Tuesday 19th April 2016 – 948.99 miles
Beautiful day today. Woke to sunshine and birds singing.
Easy walking along a track that followed the river to Bridge of Orchy.
Pretty little railway station there. We passed by the hotel and walked across the bridge. We met Nicolai and Jonas, the two German lads we met yesterday – they had camped overnight by the river and were just breaking camp.
They overtook us about 20 minutes later! We climbed uphill for a while – then through woodland. We heard our first cuckoo of the year today as we were walking through the woods.
Our walk to Inverarnan was an easy one along a good path up to the top of Mam Carraigh – amazing views all around.
We followed the path down to the Inverarnan Hotel on Loch Tulla – you’ll not be surprised to hear that we treated ourselves to a cup of tea for two!
We met Jim and Mairi there and got chatting. Jim is retired now and used to work for the estate that owns the hotel. Lovely to meet you both.
Onwards over Victoria Bridge and on to Forest Lodge and the Parliamentary road – these were roads built by Telford who was commissioned in 1803 to build new roads and bridges in the Scottish Highlands. The road was easy walking and led us up through woodland, where we heard the cuckoo again.
We met Bradley from Western Canada – he is walking the WHW and plans some more walks in the UK before going home – good to meet you Bradley. Slowly the trees thinned and we found ourselves walking across moorland – beautiful in it’s emptiness.
We met Martin and Joyce from Holland who were enjoying their walk and we talked about our walk too.
We have met so many nice people. We crossed over Ba Bridge and climbed uphill for a while until we had our first view of the Kingshouse Hotel in the distance.
The path took us downwards past the Glencoe Mountain Resort and past some pretty cottages.
The Kingshouse Hotel was just a little further down across the road. We found a place to camp then went to the bar for supper and a beer or two.
We met Phil from Edinburgh who had been walking the hills and mountains for a few days. Good to meet you Phil and have a safe journey back to Edinburgh. We had a very pleasant evening and slept well too! We both think today has to be one of the best walks of the whole trip.
hi to you both, its fascinating to follow your journey. especially on w.h.w. as I did that last year. I am planning lejog with my 2 border collies when I retire in a couple or three years and am interested to hear that you navigate entirely by phone . How have you found that ?.
I hope the weather stayed good for you, especially in the north of Scotland
best wishes
Dave
Hi Dave. Yes we have just used mobile phones. Have strip maps in rucksack as a backup though.
Delighted that you are on the West Highland Way, in my view, the best long distance walk in the UK. Did you get to the Drovers at Inverarnan? What did you think of the Kingshouse Hotel? AND the Devils Staircase? All the best for the remainder of your trek. Do you intend to walk the Great Glen Way? It is easy walking with lots of fabulous scenery including Ben Nevis and Neptunes Staircase.
We are walking the Great Glen Way on our way up to John o’Groats. Had lunch in the Drovers, wild camped at Kingshouse, and had a pint, and climbed the Devil’s Staircase in two.
Sounds like you had a fabulous day and walk. We so love reading your blog each evening. You say you have met so many nice people. We think they have met two lovely people in you guys. I, Peter remember this area with fondness as I, together with four friends cycled all around this area in 1962, staying in youth hostels. Oh so young!
Anyway, best foot forward!
you meet nice people because you are nice people <3 glad you had a brilliant days walking <3
Hi Kate. Thanks for that. Home soon, looking forward to see you all. xxx