Our plan to do the WHW in June looks like falling through. The problem is partly to do with the fact that we'd planned to use a bag carrying service (£40 per bag for the duration, with unlimited stops) to ferry the rucksacks between stops, so that all we had to carry was a daysack with provisions for the days walk.
The "proper" campsite outside Balmaha is a caravan club site, and has a minimum stay of 2 nights. Now, my reading of this is "while not actually saying we don't want the backpackers walking the way, in reality, we don't want the backpackers walking the way". So, we're left looking at another option where someone will be there to receive the bags from the company transporting them. Sallochy campsite is partly manned, and I've still not heard back as to whether there's provisions for receiving bags. This means a stop in Balmaha. Bunkhouses are already full, so that's not an option. So prices so far for one night, have been between £75 and £100.
Now, this would be repeated at Bridge of Orchy, so £150 - £200. Then there's the two nights at campsites (approx £20 a night), the hostel at Fort William (again about £30) and the train back to Glasgow (God knows what that will cost).
Add in food and drink, and you're looking at spending AT LEAST £400 - £450 for five days "camping". looking online, we can get a week in the sun flying from Glasgow, with B&B accomodation and preety much guaranteed good weather, for just over £90 each.
Now, I'm sorry, I really really want to do the WHW, but I don't want to get screwed over in the process. I know the summer wild camping ban is there to stop drunken idiots from starting fires, and causing trouble along the side of Loch Lomond, but the knock on effect seems to be hotels and B&B's cashing in big time.
Holiday at home. Get financially screwed. You know it makes sense.
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