It's a very nice hotel and will make for a superb base camp and there are importantly a few pubs and eateries nearby.
I fully intend to make an intensive and sustained study of the pubs in the area whilst on my pre-walk recon.
The Logistic team as well as being a vital part of the team with dropping and picking up the walking team,
will be expected to blitz the area along the whole walk with collection tins and try to raise as much money as possible during our stay.

Initial Report on the Walk
I intend to walk the entire route prior to September 2009 to get a fuller understanding of the challenges that each day's walk will presents us.
Therefore at this stage the mileage mentioned here is just a rough guide and some walks length will be dictated by the limited potential end of day pick up places along the route.
Closer to the 2009 walk I will produce a detailed outline with appropriate correct mileage and if anyone wants to
join me when I do this recon, then please feel free to ring me - 01228 544221
The Great Glen Way has been a major transport route up through the Highlands for thousands of years, ever since man first decided to check out the pub & bar maid in the next Glen?
So we will be retracing the footsteps of those that walked before us and hopefully the beer will be better,
but probably a little more expensive?
I recommend you grab a map before reading the below so as to get a better understanding of the locations mentioned.
I also recommend that you check out the Gallery page from the Great Glen Way web site which Franco has already posted a link to on his first posting.
There you can see some better pictures of the view and sites we will see as we walk along.
The pictures below were taken by my on a rather overcast day last week.

The Start - Day One
We kick off the walk in the town of Fort William which lies in the shadow of the Ben Nevis range of mountains.
The picture above looks across the northern end shore line of Loch Linnhe towards Fort William. This stone walled fort seen here in the foreground was built after the 1745 troubles and from where the town takes its name? For the first day we are aiming for the hamlet of Kilfinnan which sits on the northern end shore line of Loch Lochy, around 13 miles distant. However, if all goes well, we will press on to the Laggan swing bridge another 3 miles further and which joins Loch Lochy & the second smallest Loch along our route, to that of Loch Oich.

We will first pass Inverlochy castle and then for the next 5 - 6 miles, we walk alongside the Caledonian Canal which links the Lochs of Linnhe & Lochy. At the half way stage we leave the canal behind us and travel for a few miles along a rare section of road, that of the B8005, heading for the small one horse hamlet of Clunes situated at the Southern end of Loch Lochy. We will be unable to see from our walk the evocative memorial dedicated to the Commandos which is close by, but you will see it as you drive up to the hotel along the A82 road, but we do aim to get a picture of all of us together by it during our walk. It's situated near Spean Bridge and was built there due to the first WW2 combat units having been trained in the area. As thoughtful locations go for reminding us all of the sacrifice which our armed forces have made to keep our country free, there can be no equal anywhere in the world?

We leave Clunes and any roads behind and travel for the remainder of the day alongside the West bank of Loch Lochy until we come to the hamlet of Kilfinnan. This will be our first pick up point. However, if everyone can still go on, we will as already mentioned, press on to the Swing Bridge at Laggan.

Next....Day One. Pictorial Progress