#JoGLE

In April 2023, I set off on my biggest adventure so far: A 1600mile long hike all across Britain from Dunnet Head in Scotland to Lizard Point in Cornwall. I'm going solo with my rescue dog Otto, (wild) camping along the way.
Come along for Day 36 to 38 where we jumped onto the John Muir Way towards Edinburgh hiking along the Forth and Clyde Canal and the Union Canal….
We pushed a couple of big days, walked in very warm weather and only on hard tarmac.
When I hiked it, I was a bit bored in the end but seeing the video now, I definitely realise that they were some lovely parts as well with pretty narrowboats and a lot of wildlife and birds.
Route:
Milngavie-Twechar (16.3mi/26,3km)
Twechar-Polmont (17.2mi/27,7km)
Polmont-West Clifton (18.3mi/29,4km)
I’m regular uploading new videos (though probably not always on the exact same day every week).
Please subscribe (it’s free :)) if you want to stay up to date and support my work. That would really mean a lot!
If you enjoy the videos and want to support our adventure with a treat for Otto and a coffee for me:
www.buymeacoff...
ko-fi.com/elli...
My dream is to make a living out of my passion for being outdoors, hiking and creating videos that brighten your day - and your support means the world and I’m really grateful!
On our hike we also try to raise funds for the Green Forest Fund and the WWF. Feel free to support our charity if you can: www.betterplac...
Thank you so much!
Elli and Otto

[@suewheeler5795]

What a lovely gesture for Otto. 🥰

[@ellihikes]

Yes, that was so lovely 🥰🥰

[@chrishiking8818]

Nice one young lady, total respect to you both

[@MoosebearAdventures]

hand-pink-waving great vid.

[@ervinslens]

Absolutely gorgeous hike my friend, place is just gorgeous!

[@alienzombie1819]

yet another enjoyable video Elli, looks like Otto loved that bone you gave him, as always looking forward to your next adventure. 😊

[@ellihikes]

Yes, he really did! Such a lovely surprise 😅 thank you so much!

[@keithmoss7460]

Yes those canals are a bit monotomous Elli compared with the stunning highland and lowlands. Pretty enough if done in small chunks or best a bicycle obviously. As always though, if you'd had more time or for someone on a different or shorter thru-hike watching this; there are a couple of exceptional quiet country parks off set from the canal in the Polmont - Linlithgow areas. With good trails, scenery and elevation and easy to link back to the canal again. The one nearer Linlithgow has a hill and highest point in Scotland's central belt with views across to all the surrounding hill ranges; up to 50 miles in all directions. As always another top notch video and unfolding adventure!

[@janicemiddlemass5215]

Well done 👏tuff going on the tarmac , interested to see which route you take next to cross the border 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 best wishes 😊

[@ellihikes]

It really was a bit hard and I was happy once I've reached Edinburgh 🤣😊 thank you!

[@nickwinter991]

Walking through the Central Belt of Scotland is going to be a bit of a culture shock compared with the Highlands, but well done for getting through it! I'm trying to work out which way south you are planning to go but the scenery should improve which ever way. Lovely video, thank you - you really give a flavour of what the JMW looks like, I almost feel like I've walked it too.

[@ellihikes]

Thank you once again for your lovely words! They really made my day and I'm really happy that I could show a bit of the character of the JMW. When I walked it, I was a bit disappointed after the beauty of the Highlands, but watching the footage now made me realise that there are very beautiful parts on the JMW as well 😍

[@Daytona2]

Thanks for sharing - you're really good at video production, Elli.
ikwym about it feeling monotonous when you're channelled(!) along routes. It must have been a big comedown from the abnormally open Scottish landscapes.
Ever thought of carrying Otto in a sling for safety of roads ? It's in dogs DNA to attack things they find scary, which is why traffic lunging occurs. Commercial slings are too big for backpacking, so perhaps a 3 loop strap harness like Ruffwear attached to the front of you with a Carabiner ?

[@ellihikes]

Thank you so much for the kind words, that means a lot! Yes, it was a bit hard realising that I was out of the Highlands, such a unique landscape.
Re the sling: I've thought about it, but decided against it. Otto is too heavy for me to carry him longer + the weight of the sling. Because of his build and his long back, I would need a well-built (heavier) sling so that he wouldn't be crammed in there. He's more afraid of loud noises, so his natural instinct is to go off to the side when cars are approaching, which is why stepping off to the side when road walking is the 'best' option for us. Not ideal, but walking along a road this busy only happened to us this once.... :)

[@TravellingTorunn]

I am happy that your foot is fine again 👍 And really lovely to see the Forth & Clyde Canal and the Union Canal again. A friend and I walked those canals in September this year from Lochrin Basin in Edinburgh all the way to the ocean at Bowling a bit past Glasgow. Absolutely beautiful walk. A pity you didn't take the small detour to see the fantastic Kelpies. But at least you saw the Falkirk Wheel 😊 I'll watch your further videos too after this 😊

[@ellihikes]

Yessss, I was sooo relieved that I didn't have to end the adventure honestly! As for the kelpies: so true.... unfortunately I've only read about them after I had already hiked past the area 😔

[@TravellingTorunn]

@@ellihikes They are magnificant, but it would have been a detour for you though. You are young and you can visit them some other time 😊

[@riqueroams]

Oh lovely Elli and bless Otto 💜. Where's the vegan sausage lol? They do a better range of vegan sausages in England (than Oz). I loved cycling beside the canals but appreciate it must be hard on the ole feet carrying a heavy pack (I'm soon to find that out again lol). Thank goodness England does not have those darn midges. 😆 Stay well. xx

[@ellihikes]

Thank you so much!! Yes, the sausage rolls are really soool good. I always get them when I see them 😊😍

[@keithmoss7460]

Hey but those (damm) midges are the guardian of the highlands and keep a degree of the riff raff away who would otherwise trash the place.... even more than they do already. Its lovely adventure spirited people like Elli who will soldier on regardless - midges or not. Most of the 200 plus species of midge ( yes incredibly) can not survive or thrive in poorer air quality which unfortunately England has more of than Scotland does, such as its much greater urbanisation.

[@THE-RIVER-RAT]

Great to see that you're walking without a limp 👍👍 once again another great video with some beautiful views and some great information. And let's not forget Otto,,, so cute

[@ellihikes]

Yeeeees, I'm really limping a bit in the past episodes 😅🙈 I didn't realise it myself until I edited the footage 😅 but I really felt better there and the pain was gone 🙏

[@KixSodo]

Otto!! 😊

[@irislengfellner1529]

Schaut schon schön aus. Aber nur Asphalt, das ist schon eine Qual für die Füße.

[@ellihikes]

Ja, es war schon etwas anstrengend. Wäre der perfekte Weg zum Radfahren 😊

[@100Noddy]

I am curious why you chose JMW all the way to Edinburgh rather than a path heading south?

[@ellihikes]

I've been to Edinburgh before, but I wanted to visit again as I love the city :)

[@alienzombie1819]

yet another enjoyable video Elli, looks like Otto loved that bone you gave him, as always looking forward to your next adventure. 😊