Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Blisters, stomach bugs and burying a dog... my 19 trips on West Highland Way were never dull
For those with a passion for outdoors, the famous walk is a must-do... But for Gerry Shields, it’s become a huge part of his life
More than 15,000 people will complete the West Highland Way this year – but few, if any, will do so for the 19th time.
However, that’s exactly what intrepid Airdrie man Gerry Shields accomplished earlier this month, when not even a stomach bug could prevent him crossing the finish line.
During his 19 treks across all 96 miles of the Milngavie-toFort William route – which he first completed almost 40 years ago – Gerry has faced almost everything, from mundane blisters and bad weather to a peculiar request to help bury a dog.
The 64-year-old developed a passion for hill-walking and the great outdoors during his time as a PE teacher at, among other schools, St Margaret’s High.
Dad-of-four Gerry could see the “positive impact” such experiences had on his pupils, especially when they had come from a “troubled background or challenging situation”.
He told the Advertiser: “When I took a group of pupils out on the West Highland Way walk it really helped them find out a lot about themselves and how to work as a team.
“Every morning we’d all wake up sore, but just had to get going again and the strength of character – and will – transferred into the classroom.
“I was very keen to inspire other people to get active and, to this day, I love planning out the walks in advance in terms of things like accommodation, equipment and, of course, watering holes!”
Gerry, who is now a consultant and clinical hypnotherapist, has also completed many of his walks with family members and was joined by sons Gerard Paul and David, son-in-laws Graeme Cleland and Nathan Morris and grandson Jonathan Paul Shields during his recent journey.
But despite warm
temperatures and glowing sunshine, Gerry has labelled the five-day trek his “toughest walk yet”.
He explained: “We all caught a sickness and diarrhoea bug that really took its toll on our energy levels.
“Everyone was feeling the pain when we finished on the Wednesday night. I would say this was my toughest walk yet.
“But it made it all the better an achievement for us. Often it’s not all about the physical challenge, but also the mental impact it has on you.
“Luckily, the weather was superb, which was in stark contrast to the first couple of times I walked the West Highland Way.
“During those early days we would be carrying tents around with us so the school pupils could camp along the route and it was always pouring with rain.”
But inclement weather is far from the strangest thing former council education officer Gerry has encountered during his West Highland Way walks over the last 40 years.
He said: “A number of years ago there were four of us doing the walk and we stayed in a hostel in Ben Nevis.
“The hostel warden came to us and said, ‘I know you are from near Glasgow so I can trust you’.
“He then asked us if we could bury his dog for him!
“He pointed out an area of land where we could dig a hole. The only problem was, the dog was stood beside him!
“The warden then explained that the vet was coming in a few hours to put the dog down as it was old and sick.
“The four us of then spent the next few hours digging a hole and it was hard work as the ground was full of rocks.
“Every time we thought we’d dug deep enough he would tell us to keep going. To be fair, it was a big Labrador!
“The dog was then injected by the vet and we all buried it in the hole.
“It was a really bizarre experience that to look back on now is equally hilarious and terrifying!
“On our most recent walk, I also saw one guy doing the trek in his bare feet, which is something I’d never witnessed before.”
As if regularly trekking nearly 100 miles and climbing hills wasn’t enough, Gerry has a further challenge in mind for his next West Highland Way walk.
He said: “I have never done the walk in the winter before, so that’s what I am aiming to do next time.
“It will be a different kind of test that I am looking forward to giving a go.”