The West Highland Way is even harder to negotiate

But now, thanks to wave after wave of alternating torrential rain and glorious sunshine, the path is almost impassable.

The Way is just one victim of an astonishing growth spurt that has turned Scotland even greener than usual – with some farmers saying their grass is growing faster than cows can eat it.

Some hikers on the lush and less populated eastern bank of Loch Lomond have decided to stray off The Way and follow the narrow lochside road instead, at least as far as it goes.
Impenetrable ferns, nettles and shrubs, fuelled by the warm, humid air, have bolted up along the sides of the path.

A spokesman for  Stirlingshire Council, one of the local authorities The Way passes through, explained: “The combination of warm weather and sporadic bursts of heavy rain witnessed this summer, and in previous years, is the perfect catalyst for the rapid growth of a range of weeds and excess foliage over a short period of time. 

“This is particularly true for areas close to water, such as river banks, and will be keenly felt in parts of the West Highland Way, which will go largely untouched for most of the year.”

It is up to landowners to maintain The Way, but walking enthusiasts admit it is far from easy to keep up with the kind of growth Scotland is experiencing as our summers, on average, become warmer and wetter thanks to climate change.

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A Stirling Council spokesman added: “The West Highland Way is a core path, meaning responding to safety concerns on the route and responsibility for maintaining overgrown foliage resides with individual land owners.

“The bulk of the West Highland Way crosses through private land and we would encourage anyone who has encountered problems on the route to raise this through either the relevant local authority, or the West Highland Way management group.

“When areas of concern are highlighted to Stirling Council at the group or by the public, we will either contact the relevant landowners or undertake improvements.

“Stirling Council’s Access Team is currently working in the Carbeth and Strathblane area to improve access there, and we continually monitor the growth of foliage across the council estate throughout the year.”

Stirlingshire has been hit by dramatic growth in recent weeks, including of giant hogweed, the invasive species now blighting riverbanks and railway lines across Scotland.

The growth spurt, according to gardeners, has brought more weeds and more pests. Jackie McMaster, who is the gardening co-ordinator for the City Works course at Glasgow City College, helps run a roof garden.

She said: “This year the slugs are big enough to saddle up and ride around! Ferns are prolific and lots of stuff has bolted. Other produce is just starting to come now. Quite a weird year so far.” Last summer Scotland also had record high temperatures, but less rain and a poor harvest. There were concerns about scarcity of water right through the spring.

This year – so far – farmers are delighted. One, in Lothian, said the grass was growing faster than his cows could eat it.

A spokesman for the National Union of Farmers said: “The good weather this year has provided some blessed relief from ongoing Brexit worries.

“In stark contrast to last year – when we had the extreme heat but no moisture – the combination of warm temperatures and plenty of rain have made for near ideal growing conditions in many parts of the country.

“There is an abundance of grass for livestock, some high-quality stocks of silage and hay have been made and harvest has already started around the country, several days earlier than in 2018. There is tremendous potential for a good cereal harvest and a decent dry spell in the coming weeks will see combines rolling in most parts of Scotland.

“And the weather has also been a win, win for our soft fruit growers – lots of sweet, tasty fruit and great demand for Scottish berries.”