Walkers on the popular Highlands route have been afflicted with sickness and diarrhea.

Walkers in the Loch Lomond area have been warned to avoid drinking water from a river after a spate of hikers became “pretty ill”.

An alert has been raised by National Trust for Scotland (NTS) rangers at Ben Lomond after a number of reports of sickness and diarrhea were made by those walking in the area of Balmaha and Conic Hill, both which sit on the West Highland Way.

Descending Conic Hill on the West Highland Way. A number of walkers have fallen ill after drinking water from a nearby river. Picture: Geograph.org/Chris Heaton. | Geograph.org/Chris Heaton.

Walkers heading through Rowardennan over the past month have reported becoming unwell after drinking water from the rivers near Balmaha.

Nine cases have been reported in the past month. Three walkers said they became sick after drinking water from The Burn of Mar, near Conic Hill.

All those involved said they had filtered water first, but still fell unwell.

Walkers have been urged to avoid taking water from The Burn of Mar and advised to boil water taken from rivers and streams.

One ranger, who posted a warning on several social media sites for walkers, said: “We have had a spate of hikers coming through here at Rowardennan over the past month that have been pretty ill, vomit and diarrhea. [It] only lasts a day or two, but it wrecks more than their guts.

“Everyone I have spoken to that's been ill, and that is nine hikers so far - there will be more - have all drank water from the rivers near Balmaha.

“Everyone has said that they have filtered the water first, but still ill. So far I have had three hikers confirm where they have taken water from and which river and this is The Burn of Mar.”

The river is crossed before heading up Conic Hill from the east, with OS Grid Ref NS 44465 92439.

The statement said: “Please be sure not to drink this river water as there is a lot of livestock upstream. And it's always better to boil your water as this is a safer method than relying on filters as it all depends on which filter you have and how clean it is.”

Hillwalkers on popular Scottish route fall 'pretty ill', suffer 'diarrhea' after drinking water from river

Comments